Deciding Moments : Malaysian Grand Prix 2010
Deciding Moments : Malaysian Grand Prix
The Malaysian Grand Prix was a head-to-head fight between the Red Bull drivers and there were two key moments in the race that handed victory to Sebastian Vettel.
The Start
Mark Webber made a decent start from pole position but it wasn't the perfect getaway. He kept well ahead of Nico Rosberg on the run towards the first corner, but Sebastian Vettel had bolted from third position and was right on his tail. As they entered the braking zone, Mark was covering his line on the right hand side of the track and Vettel was forced to follow in his wheel tracks.
It was then that Webber made a decision that probably cost him the Grand Prix victory. Thinking mostly about Rosberg, Mark assumed that he had done enough to defend his lead and swung wide to assume the racing line heading into turn one. In doing so, Webber left the door open for Vettel to slide down the inside with a well timed overtaking manoeuvre.
Lap 23
Mark Webber still had an opportunity to win the Malaysian Grand Prix after his disappointing start but missed his chance by failing to modify his pitstop strategy. Mark stuck to the original game plan by staying on his soft tyres for as long as possible before making his only stop on lap 24. Both Red Bull cars were on the same strategy and, by allowing Vettel to pit a lap earlier, Webber missed the chance to get ahead of his teammate.
If Webber had been the first to pit he would've had a few quick outlaps on fresh tyres and that might have given him enough advantage to vault ahead of Vettel. Although Mark's tyres would have been marginal at the end of the race, it's unlikely that Red Bull would have allowed their drivers to get involved in a messy fight for the win in the dying stages. If anyone had to be careful challenging Webber on track for the win it was Vettel.
As it was, Webber's pitstop was delayed by a sticking wheel gun and that would have hampered his efforts whenever he fitted new tyres. However, an early pitstop might have just given him the chance to win the race using strategy.
The Australian will be out for revenge in Shanghai.
Posted by Martin Porter. - Follow him on twitter @mpondaweb.
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