• Malaysian Grand Prix

Webber expects Lotus challenge in Malaysia

Romain Grosjean outqualified both Red Bulls in Australia © Sutton Images

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• Race:
• Malaysian Grand Prix

• Drivers:
• Mark Webber

• Teams:
• Lotus F1
• |
• Red Bull

Mark Webber is expecting Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean to challenge Red Bull and McLaren in Malaysia this weekend.

Having looked quick throughout pre-season, Lotus showed its pace in Australia when Romain Grosjean qualified third. Grosjean's race ended early, but Raikkonen battled through to seventh place from 17th to underline the potential in the E20. Webber said the characteristics of the Sepang circuit meant that he expects to see Lotus even more competitive than it was in Melbourne.

"Malaysia is quite an aerodynamically demanding track and the Lotus looks good in that area," Webber said in his BBC column. "So I'd also expect a challenge from Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean in Sepang. I think it will be a cracking grand prix and I'm really looking forward to it. It's going to be fascinating to see how the next few grands prix go."

Webber also said he expected tyre strategy to play an even more crucial role and that it could lead to more exciting on-track action.

"Malaysia is very challenging, the drivers love it, and it's a really rewarding grand prix to get right. Sepang is a very different track from Albert Park, one that demands a lot from the tyres. It's a complete unknown how all the teams will cope with that in the intense heat and humidity.

"There's clearly a lot more chance to overtake there, too - Melbourne is a tricky place to get past anyone, but Malaysia's not like that. If you have a pace advantage, you tend to be able to get through."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.