F1 Mid-Fielders Turn to Malaysia for Answers

In the final year of a relatively stable rules package for Formula 1 constructors, pressure is on the mid-field to catch up with the front runners, the rationale being time affords teams to develop when tighter financial resources hamper initial development. At the end of this season, time runs out on the old car and big financial resources will help the front runners with the new chassis.

Last week’s season opener in Melbourne saw the mid-field in many story lines. This week’s second round will go a long way in telling a more complete story, either validating first impressions or turning them on their heels.

Maybe, but not quite yet

Force India and driver Adrian Sutil were somewhat the revelation of the Australia Grand Prix, holding the lead for a number of laps and finishing in a solid 7^th position, one place in front of Paul Di Resta in the second Force India. Race results suggest a possible breakthrough to the top of the mid-field, and maybe even a latching onto the bottom of the front-running cars.

Not so fast.

Sutil started the Melbourne race on the harder, more durable “medium” Pirelli tire and greatly benefited from a longer first stint before pitting. As front running teams come to grips with, well, grip, and the durability of the Pirelli rubber, those types of good fortunes are likely to be much harder to stumble upon. Perhaps a truer test of the Force India’s capabilities lies in the outright pace of the car in qualifying. Di Resta managed to break into Q3 for the first time in a long while, while Sutil managed 12^th in his first race weekend in 15 months.

Melbourne was a solid start for the Force India team and final positions were certainly earned on merit. Malaysia’s second round will provide observers more data on whether the team’s start was as best as it’s going to get in 2013.

Needing a U-turn

Pastor Maldonado spent the season’s first weekend talking about how his Williams chassis was “undriveable.” That’s quite a statement coming from a driver whose sponsorship funding is considered by many in the F1 paddock as his most serviceable skill.

Williams had a very decent car early in 2012 and Maldonado provided a long overdue victory for the team with his magical win at Barcelona in early May. From then on, though, the rest of the season was pretty dismal, with then Williams driver Bruno Senna most often outperforming the often crashing Maldonado.

Maldonado’s race in Melbourne ended in the gravel trap after Maldonado spun in first corner, a fitting end considering the car’s performance in the first 34 laps. Despite showing promise in pre-season testing, Williams managed only 16^th and 17^th in qualifying and a 14^th place race finish by rookie Valtteri Bottas. Malaysia is the team’s first chance to turn it around and will go a long way in determining the prospects for 2013.

To start, you have to … start

Sauber got off to the shakiest of all possible starts when lead driver Nico Hülkenberg had his car withdrawn before the race’s start due to fuel system issues, spoiling an 11^th place qualifying position. Rookie teammate Esteban Gutiérrez improved upon his 18^th place in qualifying to finish the race in 13^th.

The Sauber car has garnered a reputation over the past two seasons as being very kind on its Pirelli race tires, and if ever an opportunity was squandered, last weekend’s tire management-plagued Australian Grand Prix was it. Having team leader Hülkenberg, one of the top young drivers in the sport, on the track is critical for this team to succeed. Mistakes like last weekend have to stop. Now.

A second chance to make a first impression

With teams going directly from Australia to Malaysia, most developmental upgrades will wait until next month’s third round. As such, this weekend provides the second of back-to-back opportunities for teams, and observers, to evaluate car and driver prospects for 2013. There are many races in F1 and sometimes the closest and most compelling happen away from the sharp end of the field. The mid-field looks to Malaysia to confirm or rebut the season’s first impressions, with some teams looking for a change while others look for more of the same.

Run laps on Twitter @RayHartjen