Malaysia in a Week: Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Vettel, Hamilton, Rosberg

Paul di Resta was lucky to benefit from the Sauber disqualifications in a languishing Force India car. The team has shown in the past that it can threaten above the midfield bunch. I predict that Force India will make some impressions before season's end—but not in time for Malaysia.

Flavio Briatore should limit his comments to choosing wine and party girls since he obviously knows more about both than he does about F1. To suggest that Ferrari should give up after the first race of the 2011 season is a testament to the decadent "sportsman's" nature. I also expect Schumacher to come to the fore, in spite of Briatore's criticism of the man who won almost twice as many driver's championships as any other driver in history.

Sergio Perez, the rookie Sauber driver from Mexico, surprised everyone, including the Pirelli people, by completing the Australian Grand Prix with just one tire stop, while every other car required two or three stops on the fast-wearing Pirellis. The unexpected achievement earned the young driver a seventh-place finish which was later snatched from his grasp by disqualification of both Saubers for an infraction of size rules on the new movable wing. I predict that the Sauber team will impress again and again during the 2011 season, although not on a single tire change again. I believe that was a fluke.

Lewis Hamilton has again spewed ignorance. For those of you who are Hamilton fans, I fully agree that he's one helluva driver, but every time he opens his arrogant mouth, he is offensive to the point where some observers regret that he's so good a driver. This time, he claims that the Red Bull wing flexes illegally. He makes this claim about a wing that has passed close scrutiny by experts several times. Of course, he's just P/Oed that he was well out-qualified by the reigning driving champion, Vettel. Hamilton is a very irritating, full-of-himself man who really should have learned by now that his behaviour is an example of all that is not quality and dignity in a celebrity. Get over yourself, Ham.

Adrian Newey kind of grumbles in a good-natured way that the McLarens improved their performance tremendously by copying his Red Bull exhaust innovation. He recognizes the flattery of it but hopes it doesn't help his competitors to beat his own team. In any case, one can hardly criticize Newey, who seems to take winning designs to wherever he works. Even Great Britain recognizes his unique talent—he has been awarded the Segrave Trophy by the Royal Automobile Club. The award commemorates Sir Henry Segrave's life to recognize the spirit of adventure for outstanding achievements in transportation on land, in the air, or over water. Newey is the only F1 designer to create cars that have won championships for three different teams: Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull. I've heard he starts his designs by hand, with a pencil on a sheet of paper. Do you think it's true?

Bernie Ecclestone has expressed concern that the 2013 F1 engine format will create an unattractive sound. I couldn't disagree more. I remember when smaller, turbocharged engines were the F1 standard. My recollection is that it was downright thrilling to listen to those little monsters screaming around the tracks. Get with the program, Bernie, before you fade totally into the haze of the past.

Niki Lauda has made another scathing criticism... his time against the new F1 movable wing system. Niki was a great multiple championship winning driver, but now I feel embarrassed for him every time he opens fire with his blunt, uncalled-for tirades. I prefer to remember him as he was behind the wheel and overlook his decline into a curmudgeon persona.

Sebastien Vettel would prefer to stuff a V12 into his Red Bull, rather than equip it with KERS and a four-banger with a blower. His preference is to get behind the wheel of a brute of a car. This observer wonders if the brilliant young driver senses that his brutal driving style might suffer in the kind of equipment that would require more calculated finesse than does today's “butch” V8s.

Nico Rosberg is rightly disappointed in the lacklustre performance of the Mercedes team cars driven by him and his teammate Schumacher. Mercedes director of motorsport, Norbert Haug agrees that there is a serious struggle ahead to overtake Red Bull. Both opinions were given in interviews with Sport Bild. At the same time, Red Bull's motor racing consultant, Helmut Marko boasts in Sportwoche that only his Red Bull team, and those of Ferrari and McLaren can develop a car up to a competitive level.

For my Canadian readers - Malaysia GP television broadcast times on TSN:

Qualifying - Saturday,  April 9, 3:55 AM e/t, 12:55 AM p/t

Malaysia   - Sunday,  April 10, 3:55 AM e/t, 12:55 AM p/t