Sure is - very interesting article referencing this: Red Bull driver Coulthard suffered an engine problem at the Bahrain Grand Prix, stopping on track right after the end of the race. Since he finished the event, Coulthard is not entitled to a penalty-free engine change like the drivers who retired earlier from the race. Massa finished in ninth place after spinning off early on, but some problems found in his Ferrari engine have forced the Italian squad to replace the unit for the Sepang race next weekend. "We've taken this decision today after an analysis of the engine, which presented some anomalies that could presumably have caused a failure," a Ferrari spokesman told autosport.com. Both men will lose ten grid positions in the race. Under current regulations, engines must last for two Grand Prix weekends. Coulthard himself had been critical of the rules earlier this week. "For me I was 14th on the grid and, if you give me 10 places, then I am at the back. I am not driving a McLaren and I cannot go from there to third place," the Scot said. "I understand the regulations to try and make people use less engines, but I think there should be a handicap penalty based on a performance at a GP. Maybe it could be percentage to the fastest time, but just 10 places is wrong. "The guys at the front only ever get to just outside the top 10 whereas we always have to go to the back."
Good point. Makes me wonder how reliable the Ferrari engine really is, also considering the gremlins the scuderia faced in winter testing. OTOH DC's problem might be RedBull specific given their issues with the coolers. And Massa's engine failure might be a result of his spin in Bahrain. I'm not sure on how a F1 works electronically, but if I had such a massive spin with locking wheels my car's engine would probably stop. So maybe if he didn't hit the clutch immediately the engine took a beating.
You must be joking...Anyone who watched the qualifying from Bahrain via a timing monitor will know just how hard Schumacher had to push to get poll from Massa. I am no Massa fan, he comes across as a bit of a South American rock ape and he has consitency issues. But, presuming Bahrain wasn't a flash in the pan, he is the fastest team mate Schumacher has ever had and certainly over 1 lap is as fast as Alonso and Raikkonen - in my opinion.
Yes and no: I was ecstatic when I watched him push MS in the Bahrain qualifying. However the sight of Massa we have seen all too often in the past reappeared during the race when he simply spun out. He can be fast and he is a great starter, but I'm still waiting for the day he can keep it together for an entire race. That's why I think his stint at the Scuderia is short lived. Hopefully I'm wrong, because I like the guy.
