Michelin wins again in Malaysia

The 2003 Malaysian Grand Prix would see Michelin supplied McLaren driver Kimi Räikkönen take a comfortable victory. This would be the second straight success for Michelin, the first time Bibendum has scored back-to-back victories since it returned to F1 two years ago.

Räikkönen would take the lead after the first scheduled pit stops and was never seriously challenged thereafter. He finished 39.2 seconds clear of Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello while Renault's Alonso went on to finish third. The result was especially satisfying for Alonso, who has been trying to stave off a feverish illness for most of the weekend. “I felt very unwell by the end of the race,” he said.

BMW WilliamsF1 Team driver Ralf Schumacher and Renault's Jarno Trulli also scored points for Michelin, in fourth and fifth places respectively.

Pierre Dupasquier, Michelin Motorsport Director, commented on various aspects of the race.

MICHELIN AND McLAREN AT THE DOUBLE
Kimi Räikkönen (West McLaren Mercedes) won today’s Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang. It was the young Finn’s first Formula One success – and Michelin’s 67th. McLaren and Michelin have won the opening two rounds of this season’s world championship and, for the first time in his career, Räikkönen leads the F1 points table. Michelin motorsport director Pierre Dupasquier said: “It is always a pleasure to see a young driver score his first victory and I offer Kimi my warm congratulations. He has come close to winning on several occasions in the past and he deserves this success.”

WELCOME TO THE NEW GENERATION
Raikkonen's victory wasn’t the only career first in Malaysia. Pole position winner Fernando Alonso (Renault/Michelin) overcame a fierce fever and late-race gearbox problems to take third – the first time a Spaniard has recorded an F1 world championship podium finish since the 1956 British GP at Silverstone, when Alfonso de Portago came home second. Pierre Dupasquier said: “Kimi and Fernando did a fantastic job today and drove with great maturity in difficult conditions. It has been an extremely satisfying race for us – especially as some of our front-running partners might also have recorded strong points finishes if they hadn’t been afflicted by various problems beyond their control. Our chances were slightly compromised today, so it was very satisfying to have two cars on the podium and two more in the top five.”

HOME ON THE RANGE
The latest Michelin F1 tyres first appeared in the second half of last season and have been developed constantly ever since. Pierre Dupasquier said: “With the current F1 regulations it is difficult to know how competitive you are until the race starts, but I think our performances during the past two grands prix have proved beyond doubt that we have an extremely competitive product. Our partner teams made two scheduled stops and, despite the fierce heat, our tyres proved to be consistent and durable.”

NEXT STOP, BRAZIL
The F1 world championship continues two weeks from now in Interlagos, Brazil. Pierre Dupasquier said: “We have performed strongly at Interlagos in the past but face a slight trip into the unknown this time because large parts of the track are due to be resurfaced. We have a little bit of time to think about which tyres we’ll be taking."