Once again, a drastic move by Najib, Malaysia’s Prime Minister, he successfully placed a Malaysian team in Formula 1, the most expensive sport in the world. The team is named 1Malaysia and I have a feeling that they are up to no good.

What is 1Malaysia?

1Malaysia is actually a government made concept to unite Malaysians of different ethnicities and religions to achieve a better future. But from my little research on the 1Malaysia website, it seems that 1Malaysia is actually a marketing tool to market Malaysia and Najib himself. There is little about uniting Malaysians in that website.

Is 1Malaysia F1 Team Necessary?

No, I don’t think it is necessary. As you can see, Malaysia’s enrollment in Formula 1 is not merely for the sport, other aims such as the marketing of Proton, Naza and Air Asia is also included as well. These few aims have less than nothing to do with the actual concept of 1Malaysia.

The following is the reason why I feel that 1Malaysia F1 team is not needed.

Failed Marketing Strategy for Proton and Naza

I searched on the internet and found the famous and honest condemnation of Jeremy Clarkson on Malaysian cars…

What I don’t like about these Malaysian cars is you get a sense they were designed not by one man who wanted to make a great car, but by a corporation who simply like to make money – Jeremy Clarkson

To curb the marketability of Proton and Naza after such statement (for a sane person) would be to improve the value of every cent spent on their cars. However, as history repeats itself, Malaysian Government spent more money on marketing piles of rubbish.

Jeremy Clarkson’s influence to the motor industry is superior. If Najib thinks that throwing a Malaysian team into Formula 1 would help Proton and Naza increase their sales despite Jeremy’s statement, I reckon he should do more research before deciding on a wrong decision … again.

At the present, selling Proton and Naza cars around the world is like trading sand with gold.

The Government’s Hoax

We all know these governments’ ploy. For every cent spent, there’s a dollar passed under the table. Nuff said.

Malaysia is not ready for a Formula 1 team

Malaysia does not have the man power to run a team, even with the technology Lotus can offer. In current circumstances, I think Malaysia will end up being only financially involved in the team while all the technology is owned by some other corporation.

“The team will be using Cosworth engines with gearboxes provided by Xtrac and aerodynamics developed by FondTech.” – F1.gpupdate.net

If you look quite carefully, 1Malaysia is a F1 team running on other people’s engines, aerodynamics and gearboxes, and marketing a different car brand called Proton and Naza. It’s like selling homemade burgers at McDonalds.

The Bluffs

My view upon the establishment of a Malaysian Formula 1 team did not improve at all with these quotes I read about the team.

“This is the Malaysian team. The car was designed at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), manufactured at the SIC, tested at the SIC and the car is Malaysian-made. Even the pit-stop team consists of Malaysians” – Najib (The Star)

This is what Malaysia’s respected PM, Najib said. Read the next quote…

“1Malaysia F1 Team, based at the factory of RTN in Norfolk, England” – F1.gpupdate.net

Compared and see how contradicting they are. First he said the F1 car will be Malaysian-made in SIC, GPupdate’s claimed that the team is based at a factory in England.

If I’m the shareholder of the team I would not want my car to be manufactured in England then send all the way to Malaysia to be tested. Somebody must have bullcrapped here.

Lies, lies and more lies…

Asked on the budget and the total investment by the Government, Najib said: “The Malaysian government’s investment is through Proton.” – The Star

Right, so now Proton has enough money to fund an F1 team after losing market shares to Perodua? Governments are literally begging Malaysian citizens to buy Proton cars, how would they have the money to fund the team? More like tax payers’ money is poured into some political farce again.

In a Nutshell

There is no doubt that the participants in the 1Malaysia F1 team will benefit technologically and financially from the sport, Malaysia will of course benefit as a whole as well.

However this does not change the fact that Malaysia do not need to participate in Formula 1. There are better and cheaper ways to improve Proton and Naza’s marketability. Let passionate people build Proton’s car. Do that and Proton and Naza would both prosper, with or without the Formula 1 team.

Any articles categorized in “Indifferent Thoughts” are the author’s perspective on the world. Statements are neither wrong nor right. It is up to us individuals to decide whether to believe or to turn a blind eye on the matter. However, discussions are always welcomed.

Felipe Massa’s freak accident during the qualifying of Hungary Grand Prix has left Ferrari with no choice but to enlist Michael Schumacher, a former Formula 1 racing genius to race for Ferrari for the rest of the season. What possibly could happen?

This is of course not something everybody wanted, especially for Massa, who is now still planning to win the Hungarian Grand Prix. However, yearnings for the return of the legendary Michael Schumacher are more favourable. Everybody, even the haters of Michael, wants him back! I am positive that spectators are turning on their TVs and rushing to the F1 ticket booths now more than ever!

Ferrari has yet to score their first race win this season and they are more hopeful of achieving that with Michael’s return. A huge burden I would say has been laid on Michael’s shoulder.

But to ease the pressure, Michael Schumacher might race in Valencia without the presence of Fernando Alonso, who crushed Michael’s 5 times winning streak on 2005. Nonetheless, he still has to face the wrath of his previous racing compatriots and new young drivers who all fighting for the world title.

This leads to the question, what sort of outcome would Michael produce?
You tell me what would possibly happen. I have pondered this question for hours now and I would come only to this conclusion.

Formula one is so unpredictable that nobody can see what’s coming. This is no rookie, this car is not underrated and this is Michael Schumacher, revived and ready to bully, or be bullied.

Update 11/8/2009: Michael Schumacher will not be racing in F1 due to his severe neck injury from his previous bike racing. All we can hope now is a better rookie to replace Felipe Massa.

The Formula 1 race started in Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia 2009 with the KERS drivers doing all the actions.
The Ferraris started the race with super soft, coupled with KERS system, quickly got up to 3rd and 5th place for Massa and Raikkonen.

Button got the perfect start of the race, securing his line to the first corner. At the end of lap 3, button is already 4 seconds faster than second runner Sebastian Vettel. In the mean time, Hamilton in the super soft used his KERS effectively at the back end of the race.

In lap 10, Kimi Raikkonen lost 2 places to Rosberg and Rubens in lap 10 due to the super soft tyres graining very badly. Apparently, the super soft tyres were bad choice made by the teams, so the Ferraris and Mclaren had to come in a few laps earlier just to change their grained tyres.

Nico Rosberg’s plan to pass the Ferrari was compromised as he was delayed in the pits in lap 16. Both Massa and Kimi passed him as he comes out of the pits.

Nakajima spun in between turn 3 and 4 on lap 17. Jenson Button from Brawn GP went into the pits as soon as he gets the news and surprisingly the safety car comes out only after Button leaves the pit.

As the race restarted, everybody tackled first corner cautiously except for young Piquet who spun off the racetrack due to the cold tyres. Massa were unable to overtake Sebastian Vettel for P2 as Lewis Hamilton went up to P11 pushing Timo Glock back with his KERS. Jenson Button lose all his built-up lead to Vettel.

At lap 34 Kubica is chasing down Vettel but unfortunately was unable to overtake the charging Red Bull and went into pits at lap 39. Raikkonen also went into the pits at lap 39.

At the closing stages of the race, Hamilton went into pits at Lap 44 and came out right in front of Massa. Massa was unable to follow him while Kimi Raikkonen spun at lap 45 and recovered without any damage. On lap 47, Massa Slowed down and retired.

Button’s pitstop at lap 47 was awful as the main fuel hose failed. Ross Brawn commented that the Brawn GP guys were just taking it easy. He did not lose his position but Vettel was just right behind him.

At lap 52, Rubens Barrichello entered the pits from P3 place dropping to P5, this allowed kubica to chase up with Button and Vettel.

Nico Rosberg is struggling for pace and lost his place to Barrichello who has a less bumpy road on his side of the track. Trulli also passed Nico Rosberg at Lap 54. After awhile Hamilton overtook him again, Nico Rosberg was struggling with his graining soft tyre.

With just 2 lap remaining, Sebastian vettel went too deep and was aligned by Robert Kubica. They bumped and both of them crashed into separate walls after a few meters of driving.

Safety car was deployed and comes into the pits at the end of last lap as Jenson Button wins the Grand Prix in Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia without any mistakes.

Rubens Barrichello finished a lucky second, along with three drivers who started at the back of the grid, Trulli (P3) from Toyota, Hamilton (P4) of Mclaren and Timo Glock (P5) from Toyota.

Race Results

As a conclusion to the race, like most of the drivers expected, KERS is extremely useful during overtaking. We’ll definitely be looking at more cars with KERS in Malaysia.

Formula 1 Qualifying session 2009 started out in Melbourne, Australia with a blast! Every qualifying sessions was breathtaking. In the end of the day, Brawn GP savoured their first and second with only 1 second separating them from 10th place, Mark Webber.

Albert Park Qualifying 1

Never once in formula 1 where every teams were restless in qualifying 1. Even Mclarens and Ferraris were restless, in fact, they were struggling. The only team that is not struggling this weekend is Brawn GP.

Both STR Ferrari and Force India along with rookie Sebastian Buemi failed to advance to Q2. Lewis Hamilton struggled pass Q1 but had reported to have a gear problem in Q2.

Albert Park Qualifying 2

As Lewis had retired from the qualifying, the other 14 runners fight for the first position. Until a point where the first 9 runners were only 0.2 seconds apart! This is how competitive every team is.

Both the Mclaren Mercedes did not pass through Q2. Surprisingly Fernando Alonso did not advance to Q1 despite the confident talks last week. Kazuki Nakajima failed to advance as well.

The weird thing is Nick Heldfeld, the only BMW Sauber that is mounted with KERS, did not pass through as well. Does that mean that KERS fitted engines were outperformed by cars without KERS?

Albert Park Qualifying 3

The pole shootout was superb. Both the Brawn GPs were on their league of their own. Jenson Button will be starting from pole position with his 1.26.202 qualifying time alongside with his teammate Rubens Barrichello, just 0.3 away.

Racing genius Sebastian Vettel will be starting at 3rd position followed by Kubica, Rosberg, Glock.

The Ferraris will start at 7th and 9th position with Jarno Trulli in the middle. Australian favourite Mark Webber will be starting at 10th position.

Qualifying Standing

The chart has been overturned. Midfielders in 2008 are now up front and front runners 2008 will stuck in midfield in Melbourn GP. Tomorrow’s race at 5PM local time will be extremely interesting.

Update #1: Unfortunately for the reigning champion Lewis Hamilton, he has been dropped back 5 places. His gear box failed this evening and he will be starting at 20th place at the end of the grid.

Update #2: After the post-qualifying inspection, both the Toyota F1 cars were found to have some sort of “degree of freedom” with their aerofoils on the spoiler. Thus both Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli will be at 19th and 20th position. Hamilton has been pushed up to 18th from the grid. I guess this is what Martin Whitmarsh calls it “Damage limitation”.