malaysian grand prix malaysian formula motor race held april second race formula season reigning world champion won race second grid teammate finishing second marked finish brazilian grand prix previous race winner finished ferrari teammate started race pole position passed corners lap eventually finishing fifth place malaysian race different tyre types race differentiated white stripe painted softer type helping spectators understand race strategy driver report background pre race testing malaysian grand prix held near april practice qualification race held preceding days preceded test session circuit attended teams small dutch team believed possible try upgrades car time race test scheduled begin march days teams based europe arrived test directly australian held days previously ferrari set fastest times second days test respectively final day saw partly wet conditions poor weather teams agreed extend testing day fastest dispute customer cars issue teams customer cars cars obtained teams surfaced race protested team use cars claimed designed sister team agreement terms teams compete formula world championship requires teams design cars malaysian rejected protest sport governing body stating entirely inappropriate involve matter dealt election threatened legal action possession car designs use evidence investigate obtained car designs flexible floors introduced stringent tests cars malaysian race ensure floor mounting systems ferrari breach regulations race season australia team requested rules systems allowed car upwards aerodynamic loading high speed magazine reported movement potentially increase straight line speed said performance ferrari car compromised way required modifications tyre markings malaysian race tyre compounds cars differentiated white stripe painted tyre beginning formula season teams obliged use different kinds tyre car race prime tyre option tyre prime tyre harder rubber compound option tyre softer general terms softer tyre likely grip better provide higher speed conversely harder tyre slower longer formula cars typically use sets tyres race harder tyres allow fewer pit stops change tyres track conditions car characteristics driving style reduce reverse differences australia weeks earlier softer tyres marked small white circle facilitate understanding driver tyre strategy commentators spectators unable distinguish compounds slow speeds idea white stripe tested test session week malaysian round season white stripe applied paint marker weekend overall reaction system positive williams team technical director came initial idea calling pretty good solution practice race preceded practice sessions ferrari set pace minute practice sessions friday time tenths second teammate hamilton ferrari driver fourth rounded comfortably fastest friday second practice setting time team improved dramatically practice second fourth followed hamilton dropped ninth 12th respectively boss played times saying team concentrating tyre evaluation dennis lack concern saturday hamilton setting fastest time practice lap finished session tenth second placed half second followed driver eighth fastest regarded sister team works team set 17th 19th fastest times super widely thought updated version car qualifying details qualification process race rule changes qualifying qualifying session determine starting order race held parts cars eliminated parts set slowest times technical director admitted team mistake missing test week earlier super williams eliminated blamed driver qualifying lap stating pretty aware slowed gear selection problems williams driver set fastest time teammate hamilton second fastest fifth split rain threatened second drivers posted quick laps early avoid having set time wet track fastest hamilton williams passed final super button eliminated champions failed car final team engineering director noted overall level performance disappointing situation find button claimed grid position 15th maximum possibly final qualifying set fastest time taking pole position second placed seconds rain began fall completing lap marked tyre company 100th pole position formula hamilton came fourth half second leading conceded inexperience blame saying spots rain sort let qualified fifth ahead sixth teammate seventh eighth ninth completing race initially imposed place penalty changing engines prior qualification engines formula cars required races investigation rescinded penalty retired previous race change start race weekend penalty stood race contrast rain affected practice qualifying sessions track dry duration race drivers drivers started softer option tyre lap started better able inside line turn gain lead hamilton passed corner drove round outside turn second place suspension failed turn causing button retire race button continued making early repair damage collided turn causing pit new wing race drivers blamed incident early laps appeared faster car hamilton repeatedly tried pass inside turn attempt lap hamilton late kept ahead following corner tried place laps passed hamilton briefly turn lap corner ran wide grass dropped fifth teammate hamilton apologised race sole remaining retired lap gearbox fire delayed hamilton pulling away setting fastest laps laps seven lap man pit fuel fresh tyres reported traction control problems laps later lost places extended lead hamilton seconds round experienced radio problems fixed stop circulating eighth tenth pit stops ahead button drivers started slower harder tyre dropping field passed runners tyre strategy runner pit found exited short pit stop hamilton enabled come pits ahead leaving car pit window late stop lap helped stay ahead positions remained unchanged hamilton different strategy enabled escape close leader second lap despite pitting lap set fastest lap race lap dropped 13th traction control fault worsened train cars wanted pass developed performance better previous round melbourne attempted pass eighth remained second round stops hamilton short stop necessitated relatively early second stop allowing reduce gap extend lead seconds running sixth place stops forced retire hydraulic problems lap retired problems brake pedal problem experienced friday practice session able extend advantage closing stages winning race seconds experiencing pressure faster harder tyres hamilton able maintain second place claiming final podium position victory japanese grand prix team brazilian grand prix secured fourth fifth places respectively seconds said later beating fantastic experience finished sixth claimed felt like podium given performance car seventh rookie scored point eighth managed come 19th ninth opening stint 11th place pit stop claimed points said later williams chances rest season tenth placed final driver finish lap leaders finished outside points 11th 12th ahead button despite problems button said believed team small step forward followed admitted surprised win race early career adding winning different teams special hamilton said hardest race date admitted speed straight line try challenge hamilton protect engine caused water leak closing stages melbourne race stating ferrari play safe engine disappointing malaysian race ferrari boss stated try better job round classification qualifying notes given place grid penalty following engine change race championship standings race note positions included sets standings
2007 Malaysian Grand Prix