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Malaysia 2010 - Race highlights - A dry day in Sepang allows the Grand Prix to unfold unhindered

Published by Christine

There was no rain! After everything that happened yesterday in qualifying we were expecting more of the same, but the weather behaved. There were plenty of reliability issues in the hot conditions, but it was Red Bull that dominated from start to finish. Here's how the race unfolded, step by step.

As it happened: 2010 Malaysia - The Race

  • 08:30

    Morning everyone. Are we all up and ready for the race? We've got about 30 minutes until it gets going. Grab yourselves a drink and a snack and settle in.

  • 08:32

    The pit lane has opened, drivers heading to the grid.

  • 08:32

    From @InsideFerrari: at the moment no rain for the next hour

  • 08:32

    From @MikeGascoyne: Drivers getting in, cars will both do two laps to the grid with two practice starts from end of pit lane. Engines starting

  • 08:33

    The BBC are live streaming the race online: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8601632.stm

  • 08:33

    Autosport have live text commentary: http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/203

  • 08:34

    And of course, don't forget the numbers. http://www.formula1.com/live_timing/ and www.mclaren.com.

  • 08:40

    De la Rosa appears to have stalled at the end of the pitlane, the mechanics attend to him.

  • 08:43

    Pedro stopped on the out lap as well.

  • 08:44

    Claire is on the grid: http://twitpic.com/1d4acf

  • 08:47

    From Autosport Live: De la Rosa's Sauber is pushed behind the barriers and his day is over.

  • 08:48

    From @VirginRacing: Track now cleared! And pitlane closed now. We are removing the brake cooling, temperatures very critical in this heat.

  • 08:53

    Disaster for de la Rosa. Qualified 12th but his race is over before it began. He's currently doing interviews with the media.

  • 08:54

    From @sarahholtf1: Last minute weather check: it's still sunny and super hot but there are more clouds gathering. Looking good for a dry start I reckon.

  • 09:01

    Vettel told he needs to do a good job on engine cooling.

  • 09:02

    From @rf1paddockpass: Most drivers are on option to start this race

  • 09:02

    Track temp - 44. Air temp - 32.

  • 09:03

    Cars are lined up, lights going on.

  • 09:04

    Vettel and Webber side by side through the first corner, Vettel gets past, Webber attempting to get it back.

  • 09:05

    After 1 lap - VET, WEB, ROS, KUB, SUT, MSC, HUL, LIU, PET, KOB.

  • 09:05

    Hamilton up to 13th, with the Ferraris up behind him as well.

  • 09:08

    Replays show Barrichello was stopped on the grid, he is now in 17th.

  • 09:09

    Glock has stopped at Turn 9.

  • 09:09

    From @tonyfernandes: we are off. nervous. glock has hit jarno

  • 09:10

    Glock's car is hooked up to the JCB - yellow flags at that corner.

  • 09:11

    Whilst Hamilton is up to 10th, having just passed Kobayashi, Massa is 14th, Alonso 15th and Button 16th.

  • 09:11

    From Autosport: Webber is lapping slightly quicker than his team-mate but there is little he can do in the dirty air of the leader.

  • 09:12

    Hamilton passes Petrov, who ran wide at the final corner.

  • 09:12

    Petrov regains the position at Turn 1.

  • 09:14

    Webber radio: "Be thinking about the tyres. We need them to be quick at the end of the stint."

  • 09:16

    Hamilton gets back past Petrov but weaves around like crazy on the home straight.

  • 09:17

    Barrichello has pitted from 17th place.

  • 09:17

    Button passes Alonso at Turn 1.

  • 09:18

    Kobayashi has stopped at the side of the track - stuck in gear - the marshals trying to push the car out of the way.

  • 09:19

    Hamilton shown a black and white flag - a warning to behave a bit better.

  • 09:19

    Button pits.

  • 09:20

    Schumacher has slowed right down, pulls off track.

  • 09:21

    After 10 laps - VET, WEB, ROS, KUB, SUT, HUL, LIU, HAM, PET, ALG.

  • 09:23

    Kovalainen overtook di Grassi, then ran wide, allowing DIG back past - but they collided. Puncture for Kovi, damage to front wing for di Grassi.

  • 09:24

    Liuzzi has slowed out on track. Kovi has pitted for the puncture.

  • 09:26

    Petrov and Hulkenberg have pitted.

  • 09:26

    They both rejoin the track, but have lost places to Jenson Button.

  • 09:27

    Liuzzi has made it back to the pitlane, but they are pushing the car back into the Force India garage.

  • 09:27

    Buemi pits.

  • 09:29

    After 15 laps - VET, WEB, ROS, KUB, SUT, HAM, ALG, MAS, ALO, BUT.

  • 09:30

    Webber radio: "Sebastian's had the call to pit, stay with him."

  • 09:31

    From @clubforce: Tonio was in the pits. Team tried to get the car out. Engine trouble. He has retired. Unfortunate.

  • 09:32

    Schumacher: "Lost the wheel nut. Don't yet know the reason. No more drive was left. Very unusual for retirements for us, it's a shame."

  • 09:36

    Kovalainen has pitted again, his car is pushed back into the garage.

  • 09:38

    From @tonyfernandes: hydraulic problem with the heikki car. we try to fix. jarno has bodywork damage from glock hit

  • 09:38

    Sutil pits from 5th for the harder tyres.

  • 09:40

    Kubica pits from 4th, rejoins alongside the Ferrari.

  • 09:40

    Petrov and Alguersuari have a good ol' battle round a few corners, the Toro Rosso finally gets past, allowing Buemi to close up and overtake as well.

  • 09:41

    Alonso running in 7th, struggling with his gearbox.

  • 09:42

    Vettel pits first for Red Bull.

  • 09:43

    Vettel comes out millimetres ahead of Hamilton, but manages to stay ahead.

  • 09:44

    Webber pits, but a problem with the front right leaves him with a longer stop.

  • 09:44

    Webber rejoins behind Hamilton.

  • 09:47

    Kovalainen has rejoined the session.

  • 09:48

    Massa pits from 7th for the softer tyre.

  • 09:52

    Massa puts in the fastest lap of the race so far.

  • 09:53

    After 30 laps - VET, HAM, WEB, ROS, KUB, ALO, SUT, BUT, MAS, HUL.

  • 09:54

    Rosberg radio: "Hamilton will stop late and will come up behind you on much fresher rubber. You need to look after your tyres whilst controlling Kubica."

  • 09:55

    Hamilton pits and comes out side by side with Button, but gets the position.

  • 09:56

    From @MikeGascoyne: Forecast saying dry to end of race, heikki back out and ok

  • 09:58

    Ah-ha! From @clubforce: @factbytefactbox It was infact a throttle problem. We stand corrected.

  • 10:00

    Petrov has pulled off track, out of the race - yellow flags.

  • 10:02

    Buemi pits for the second time.

  • 10:05

    Alonso finally takes his first stop.

  • 10:09

    Alonso puts in the fastest lap of the race so far. Currently running 9th.

  • 10:10

    From @realTimoGlock: Wanted to catch Trulli in curve 9. He fought back and my tyres blocked. During the spin the engine shut down. Not possible to continue...

  • 10:10

    After 40 laps - VET, WEB, ROS, KUB, SUT, HAM, BUT, MAS, ALO, ALG.

  • 10:11

    Petrov reports it was a gearbox problem.

  • 10:12

    Hamilton radio on Sutil: "This guy is too quick on the straights."

  • 10:13

    If the race finished now, the championship would be Alonso on 38, Vettel, Button and Massa on 37 and Rosberg on 35.

  • 10:14

    Fastest sectors:

    • S1 - HAM 289 km/h
    • S2 - ALO 148 km/h
    • S3 - HAM 265 km/h
    • Trap - HAM 300 km/h
  • 10:14

    Webber radio: "You're pressing the throttle hard on the straights, looks like your foot is bouncing off."

  • 10:16

    Buemi passes Barrichello at Turn 1.

  • 10:17

    Massa passes Button, Alonso closes up behind the McLaren.

  • 10:19

    Barrichello pits.

  • 10:22

    From @rf1paddockpass: It's now 10 laps to go, it is clouding over a bit but it should remain dry for now

  • 10:25

    Both Hispania cars have passed Trulli now, his tyres aren't looking good.

  • 10:26

    Lucas di Grassi running 14th - will he finish the race?

  • 10:26

    After 50 laps - VET, WEB, ROS, KUB, SUT, HAM, MAS, BUT, ALO, ALG.

  • 10:29

    From Autosport: There isn't a lot of spark in the Sutil, Hamilton Massa pack at the moment with the best fight still that between Button and Alonso.

  • 10:30

    Alonso's gearbox sounds very, very unhealthy, but he is maintaining the pressure on Button.

  • 10:35

    Alonso made an attempt on Button but ran wide and handed the place back. A few corners later, his engine gives up - smoke pouring out the back of the car.

  • 10:37

    Vettel takes the chequered flag, Webber and Rosberg will join him on the podium.

  • 10:40

    Full results to come shortly.

  • 10:54
  • 10:54

    Thank you for joining us for the Malaysia GP today. The rain held off throughout, and now we're off to analyse all that happened. See you next time!

All content in the series Malaysia 2010