Coulthard: Racing Malaysian F1 like having sex in sauna
THE Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix is considered the hottest venue and most humid on the annual calendar.
It drains the drivers, spectators and all involved of energy.
And certainly the comments by British driver David Coulthard is on top of the mind when it comes to memorable memories at the Sepang track.
Coulthard likened the experience of driving the Red Bull car to having sex in a sauna.
Asked about how it felt to drive an F1 car in high humidity and temperatures of more than 33ºC back in a press conference in 2006, the Scottish driver replied: “It’s like having to do some physical exercise in a sauna, effectively, and unless it was having sex, I cannot imagine why anyone would want to do anything in a sauna.”
When the conference moderator interjected, saying that he always “brought it down to that” Coulthard, who has had a series of model girlfriends without ever settling down or marrying, grinned and continued.
“We’re all here because of that aren’t we, so I think it is a natural action between, normally a man and a lady, but sometimes...”
Britain’s Jenson Button experienced another side of the Malaysian weather while driving for Brawn in his successful world title charge in 2009.
Torrential rain and thunderstorm caused the scheduled 56-lap race to be stopped after 31 laps with Button who started from pole position declared the winner.
Because the race did not reach the required 75% distance as per regulations or 42 laps, only half points were awarded to all the top finishers – only the fifth time to occur in F1 history.
“What a crazy race, it really was. The visibility was zero. We could have a serious accident if we restart,” said the Englishman.
The weather aside, Germany’s Sebastian Vettel, Spain’s Fernando Alonso and Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen will remember Sepang as the track where they chalked milestones in their illustrious career.
Vettel sealed a record career fourth Malaysian GP win in 2015, driving for Ferrari. His previous three wins in 2010, 2011 and 2013 were all achieved in a Red Bull Racing car.
Alonso also has good memories of Sepang where he has won three times – with three different teams.
The two-time world champion won in 2005 with Renault, in 2007 with McLaren-Mercedes and in 2012 with Ferrari.
It was at Sepang where Raikkonen claimed his first ever career F1 win in 2003. He was only 23 at that time but already driving for McLaren Mercedes.