Formula 1 2009 second race - Malaysia Sepang Circuit . Heavy rain forces suspension of Malaysian Grand Prix

The Malaysian Grand Prix has been suspended due to heavy rain after 33 laps at Sepang. The race could yet restart if conditions improve sufficiently.

When the race was suspended, Brawn's Jenson Button was leading from Toyota's Timo Glock and and BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld.

Half points will be awarded if the race cannot be restarted. Results will follow when available.

2009 Formula 1 Results - Malaysia Sepang Circuit Race Results

1. J.Button
2. N. Heidfeld
3. T. Glock
4. J. Trulli
5. R.Barrichello
6. M.Webber
7. L.Hamilton
8. N.Rosberg

**Ferrari team**
Position 9. F.Massa (1st Runner up Year 2008, a point behind 2008 World Champion L.Hamilton)
Position 14. K.Raikkonen (1 time World Champion - Year 2007)

**Renault**
Position 11. F.Alonso (2 time World Champion (2005 & 2006) consecutive 2 years)

**The race was not completed 75%, hence the awarded points was cut by half.
The champion is awarded with 5 points, instead of 10 points.
The rests are awarded with 4, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1, 0.5 points respectively, instead of 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 points

******************************************

Ferrari team is not having a good start in year 2009 again, after seeing the same phenomena last year. The team had made some risky decisions, which proved that they didn't pay off.. Look at the decision made in Malaysia Grand Prix.. There was lightning over the sky in Sepang. However, there wasn't any signal of downpour or even light rain.

The team had decided to changed wet tyres for Kimi Raikkonen. I like the statement in F1 Live Timing.. "This decision is a gamble".. While the rest of the teams were getting their cars to be equipped with soft tyres, this "gamble" is indeed to either put him far ahead of the rest of the drivers shd the heavy downpour start immediately after he changed his wet tyres; or put him at the last position shd there was no any rains at all..

K.Raikkonen had to bear with the wet tyres to run on dry lanes... He could not fully utilise his skills as well as his car's performance. He was stucked with Position 14 (2 cars were out of race) ever since the tyres were changed to wet tyres. It means that he was at the last 4 position among all the drivers.

On lap 22, the rains started... All the drivers pit in and changed to wet tyres.. However, K.Raikkonen could not catch to front as he was losing badly due to the wet tyres. Therefore, he still couldn't take in the lead and stayed behind of the drivers after they were out of the pit..

This is sad~! However, u can take it as it was just losing a gamble... haiz..

On Lap 33, due to torrential rains. The safety car was deployed. The red flag was showed & the race was suspended. Due to the limit of 2 hours race, Malaysia Grand Prix was terminated and the results were taken according to the drivers position at the time the safety car was deployed.

**For better understanding:
Torrential Rain: rains falling in torrents
Torrents: A heavy downpour / A turbulent, swift-flowing stream

Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix map

Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix Race laps & circuit length

Final Results (on Lap 31 out of Lap 56)

stated torrential rains

stated race terminated

J.Button leads all the way

Safety car was deployed.

Red flag was showed

Race suspended.

Race terminated..

**Pictures taken from formula 1 official website, just for your convenience only.
Please refer to Formula Official Website for more information.
For more pictures, pls refer to the gallery here.

2 weeks later - Shang Hai..