Live text
Formula 1
Malaysian GP
2009 Malaysian Grand Prix Race day at Sepang
Live AppleTV Race Audio
Live Standings
presented by
Stopped
Summary
Live Text
Sort by
Jenson Button takes half points for victory in the Malaysian Grand Prix, after light rain for several laps became an intense thunderstorm, rendering meaningful racing impossible.
The action had been amazing up to that point, with many great battles for position throughout the field. Three trains of cars provided close racing in the dry, and the various tyre and fuel strategies provided even more fun when the heavier rain came down.
As we end our coverage for the event, discussion continues within the teams regarding the final finishing order. Stay with AUTOSPORT for all the post-race news and reaction to the race.
This was the Malaysian Grand Prix on AUTOSPORT Live. Thanks for being with us throughout the weekend. We will be back in two weeks for the Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai.
The action had been amazing up to that point, with many great battles for position throughout the field. Three trains of cars provided close racing in the dry, and the various tyre and fuel strategies provided even more fun when the heavier rain came down.
As we end our coverage for the event, discussion continues within the teams regarding the final finishing order. Stay with AUTOSPORT for all the post-race news and reaction to the race.
This was the Malaysian Grand Prix on AUTOSPORT Live. Thanks for being with us throughout the weekend. We will be back in two weeks for the Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai.
There will be a lot of points to clear up after this race. Stick with AUTOSPORT for all the news, reaction and analysis from Sepang.
Glock and Heidfeld get their awards after a chaotic grand prix.
Andrew Shovlin, Button's race engineer, takes the constructors' trophy for Brawn GP.
Jenson receives the trophy for victory. He is delighted and holds it aloft with both hands.
Jenson Button steps out onto the podium as he celebrates victory in today's Malaysian Grand Prix.
God Save the Queen now plays for today's winners - Jenson Button and Brawn GP.
God Save the Queen now plays for today's winners - Jenson Button and Brawn GP.
Jarno Trulli is classified fourth from Rubens Barrichello, Mark Webber, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg with the results declared at the end of lap 31.
The podium finishers will be Button first, Heidfeld second and Glock third after the final countback of results.
While everyone is filing their way through the fence or walking towards the entrance of the pits to get back into pitlane, Rubens Barrichello cuts a lonely figure as he walks the other way, towards the end of the pits to get back to his team.
The drenched mechanics begin to clear the grid of the cars.
Jenson Button and Timo Glock congratulate eachother on the track as they walk towards the pitlane.
Jenson Button celebrates his win as the crowd cheer from the main grandstand.
Button will take five points from this race to extend his championship lead.
Button will take five points from this race to extend his championship lead.
Race director Charlie Whiting has called an end to the 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix.
Jenson Button takes his second win of the season for Brawn GP and extends his lead in the world championship.
Nick Heidfeld is second, equaling his best finish and Timo Glock has taken third place for Toyota.
Jenson Button takes his second win of the season for Brawn GP and extends his lead in the world championship.
Nick Heidfeld is second, equaling his best finish and Timo Glock has taken third place for Toyota.
The rain continues to ease off and Jarno Trulli is getting in to his Toyota.
Ferrari are concerned about the KERS system on their car. Ferrari's spokesman Luca Colajani has told the BBC that they are still studying the data on Raikkonen's car.
Down on the grid, there are frantic efforts to dry the seat on Hamilton's McLaren.
The Finn has decided that he isn't restarting this race under any conditions.
The cover is being taken off Rubens Barrichello's fifth placed Brawn GP car. Rubens is moving towards his mount.
Meanwhile, Kimi Raikkonen is in the Ferrari garage in civilian clothing.
Meanwhile, Kimi Raikkonen is in the Ferrari garage in civilian clothing.
The track is still very wet and it certainly hasn't stopped raining completely.
The front three drivers - Jenson Button, Timo Glock and Nick Heidfeld - have been moved to the left hand side of the track, with all remaining runners moved to the right, behind them.
If the race does restart, the safety car will lead off, with those drivers from position four downwards moving past the safety car, so they are allowed to unlap themselves.
If the race does restart, the safety car will lead off, with those drivers from position four downwards moving past the safety car, so they are allowed to unlap themselves.
The rain has eased considerably in recent minutes.
With a number of cars a lap down, preparations are being made to allow the cars to be on the same lap if there is a restart behind the safety car.
As yet, no signal has been given that the race will restart, as deliberations continue.
Sebastien Bourdais remains in his Toro Rosso on the grid, as he sits under an umbrella.
Ferrari have pushed Kimi Raikkonen's car off the grid, into the garage.
Sebastien Bourdais remains in his Toro Rosso on the grid, as he sits under an umbrella.
Ferrari have pushed Kimi Raikkonen's car off the grid, into the garage.
There is a possibility of the race resuming behind the safety car to complete the laps needed to award full points.
The rain is now falling heavily again as discussions continue regarding whether the race should continue.
Jarno Trulli is told on his team radio that Mark Webber, a GPDA director, thinks conditions are now too dark for a restart.
Lightning strikes again at the circuit, although the rain is certainly easing off from the torrential cloudburst earlier.
When the red flag came out conditions were impossible.
Lewis Hamilton was actually the quickest driver on the circuit, taking just over three-and-a-half minutes to lap the 5.543 km Sepang circuit.
The top seven drivers were the only ones to lap the track in under five minutes.
Nick Heidfeld was coming through Turn 7, doing no more than 30 mph. As soon as he tried to apply the throttle the BMW just snapped round on him. The drivers had absolutely no chance to continue racing in such levels of rain as we saw a short time ago.
Lewis Hamilton was actually the quickest driver on the circuit, taking just over three-and-a-half minutes to lap the 5.543 km Sepang circuit.
The top seven drivers were the only ones to lap the track in under five minutes.
Nick Heidfeld was coming through Turn 7, doing no more than 30 mph. As soon as he tried to apply the throttle the BMW just snapped round on him. The drivers had absolutely no chance to continue racing in such levels of rain as we saw a short time ago.
The rainfall has eased in recent minutes but the circuit is still flooded.
Kazuki Nakajima has stayed on the grid, and is standing close to his car as the heavy rain continues. He is drying his hair with a towel, as Brawn GP team boss Ross Brawn takes a walk down the grid.
Quote
"The visibility is nothing. With the amount of water we have now it is a really dangerous circuit and we can have a serious accident, I think, if we restart, so fingers crossed we don't start again."
Fernando Alonso speaking to British broadcaster BBC
Fernando Alonso speaking to British broadcaster BBC
Timo Glock is sitting in his Toyota at the red flag line, his helmet off, wondering at the conditions he sees in front of him.
Some of the drivers remain on the grid, awaiting further instructions.
A few - Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber among them - have gone back to their team garages or the pitwall to wait this shower out.
A few - Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber among them - have gone back to their team garages or the pitwall to wait this shower out.
The mechanics are getting drenched down on the grid as they continue to service the cars in case of a restart.
Felipe Massa is standing under an umbrella close to his Ferrari. As he was slowly heading round to the red flag line when the race was originally suspended, he was extremely agitated, asking his race engineer to bring out a clear visor for him.
The conditions had to be seen to be believed as the drivers courageously coaxed their cars round to the start-finish straight, in some of the most severe conditions ever seen during a grand prix.
The conditions had to be seen to be believed as the drivers courageously coaxed their cars round to the start-finish straight, in some of the most severe conditions ever seen during a grand prix.
Mark Webber tells the BBC that he doesn't feel the race should resume.
The teams expect this severe rain to continue for another 30 minutes.
Mark Webber has now wandered down to have a word with Fernando Alonso, as they both look at the waves of water that are now filling the track.
Rubens Barrichello has changed his visor for a clear one, for maximum visibility.
Rubens Barrichello has changed his visor for a clear one, for maximum visibility.
Half points will be awarded to the top eight if the race can not be restarted.
By: Emlyn Hughes, Geoff Creighton
Published:
Page:
