The 1999 Malaysian Grand Prix
15th - 17th October

TV screenshots
Warning: quite a lot!

Sunday - race

Ferrari's appeal succeeds

Atlas, 23rd October: Max Mosley has announced in Paris, that Ferrari's appeal was accepted by the FIA's Court of Appeal. Mosley said the panel of judges found the rules and regulations are to be blamed in this case for not being clear enough.

Ferrari used article 3.12.6 of the FIA's technical regulations, to argue their case yesterday, Mosley revealed. The article states that "To help overcome any possible manufacturing problems, a tolerance of +/- 5mm is permissible across these surfaces." Ferrari successfully claimed that the stewards' measurement at Sepang were wrong, and that if the vane is turned to a certain angle, the flat underside falls within those allowed 5mm in the regulations.

"The court of appeal criticised, I think with some justification, our methods of measurement." Mosley said. "There was also criticism by the court as to the regulation itself. Those two criticisms of the methods of measurement are going to be looked into very carefully.

"Having regard to the fact that the dimensions in the vane exceeded the tolerance of the regulations and having regard to the uncertainty introduced by the methods of measurement and the wording of the regulations, the court of appeal have decided to overturn the decision of the stewards and therefore the original result of the race stands in its entirety. That is to say, the drivers have the points they earned in the race and so does the constructor, Ferrari."

Ferrari to appeal

Atlas F1: Ferrari has filed an appeal against the decision to disqualify both of its cars from the Malaysian Grand Prix results. According to sources in the team, the appeal will be based on the claim that the side barge boards, which were found to not conform with the FIA technical regulations, were approved previously by the FIA scrutiny, and were used, under approval in the European Grand Prix as well.

While Mika Hakkinen has been declared the winner of the Malaysian Grand Prix - and therefore the World Champion - the result has not been made final just yet, due to Ferrari's appeal which will be heard by the International Court of Appeal of the FIA probably later this week. Until then, the result is provisional and not confirmed.

Ferrari disqualified

Stewart-Ford Press Release. 17th October: Both Ferrari drivers, Eddie Irvine and Michael Schumacher, were disqualified from the Malaysian Grand Prix after their cars were found to be in breach of the regulations at the end of the race.

Irvine and Schumacher had finished first and second in the race with Mika Hakkinen third and Stewart-Ford drivers Johnny Herbert and Rubens Barrichello fourth and fifth respectively. According to the FIA's technical delegate, Jo Bauer, aerodynamic bodywork on the Ferraris were deemed to have broken the regulations. In a statement he said: 

'Following the race car numbers three and four were checked for bodywork conformity. When checking the bodywork facing the ground (article 3.12.1) it was noticed that the upper parts of the deflector panels do not lie on either the reference or step planes. In my opinion neither car does comply up to 10 millimetres with article 3.12.1 of the 1999 FIA Formula One technical regulations.'

The Ferrari team were given the chance to appeal but it seems unlikely that it will be upheld. The disqualification means that Stewart-Ford drivers Johnny Herbert and Rubens Barrichello will be promoted to second and third places respectively. The race win, and the world drivers'championship, goes to Mika Hakkinen. The decision gives the Stewart-Ford team 10 points from the race and boosts their championship tally to 41. It also means they assume fourth place with Williams third on 33.

STEWART-FORD NOTES AND QUOTES

Weather: Hot & Humid (ambient temperature 36-31°C, track temperature 44-34°C)

Johnny Herbert finished fourth in today's Malaysian Grand Prix. Team mate Rubens Barrichello claimed fifth place. Today's result moves the Stewart-Ford team to fourth place in the Constructors Championship - three points ahead of Williams. Johnny started the race from fifth position and adopted a one stop strategy. Rubens started sixth and was on two stops.

JOHNNY HERBERT Car No.17 (SF3-05)

More points, but not quite the podium?

'I'm a little disappointed not to have hung on to third place but it was a good result for the team. I was trying hard to hold off Hakkinen but I guess the new tyres he took on at his 'splash and dash' stop gave him the edge. It was a very solid effort. It was a tough race, hard on tyres and hard physically. I made only one mistake all weekend and that was running wide and allowing Hakkinen to pass.'

RUBENS BARRICHELLO Car No.16 (SF3-04)

How demanding was the race?

'I had to push hard all the time because of the two-stop strategy. It also meant that the tyres took quite a lot of punishment. I had a brake pedal problem after my second stop so I backed off a little but I also had to be mindful that Frentzen was closing so I had to push again towards the end. It was hard work out there - I'm absolutely exhausted.'

JACKIE STEWART, Stewart-Ford Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

'This result is down to the collective efforts of the whole Stewart-Ford team. The fact that we can come to a brand new circuit like Sepang, without any previous circuit simulation data, and remain on the pace all weekend is made possible by the technical expertise of partners such as Hewlett Packard. The preparatory set-up information they were able to provide has been invaluable.'

PAUL STEWART, Stewart-Ford Chief Operating Officer

'A well-earned fourth and fifth place which is fantastic. Both Johnny and Rubens drove brilliant races today. Our mission was to come here and overtake Williams and move to fourth place in the Championship which feels great. But there's still one race to go and we'll be working hard to keep hold of that position in Japan.'

TYRONE JOHNSON, Technical Manager, Ford Racing Research and Vehicle Technology

'A good all-round performance from everybody in the Stewart-Ford team. We have been quick throughout the weekend and the fact that we are now fourth in the Constructors Championship is a well deserved reward for everybody. Once again we experienced no engine problems and the team is in good shape to finish the season in style in Japan in two weeks' time.'

Race results from F1today:

Saturday - qualifying

STEWART-FORD NOTES AND QUOTES

Weather: ambient temperature 32 deg C, track temperature 43 deg C, humidity 58.

Johnny Herbert will start the inaugural Malaysian Grand Prix from fifth while Rubens Barrichello qualified sixth - equaling the Stewart-Ford team's best 1999 qualifying performance from the Austrian Grand Prix earlier this year.

JOHNNY HERBERT Car No.17 (SF3-06)

Time: 1:40.937. Position: fifth.

A very satisfying qualifying session?

'Yes, for sure. I feel so much more confident after my victory at Nürburgring where I proved that I can win and after being quick in last week's Barcelona test things looked encouraging coming to Malaysia. We were quick yesterday and again today and our consistency bodes well for the race. The conditions kept changing throughout the session and we managed to adapt the car very well. It's a real shame that Coulthard relegated me to fifth place on his last lap.'

Will the weather be a factor in the race?

'I don't think the hot and humid conditions will affect me too much tomorrow. I only really feel it when I sit in the garage or get out of the car. When you are driving you learn to focus, get in to a rhythm, and just forget about it.'

RUBENS BARRICHELLO Car No.16 (SF3-04)

Time: 1:41.351. Position: sixth.

What was your target today?

'There is no doubt I could have been knocking on the door of the top four if you look at my first sector time on my last flying lap. Unfortunately I was blocked by another car which ruined any chance of improving on sixth place. But being on the third row is a great effort by the team.'

What was your strategy for qualifying?

'We kept an eye on the movement of clouds and tried to time our runs when there was a little bit of cloud cover but I think generally the conditions improved as the session went on. I think the tyres stood up pretty well so it's going to be an interesting race.'

PAUL STEWART, Stewart-Ford Chief Operating Officer

'It's nice going into the penultimate race with both cars on the third row of the grid. The performance is indicative of what we have been capable of as a team all season long. If we get a good, clean start we should pick up further Championship points. A special word of thanks to Harold, our simulation driver, for his sterling efforts this weekend.'

TYRONE JOHNSON, Technical Manager, Ford Racing Research and Vehicle Technology

'Congratulations to everybody in the Stewart-Ford team, Visteon and Cosworth Racing in making all the necessary efforts to get both cars in the top six at the team's first visit to the Sepang circuit. We will stick with our original plan of using Series 3 engines for tomorrow's race as this specification has now proved itself at this circuit.'

Qualifying times from F1Today:

Friday - Practice

STEWART-FORD NOTES AND QUOTES

Weather: Morning rain giving way to hot and humid conditions (ambient temperature 28 deg C, track temperature 30 deg C, humidity 80).

Rubens Barrichello finished seventh in today's Free Practice for Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix. Johnny Herbert was 10th fastest.

JOHNNY HERBERT Car No.17 (SF3-05)

Time: 1:43.349. Position: tenth (37 laps)

What are your first impressions of the circuit?

'I like it. It's challenging, fast in places with a good mix of turns. Perhaps turn two is a bit slow but otherwise it's very demanding - just how we like it. It feels grippy in most places and there will be chances for overtaking.'

What was the focus of your efforts today?

'We made a number of set-up changes and improved the car as the day went on. Coming here cold, as it were, we spent a lot of time learning the circuit characteristics to get a clearer idea of downforce and general set-up requirements.'

RUBENS BARRICHELLO Car No.16 (SF3-04)

Time: 1:43.042. Position: seventh (40 laps)

Are you pleased with your day's work?

'I'm pleased with the way it went today considering we were all starting from scratch. We have a solid base from which to choose a direction for qualifying. We have a little more tinkering to do on set-up tomorrow to be in good shape for qualifying. Having experienced the circuit now, it's clear that tyre choice will be important for race strategy.'

How are you coping with the weather conditions?

'It's very hot when you come back to the garage. Being a Brazilian I should be used to it but it's a combination of the heat and humidity. Johnny says he has never seen my face so red, but he should look in the mirror.'

PAUL STEWART, Stewart-Ford Chief Operating Officer

'A pretty uneventful day without any dramas. We made good preparation in terms of deciding on the optimum set-up for the circuit. This brand new circuit has met with approval from both drivers. The track surface is very good and the course designer and builders should be congratulated on a job well done.'

TYRONE JOHNSON, Technical Manager Ford Racing Research and Vehicle Technology

'The work we did at last week's Barcelona test combined with the better and more consistent driveability of the Series 3 engine have proved beneficial at this unknown Sepang circuit - helping both drivers to concentrate on setting up the cars and getting to know this new circuit. We will be using Series 3 engines both in qualifying and for the race.'

Practice times from F1Today:

Race Preview from Stewart-Ford

STEWART-FORD NOTES AND QUOTES

The Malaysian Grand Prix is a new addition to Formula One. The circuit at Sepang lies 25km south of Kuala Lumpur near the city’s international airport. Sepang has a challenging layout which promises an interesting penultimate race of the 1999 season. It features two long straights connected by a tight hairpin and two shorter straights, amid a variety of tight and flowing corners.

JOHNNY HERBERT Car No.17 (SF3-05)

What effect has the victory in the European Grand Prix had on you?

‘I’m still feeling really pumped up. The win has done an enormous amount for my confidence and I can enter the last two races of the season feeling good about myself and eager to end the season on a high. I have been inundated with messages from well-wishers which makes it all worthwhile. I knew I had it in me to win races and now I’ve had another taste, I’m keen to do it again.’

What are your prospects this weekend?

‘I think there’ll be a familiar look to the grid despite Sepang being an untried circuit. The Barcelona test went well though it was cut short on the last day with a wheel bearing problem. I was fastest on the second day and I made as much progress on improving the set-up of the car than I have all season. It all bodes well for Malaysia.’

RUBENS BARRICHELLO Car No.16 (SF3-04)

How much do you know about the Sepang circuit?

‘I’ve been learning the circuit on Playstation. From what I’ve seen it looks quite difficult – a lot of hairpins and hard braking areas. All of us will be starting from scratch because we don’t have any data to rely on so we have no accurate read on downforce levels for instance. I’m told the facilities are fantastic. This could be our track.’

With the weather likely to be humid, how have you prepared physically?

‘I know we can expect hot and humid weather so I’ve trained accordingly. Back home in Brazil I have been doing a lot of jogging at midday when the temperature is high. It’s important to be conditioned to the heat particularly on a circuit which looks physically demanding.’

PAUL STEWART, Stewart-Ford, Chief Operating Officer

‘Malaysia will be technically challenging given that the circuit is unknown. We are anxious to score more points after our performance at Nürburgring. Two points separate us from Williams and fourth place in the Championship and that must be our goal. It is going to be difficult because Williams are in good form at present. We enjoyed the celebration of the team’s first Grand Prix victory, but it’s a return to business as usual for the last two races of the season.’

MARTIN WHITAKER, Director, Ford Racing, Europe

‘After our victory in the European Grand Prix, we are obviously all looking forward to the remaining two races from a new perspective. Since the race, we have been testing at Barcelona where, from the engine point of view, we got through a tremendous amount of work - both development for the last two races of this season and work to give us information for next year. In addition, Johnny posted competitive times on both of our serious test days, ending up with quickest time on Thursday. So we look to be in good shape as we all head off to the Malaysian Grand Prix.

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Last updated 23rd October 1999