"The weatherman is predicting a wet affair for the Petronas Malaysian F1 Grand Prix at Sepang F1 Circuit this weekend. With the ban on traction control and the mandatory use of a standard electronics control unit on all cars in place this season, that is where the fun starts.
Sepang International Circuit (SIC) press officer Azhar Ghazali said the weather forecast released by the Meterological Department yesterday is for fair weather in the morning but thunderstorms in the late afternoon from Friday until race day.
This will not be the first time that the hot conditions will give way to stormy weather in the Malaysian GP. The 2001 edition saw plenty of drama when the skies opened up just three laps into the race, sending cars spinning off the track.
Renault said the absence of traction control, which prevents wheelspin and helps drivers to cope with the wet and slippery conditions, would cost each team about 0.4 seconds per lap.
The electronics control unit, which gathers data from more than 100 sensors on each car, will be used to monitor the use of driver aid systems like traction control.
While the objective is to put more emphasis on individual driving skills, there have been concerns raised about the safety of driving without traction control in the wet. It will be fun to watch how the drivers control the cars without traction control. The teams will have to prepare both wet and dry set-ups,” said Azhar.
“The teams will have to determine the best race strategy and, with the new regulation we have this year, there’s always a chance of surprises.”
BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica will be hoping for a good outing to hand the hosts a superb 10th anniversary present in Sepang. But with the new regulations in place and threats of a wet race looming in the horizon, the Polish driver said they would have to tread carefully. “We will have to be a bit more gentle on the throttle. I am sure there will be more drivers making mistakes and going off the track as a result, especially if it rains.
“In these conditions, we will most likely have to adopt a different approach,” said Kubica, who gave BMW Sauber their best-ever qualifying result when he started the season-opening race in Melbourne last week behind McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton.
However, Kubica also pointed out that the onus would be on them to get accustomed to driving without traction control. “We should all adapt quite easily as this is our job and the one quickest to adapt will win. I think all the speculation now will be a bit like the fuss over the change in tyres, which we saw in the previous season,” he said.
Nico Rosberg, who drove to an impressive third for Williams in Melbourne last Sunday, agreed with Kubica. “With the driver aids gone, it makes it even more difficult for us. There is the heat out there and it’s always going to be difficult to concentrate. “Technically, it’s also tough for the cars as well,” said Rosberg after the race in Melbourne, which was the German’s first podium win in his F1 career. "
from The Star - malaysia
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