This weekend saw the start of the second round of the 2007 Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit in the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. Ambient and surface temperatures were hot and dry at 35 and 50 degrees Celsius, hot enough to ensure the discomfort of the drivers.

At 10am, the first practice session started to an ambient temperature of 30 degrees C and a track temperature of 37 degrees C. The session proceeded smoothly for the Panasonic Toyota Racing machines, with both drivers finishing in the top 10, Jarno Trulli in seventh and Ralf Schumacher in ninth.

However, it was a different story for the afternoon’s practice, when the temperature had risen to a sweltering 35 degrees C and an even hotter 40 degrees on the track surface. Suddenly both drivers found themselves struggling against a lack a grip, forcing them to change their settings each time they pitted in an attempt to keep abreast of the changing conditions. They were still working hard, but without satisfactory results as the session came to an end.

Despite this though, Ralf Schumacher finished the first day in a respectable eighth position. Jarno Trulli completed 34 laps and in doing so, collected valuable data for the team.

The fastest time of the day of 1’34”972, recorded in the first practice session, saw Felipe Massa (Ferrari) in top position at the end of day one.

The second day of the Malaysian GP consisted of practice and qualifying. Temperatures remained much the same as the day before; however, a few clouds dotted the sky, which kept the track temperature down just a little.

A huge leap in temperatures during the previous day’s afternoon practice left Panasonic Toyota Racing struggling with grip. However, the slightly lower track temperatures meant conditions were similar to those during the tests completed at Sepang just prior to the Grand Prix, which helped the team immensely. Ralf Schumacher finished in ninth, while Jarno Trulli found himself back in 20th after an electrical problem that occurred late in the session. Even so, the 16 laps he did complete left him on top of his setup ahead of the afternoon’s qualifier.

The first period of qualifying started to an ambient temperature of 34 degrees C and a track surface temperature of 49 degrees. Marking times just over 1’35” saw Ralf Schumacher proceed to the second period, during which he beat his previous best time to finish in the top 10. Neither driver was able to improve on their position in the final period; however they both finished in the top ten – Trulli in eighth and R. Schumacher in ninth – to give the team their second double-top-ten start in a row.

Felipe Massa (Ferrari) secured his first pole of the season and his fourth to date with his time of 1’35”043.

Over 11,500 fans made their way to the circuit on race day at the Malaysian Grand Prix – the first of the two back-to-back races in the Asian Round.

Despite rain having fallen overnight, the skies had cleared by Sunday morning. When the formation lap got underway, the ambient temperature had risen to 36 degrees C and the track to 53 degrees C.

Panasonic Toyota Racing lined up for the start in eighth and ninth positions on the grid. Both drivers were hoping to make a break at the start; however, both Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher were slow off the mark and were swallowed by the group at their rear at the first corner. Trulli somehow broke away from them, coming out of the second corner in ninth. Ralf, however, was not so lucky, passing the start/finish line in 13th.

Trulli continued on in strong form, passing Giancarlo Fisichella to be within the points in eighth position when he went in for his first pit stop of the race. He returned to the course in 13th, but was back in eighth after all drivers had completed their first round of pit stops.

A tail-to-nose battle between Trulli and Fisichella ensued in the second stint; however, Trulli was unable to get past him before pitting for the second time in the 38th lap. After his pit stop, Trulli dropped back as far as 10th at one stage, but had moved up in position to seventh by the time his rivals had completed their second pit stops. In a fairly smooth flowing race that saw 18 machines cross the finish line, Trulli finished in seventh to give the team back-to-back points.

Ralf Schumacher had a less fortunate race, a slow puncture in his front right tyre appearing after his first pit stop forcing to pit yet again soon after. With luck running against him, it was all he could do to complete the race, but complete it he did, taking in the chequered flag in 15th.

Result:
Fernando Alonso (McLaren) secured hi first win of the season, taking his career total to 16.