Grand Prix 2011 Singapore Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

Getting closer and closer

Every time we say that Vettel won't win, he comes up trumps with a flawless performance and Monza was no different, taking pole, won the race and put a smart move on Alonso which won him the race.

Ferrari have pretty much admitted defeat and are stopping development on their frankly dissapointing 2011 car which so far has only taken one win at the rain affected British Grand Prix which was also the only track where the EBD was banned which was negatively affecting McLaren and Red Bull more than it was Ferrari. It means that Fernando Alonso will have gone 5 years without adding to his 2 world championships which he took at Renault in 2005 and 2006 and he will be more determined than ever to fix that soon. Felipe Massa looks to be just going through the motions and is a shadow of his pre 2009 self.

Jenson Button continued his strong second half of the season with a podium at Monza to further assert himself as the number one driver at McLaren, indeed his performances recently have been putting his team mate in the shade and a series of overtakes in Spa and Monza have showed that he has the mantle to be the leading driver at McLaren.

In contrast Lewis Hamilton has been somewhat troubled recently, after a crash in Spa, a spin in Hungary and just 1 podium in 8 races, he was notably less agressive in Monza, particularly when trying to overtake Schumacher who arguably should have been penalised for agressive defending which other drivers have been penalised for recently.

Apart from over agressive defending Schumacher has been driving a lot better recently and has been up at the front on a more consistent basis and surely he must be close to a podium now? Rosberg has been very unlucky recently, a good strategy in Monza was ruined when he was t-boned by the missile that was Liuzzi who was given a penalty for his spin, he claimed that he was pushed off by Kovalainen but this wasn't true and the stewards took a dim view of him.

Toro Rosso have enjoyed a very strong second half to the year with another double points finish in Monza with Alguesari continuing his Lazarus act from near expulsion to take his season total to 16, 3 ahead of his team mate Buemi who took a solitary point in the sister Toro Rosso, both will be looking to get the upper hand on each other as the season draws to a close and Riccardo in the rear view mirrors when the 2012 contracts get drawn up.

Renault showed a resurgance in Monza with Bruno Senna taking his first F1 points in 9th, he might have finished higher but he was caught up in the first corner crash which forced Petrov to retire after both cars had made it into Q3, but with Singapore being a totally different track, it will be a good test on whether the last upgrades for the car have worked.

Singapore is the first night race in F1 but apart from 2008 which was affected by deliebarate crashing and race fixing, the races have been rather dull with little action throughout the race and many fans criticising the circuit despite decent overtaking figures.

For Galahads superb write up, see here http://cliptheapex.com/pages/marina-bay-street-circuit/
 
Well then that's a different story.

Then you're betting on another variable. But in a straight fight, Lewis is going in with only 2 bullets instead of 3.

Anyway, good luck to the guy. He could definitely use some "good luck" these days!

Have a good night, Vortex...and enjoy the Grand Prix tomorrow. :)
 
If he doesn't hang back like in Monza and manages to overtake without taking someone out/being taken out (choose as you see fit), and provided McLaren can get their strategy working, I can see him fighting for a podium place.
 
I really hope they fixed those kerbs now. That's a serious disgrace.

Massa shouldn't have done a thing. He's not obliged to do anything for Lewis. If Lewis or anyone else is stuck behind him it's his own damn problem and they need to find a solution or suck it up. It's not Lewis' personal property, despite what some people may think.
Well he wasnt stuck behind him, he got past. But massa cried about it.
 
Well i can say the same for Hamilton, he had every right to pass Massa. Massa was deliberately holding him up and Lewis was wanting to get on with the job in hand.

Also does Lewis get to replace the tyre that got punctured for a new one as the rest of the tyres were ok?

Really? Track position is vital, Massa had Alonso holding him up, the last thing he needs is an over eager Hamilton trying to risk something, he was sensible enough to let it go.

Can understand his frustration he was in the middle of a sandwich...
 
these things just give the conspiracy theorists more ammo.
some ppl after quali on a different forum were saying they know someone who works for mclaren and apparently noone really likes lewis in the team,so they are more focused on button doing well,lewis is just a after thought.

On one forum there was someone who worked at the circuit on one of the teams. At Monaco not long before the start he said that a message had been sent by Charlie Whiting to say that the race would start under the safety car. Don't believe that everyone on the internet is what they say they are.

On the other hand, if it is true then it doesn't say much for Hamilton does it? :no:
 
Further changes made to the circuit ahead of the race.

3 Exit The white line denoting the track edge has been moved one metre from the wall and the area behind it painted red and white with non-slip paint
5 Entry Checked for security
5 Apex Checked for security
5 Exit The kerb has been removed and the area between the track edge (white line) and the wall painted red and white with non-slip paint
7 Apex The kerb itself remains unchanged but has been more securely fastened using new inserts in the track, new bolts and epoxy resin
7 Exit The kerb itself remains unchanged but has been more securely fastened using new inserts in the track, new bolts and epoxy resin
8 Apex Checked for security
9 Apex Checked for security
10 Exit Checked for security
11 Apex Checked for security and repairs carried out
12 Apex Checked for security and repairs carried out
13 Apex The kerb has been replaced but with a shorter section, it has been more securely fastened using new bolts and epoxy resin
14 Entry Checked for security
14 Apex Checked for security
14 Exit The white line denoting the track edge has been moved one and a half metres from the wall and the area behind it painted red and white with non-slip paint (It had been our intention to replace the kerb but satisfactory repairs proved impossible in the time available)
16 Apex Checked for security
17 Apex Checked for security
17 Exit The kerb has been removed and the area between the track edge (white line) and the wall painted red and white with non-slip paint
18 Entry The kerb has been removed and the area between the track edge (white line) and the wall painted red and white with non-slip paint
18 Apex The kerb has been shortened and been more securely fastened using new bolts and epoxy resin
http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pressreleases/f1releases/2011/Pages/SingaporeGP-Kerbs.aspx

It was said........... that it was after Lewis went over a kerb............ that he was told he had a puncture........
Will Mclaren ask that Lewis be given a new set of tyres in exchange for those damaged by the damage to the circuit?
On the other hand will Whitmarsh bother to find out.........if it is only Lewis.........
It doesn't say much for Whitmarsh...if he doesn't try.....does it?
 
I really hope they fixed those kerbs now. That's a serious disgrace.

Massa shouldn't have done a thing. He's not obliged to do anything for Lewis. If Lewis or anyone else is stuck behind him it's his own damn problem and they need to find a solution or suck it up. It's not Lewis' personal property, despite what some people may think.

well lewis did find a solution and get past massa.he didnt break any rules,so you and him moaning about it is ridiculous.
unless you think lewis should have just let massa hold him up?but why should he have?
 
On one forum there was someone who worked at the circuit on one of the teams. At Monaco not long before the start he said that a message had been sent by Charlie Whiting to say that the race would start under the safety car. Don't believe that everyone on the internet is what they say they are.

On the other hand, if it is true then it doesn't say much for Hamilton does it? :no:

but at the same time,mclaren claim to treat both drivers equally,so if thats not the case,their claim is a lie.
they should be more professional.
 
Hey guys, guess what?

Massa's been complaining about Lewis again...this time it's about Lewis ruining his preparation on the Q3 out lap and is wondering about Lewis' "mind". LOL

I'm sure Lewis couldn't care less what Felipe' thinks.

Monaco, Silverstone and now this. They've had some close shaves in '11 and been able to take a good look into eachother's cockpits while in the heat of battle, including I think in China (but without contact).

Here's a snipet from AUTOSPORT:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/94809

"Three cars were going slow to prepare the lap and he was trying to...I don't know. Ask him. To be in a condition to touch someone on the out lap? And do another mistake? I think he didn't use his mind again."

Massa reckons the incident had ruined his own preparation for the qualifying lap.

"Yes, a little bit, but anyway I am sure he didn't prepare his lap as well, so to be honest I don't understand it," he said. "You just need to ask him because maybe he thinks differently to what is the right direction."

Hmmm...I think Felipe's kinda lost his mojo and will come up with anything to deflect criticism of his own performance. I mean he was only 2 -10ths from being pipped for 6th by Rosberg.

Advice to Felipe': Shut up and concentrate on driving the car faster!
 
I agree with Massa to be honest. In such a tight street circuit on an outlap Hamilton really shouldn't be trying to pull out that move. The risks of a collision are too great not to mention the subsequent grid drop penalty that almost certainly would've followed had this happened. McLaren made their bed when they dropped him behind Massa and it well known that the Ferraris take longer to warm their tyres. Massa was trying to create a gap to Alonso so Hamilton should've done the same even if it meant dropping further back. Massa applied common sense but I think on another day, we could've been talking about a needless collision.
 
McLaren requested a new tyre for Hamilton, after it was punctured due to debris from Kobayashi's crash (suspected).

The FIA refused saying there was no justifiable reason.

Meanwhile Ross Brawn said the decision ultimately lies with the FIA, after responding to questions as to why Mercedes were given a spare tyre for Rosberg earlier in the season, who punctured his after running over some debris.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/94819

Let the conspiracy theories begin!
 
It turns out that Hammy will only have 2 sets of super-softs for the race, after not being allowed to have another set.
 
Back
Top Bottom