Formula 1 News

Kimi Raikkonen wins 2008 Malaysian Grand Prix 

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen won easily today the 2008 Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang’s International Circuit, proving that last weekend’s engine problems for the Maranello-based team are now fixed. Raikkonen’s teammate, Felipe Massa lost the chance of completing a one-two for Ferrari, as on lap 30 the Brazilian stuck on the gravel and had to stop. BMW’s Robert Kubica finished 2nd followed by Heikki Kovalainen (3rd), Jarno Trulli (4th), Lewis Hamilton (5th), Nick Heidfeld (6th), Mark Webber (7th) and Fernando Alonso (8th).

2008 Malaysian Grand Prix, lap by lap highlights:

• Lap 1 – Race start. Both Ferraris keep the lead; good start for Lewis Hamilton who gains immediately the 5th position.
• Lap 2 – Timo Glock’s TF108 spins on the asphalt following a collision with Nico Rosberg. Glock is forced to stop. Massa leads the race followed by Raikkonen, Kubica, Webber and Hamilton. Sebastien Bourdais, out.
• Lap 3 – Nico Rosberg heads to the pits for a front wing change.
• Lap 4 – Fernando Alonso overtakes David Coulthard; the Spaniard is now 9th.
• Lap 6 – Adrian Sutil, out. Probably a gearbox issue for the German.
• Lap 9 – Kubica is 8” behind the Ferraris, Webber 12”, Hamilton 14”, Trulli 16”.
• Lap 13 – Massa still 1st, Raikkonen 2nd, Kubica 3rd, Webber 4th, Hamilton 5th.
• Lap 14 – Hamilton, who keeps blocking his front left wheel, tries to keep up on Webber.
• Lap 16 – Nakajima and Webber head to the pitlane for a pit stop.
• Lap 17 – Pit stop for Felipe Massa, Nick Heidfeld and Jarno Trulli.
• Lap 18 – Pit stop for Raikkonen who now takes the lead. Massa 2nd.
• Lap 19 – Pit stop for Lewis Hamilton who has problems with his front right wheel. He will get back on the track 19” later.
• Lap 21 – Pit stop for Kubica. The Polish is now on 3rd.
• Lap 22 – Pit stop for Fernando Alonso.
• Lap 23 – Raikkonen 1st, Massa 2nd, Kubica 3rd, Kovalainen 4th, Trulli 5th.
• Lap 29 – Webber, Hamilton and Heidfeld are fighting for the 6th position.
• Lap 30 – Felipe Massa out! The Brazilian made a mistake; he lost control of his F2008 and stuck on the gravel.
• Lap 35 – Raikkonen 1st, Kubica 2nd, Kovalainen 3rd, Trulli 4th, Webber 5th, Hamilton 6th, Heidfeld 7th and Alonso 8th.
• Lap 38 – Pit stop for Kimi Raikkonen.
• Lap 39 – Pit stop for Trulli and Webber.
• Lap 40 – Pit stop for Heidfeld and Alonso.
• Lap 43 – Pit stop for Robert Kubica.
• Lap 44 – Pit stop for Lewis Hamilton; no problems for the Briton this time.
• Lap 45 – Pit stop for Kovalainen.
• Lap 51 – Jarno Trulli, currently on 4th, is trying to keep firmly his position as Hamilton (5th) is getting closer to him.
• Lap 56 -Kimi Raikkonen wins the 2008 Malaysian Grand Prix. The Finn, is followed by Robert Kubica on 2nd, Heikki Kovalainen on 3rd, Jarno Trulli on 4th, Lewis Hamilton on 5th, Nick Heidfeld on 6th, Mark Webber on 7th and Fernando Alonso on 8th.

2008 Malaysian Grand Prix Race Results: