Formula 1: ZF Sachs partner Mercedes GP on the podium
ZF Sachs partner Mercedes GP took its first podium of the 2010 season at the third Formula 1 race. German Nico Rosberg, whose car is equipped with ZF Sachs Race Engineering dampers, followed Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber (both Red Bull Renault) in third place and, in doing so, scored the new Mercedes GP team痴 best result to date. His team mate Michael Schumacher was unlucky and had to retire on the tenth of 56 race laps due to a loose wheel nut.
Felipe Massa from ZF Sachs partner team Ferrari assumed the Drivers� World Championship lead ahead of team mate Fernando Alonso. In the manufacturers classification Ferrari also leads its nearest challenger by ten points. The two Ferrari drivers, who took 19th and 21st positions in a wet qualifying session, carved expertly through the field during the dry race thanks to ZF Sachs Engineering damper technology. Massa claimed seventh position at the flag, his team mate was even fifth, but retired due to an engine problem just before the finish.
STR Ferrari, another team relying on high-tech from ZF Sachs Race Engineering, collected its first two world championship points of the 2010 season. The Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari, in whose STR Ferrari ZF Sachs clutch and damper technology is used, finished ninth.
Result GP Malaysia (MAL), round 3, FIA Formula 1 World Championship, 02.04.-04.04.2010:
1. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Renault, 1h 33m 48.412s
2. Mark Webber, Red Bull Renault, + 4.849s
3. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes-Benz, + 13.504s, ZF Sachs
4. Robert Kubica, Renault, + 18.589s
5. Adrian Sutil, Force India-Mercedes, + 21.059s
6. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes, + 23.471s
7. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, + 27.068s, ZF Sachs
8. Jenson Button, McLaren-Mercedes, + 37.918s
9. Jaime Alguersuari, STR Ferrari, + 1m 10.602s, ZF Sachs
10. Nico H�kenberg, Williams-Cosworth, + 1m 13.399s
Drivers� World Championship standings:
1. Felipe Massa, 39 points; 2. Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, 37; 4. Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button, 35; 6. Lewis Hamilton, 31; 7. Robert Kubica, 30; 8. Mark Webber, 24; 9. Adrian Sutil, 10; 10. Michael Schumacher, 9.
Manufacturers� World Championship standings:
1. Ferrari, 76 points; 2. McLaren-Mercedes, 66; 3. Red Bull Renault, 61; 4. Mercedes, 44; 5. Renault, 30; 6. Force India-Mercedes, 18; 7. Williams-Cosworth, 6; 8. STR Ferrari, 2.