Friday: Red Bull positions itself as one of the leaders in the race

Just a week ago in Australia, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel were struggling during the practice session on Friday, but this week on the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, the situation is quite different.

The two drivers, like Williams, finished both practice sessions in the top 10, and even better in the afternoon within the top 5. Without KERS and without a controversial diffuser, these results are the fruit of the prowess of the chief designer, Adrian Newey. He has envisioned a more than performant RBR5, which bodes well for the rest of the season.

Sebastian Vettel – 9th and 3rd:

« The heat in Malaysia always surprises you, even if you’ve been here for a few days before driving the car. It’s very hot in the cockpit, and no matter how prepared you are, the first outing is always an unpleasant surprise, but you quickly adapt to it. »

« Every time you go into the cockpit, it’s as if you’re taking a shower. Fortunately, I have a bag with ice near me. Today was a good day with smooth operation. We completed our program by doing many laps and obtaining a lot of information on our tires. There were no major issues with the car. »

Mark Webber – 8th and 5th:

« This day went much better for us in terms of reliability than Friday in Melbourne, it was a big step forward. Both cars faced the heat, but they were able to withstand it, which is good! We completed our program on time. In terms of performance, it’s not too bad. We have a bit of work to do this evening, but overall it was a very good day for the team and for me. »