Malaysian Grand Prix: Predicting the Podiums

The Malaysian Grand Prix is this weekend, and if last week's Australian Grand Prix was something to go by, racing fans are surely in for a treat once again. No less than six Formula One champions are racing against each other this season, and that ensures competition all the way through. 

The cars undoubtedly matter. McLaren looks the fastest at the moment. Red Bull is not looking as invincible as last season. This has given Mercedes, Lotus and Ferrari (surprisingly) a fighting chance for the remaining positions among the top five in any given race.

Achieving a race win for the drivers of teams other than the assumed top two of McLaren and Red Bull will be very hard. A podium, however, is not out of reach to the same extent. That is what makes this season more competitive and so very interesting.

I will put my neck on the line and say that there will be at least one win per champion this season. That is for the end of the season, though. Here is predicting the podium positions at the more immediate Malaysian Grand Prix.  

Third: Sebastian Vettel

The prediction for third place is for present world champion, Sebastian Vettel. He qualified in sixth place, two places behind teammate Mark Webber. He will start from fifth, though, because of Kimi Raikkonen's five-place grid penalty for changing and having a new gear box.   

One Mercedes and one Lotus in front of Vettel tells you that the Red Bull team is not as comfortable this year as it was last. All said and done, there is a huge benefit for Vettel to gain because of a gamble he took in qualifying. He qualified with hard compound tires on Saturday, which means that he has an extra set of medium tires waiting to be unleashed on the track come Sunday. 

The knowledge of that does whet an appetite of a fan who loves cars going wheel to wheel. Red Bull has split its strategy, but I believe Vettel will be the one to come out on top. The experience of the two- time world champion will take him to third position at the Malaysian Grand Prix 2012, ahead of his teammate Webber. 

Prediction: Vettel, third place in Malaysian Grand Prix 2012.

Second: Jenson Button

At No. 2, we have Jenson Button. After winning the Australian Grand Prix, Button will be looking to consolidate his position at the top of the driver's standings.

Button is on the front row with teammate Lewis Hamilton. Why did I reiterate that? Well, for starters, the drivers will start on a long stretch of straight road. Secondly, Button has two dangerous drivers in Michael Schumacher and Mark Webber behind him.

If that was not hard enough, the thorn of ambition will be there to sting Button as well. He will want to outdo his teammate and will try to wrestle for the top spot in the first lap. It might well be worth the risk, but I do not fancy him being able to get ahead of Hamilton, in this race at least. 

Prediction: Button, runner-up in Malaysian Grand Prix 2012.

Winner: Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton has been the fastest driver this season. The season started only last weekend, but Hamilton has set the pace and in a way let others know about the work to be done if they want to get near the benchmark laid by him.

Only Hamilton will be able to explain why he did not win in Australia. I am sure he will not be wanting to answer the same questions at Sepang. Starting from the pole, I expect Hamilton to win this one very comfortably indeed.

Prediction: Hamilton, winner of Malaysian Grand Prix 2012.

Thanks for reading.