Grand Prix 2013 Singapore Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

So break out your long haul baggage boys we're back on the fly aways and we're off to Singapore.

A lot has been said about Singapore but one thing that can't be argued about is how jaw droppingly spectacular Formula One's premium night race is at on the Marina Bay Street Circuit. We all know that the idea of the night race was a concept Bernie pushed for European viewing figures but wow how amazing does it look? The lit up city of Singapore is the perfect background and its success is shown in the fact that both Abu Dhabi and Bahrain are trying to move in on the turf. I've always loved Singapore For me it is the showpiece of the fly aways, the Asian Monaco.
I know some people will agree with a cynical grunt about it being the Asian Monaco as its viewed as a dull track with very few overtaking spots and while it is true that overtakes can only be done with a great amount of skill for me Singapore is a drivers circuit and we've had our fair share of action if we look back.

The place certainly has character and history for a race that's only been running in its modern format since 2008. The very first race in 2008 was of course THAT race with THAT Piquet crash. Something that has meant the corner in question shall always been known as Piquet corner if only unofficially. But lets not forget we had some other memorable moments at that race. Who can forget the site of the (slightly tubby) Ferrari pit crew rushing down the pitlane after Massa pulled away with the fuel hose still attached leaving his championship on tatters. Alonso is still listed as the official winner of that race but very few of us agree he was. The majority of people will refer to that race as Nico Rosberg's first win which I completely disagree with. Rosberg got just as much an advantage from the Piquet crash as Alonso. If it was deemed cheating the result should have been declared from the running order the lap previous to the Piquet crash which would have made Massa the first official winner - it would also have given him half points and the 2008 world title. 2009 was all about Lewis Hamilton although most people will remember it for Rosberg's top notch performance spoiled by crossing the pitlane exit line and getting a penalty. 2010 was Alonso vs Vettel with Fernando sitting just in front of Seb for the whole 60 laps after a tasty defence off the start line. We also saw a still much debated coming together between Webber and Hamilton off a safety car re-start. 2011 was the season of Vettel dominance and Singapore was not much different and I'm still not sure whether Button was really pushing him that day or he was just taking it easy. 2011 had more to discuss with yet another Hamilton/Massa coming together. Which brings us to last year which had all the right elements for a classic with Hamilton on pole, Maldonado second and Vettel in third but when Maldo got a poor start and Lewis's gearbox went on lap 23 no one could really live with Vettel who is a master round here at the best of times. 2012 did see one first though. Michael Schumacher crashed in to the back of Jean-Eric Vergne and actually got out of the car an apologised to JEV because the accident was his fault! No wonder he chose to retire.

So race number 6 is about to come up with some slight changes to the track lay out as the Singapore Sling at turn 10 has been reconfigured so drivers have to negotiate a flowing left hander and whilst, after the last two races, expectations are low but I have a feeling Singapore is going to throw us up and event. It is true that Sebastian Vettel is king of Singapore but Alonso has always been hot round here and on occasions Hamilton has looked unbeatable but has had some very bad luck. Other than China this is probably Rosbergs best track and Button has always ran well here so we do have the right ingredients for a close fight and some wheel to wheel racing which probably bring down the already high odds of a safety car. Someone who has never had a good day at Singapore is Kimi and if you throw in the fact Grosjean has always been average here (he replicated the Piquet crash in practice in 2009 much to the embarrassment of his team) and I wouldn't expect a good weekend for the team from Enstone. Di Resta got his best result ever round here but with Force India falling away I can't see him repeating it. Williams have always been good round here but this year they'll need a miracle. Toro Rosso might be worth a bet for a result though with the car looking good, Ricciardo on a high and Vergne being a bit of a street circuit demon. Although the best bet is Hulkenberg in the top 5 as he is flying at the moment.

So love it or hate it no one can argue that Singapore isn't unique and I'm sure as always with this place we'll have something to argue with each other about for weeks afterwards.
 
It's a different day and age Jen. When your love for F1 was sparked, I can't imagine you would have conceived of a night race in Singapore. A behemoth like Formula One simply cannot risk having one of their competitors being driven over in front of millions of people worldwide.
 
Thanks for the plaudit Jen , but that's not research. It is essential knowledge as one who has had responsibility for the H&S of staff and volunteers under my watch. Having worked in some dangerous industries back in the 1970's I have had close contact with people who have been maimed, and in a couple of cases killed, due to a disregard for Health & Safety regulations and good practice.

Whilst there are certainly many areas where "H&S gone mad" is the case, for the most part complaints about that originate from those who want to make as much money as possible with as little responsibility as possible. I can understand where you are coming from but I do hope you are not in that camp!
 
My stance on health and safety - I am not a corporate nor do I want to see people maimed or injured - however I do believe that if you impose too many regulations/edicts then you kill all that humanity is capable of.

I just don't see this one event as a punishable - yes, I am aware of the reprimand system - and it seems to be that that created the penalty, not the offence (?)

Perhaps I am going back in time but there was a time when chaps raced irrespective (mostly) and picked up stranded drivers occasionally

For me, it is all too sanitised - you rail against DRS and KERS, I hate the fact that the stewards constantly kibosh anything out of the ordinary. Just too many bloody rules to make racing worth the effort. Despite the fact that the drivers understand the risks involved!
 
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That's now nearly 30 per cent of all posts on a Grand Prix thread devoted to an incident that happened after the race. Why all this over-analysing? Alonso saw Webber and spontaneously stopped somewhere inappropriate and Mark walked across and climbed onboard.It was all a bit careless and they got reprimanded. Not the first nor the last time someone at the track does something foolish, especially after the checkered flag when adrenaline and concentration drops right off. That's all there is to it as far as I can see.

Bring on the next race and hopefully (if you wanna be optimistic about it)a bit more of a fight for the lead next time.
 
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I actually agree with most of what you say Jen . However, I have to admit that I have a low tolerance for stupidity and quite frankly Mark and 'Nando acted without thinking and were therefore stupid.:D
 
Actually, I'd be prepared to argue that these days we have rather less tolerance for Common Sense, and accept stupidity as the default option for just about everyone - hence the need for the plethora of H&S rules.

Example - an apprentice at our work borrowed a penknife to open a parcel, and because he'd never handled one before (apparently), he cut himself...cue the inevitable diktat that we are now no longer permitted to use open blades to open parcels:facepalm:
 
I know which I'd rather do...
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(Potential interview after Singapore race following stewards finding)

Journlista "Mark ... how do you feel about the penalty at Korea ... how does that affect your chances?"

MW "To be honest Korea is not my favourite track ... and if it makes it more exciting for me to drive through the field from 15th or 17th than starting 5th or 6th and managing the rubber then I am all for it"...


As someone who works in a dangerous industry, EHS or HES ...whichever flavoured acronym you need to use ... is extremely valuable and necessary ... with most things ... it is the outliers that always garner attention ... be them negative ... or (on the face of it) comical ... the true value is embedding a culture of safety, where everyone is empowered to stop work or instruct others to stop work if they don't think something is right / safe / etc ... and the collective value of gathering thousands upon thousands of safety cards, performing, logging and tracking JSA's (job safety analysis) before you undertaking activities with the people who are going to perform them. Having seen Chinese window cleaners secured from the roof of a sail shaped building in one location swinging on bosun' chairs with a rope tied around them by pushing off left and right from the building whilst cleaning windows 10 floors off the ground ... there is a longs ways to go ...

On the comical side, Charles Darwin was right ... 100% ... sometimes people just do not get it ... and no amount of "don't cross the road unless the little man is green and clicking", "do not open envelopes with your fingers or thumbs for fear of paper cuts", etc is an unfortunate manifestation of trying to cloak everything we do with a bent ... an incident that I have seen more than once in new office buildings ... around the elevators (lifts I call them) ... usually swipe card controlled ... any glass doors / walls need some sort of marking ... be it a two tone tint ... or some racing stripes that they put on ours ... because there is always someone who wants to test out the strength of his nose cartilage and forehead bone trying to plow through it like Jonah Lomu through a pre-beefcake era backline ... funny in that the glass is strong enough to bounce them back with a red face and a three year reputation as 'that guy'... but not if it wasn't ...

The irony of the incident in Singapore is:

1. You have 22 elite drivers ... minus a few retiree's
2. They KNOW that there are "slow moving cars" trundling around post race to park ferme
3. All drivers have been shown to avoid a 225 km/h incident in adverse conditions ...

The more sensible rule is to state that transport on anything considered the track can only be done in your F1 car, in the back of a safety car / medical car or on the back of marshall transport ... scooter or golf cart ...
 
I was forced to watch the race via BBC highlights what a complete and utter load of shit.

Not the race! No, the BBC's highlight show, I would pay any amount of money never to be put through that again, total crap...

There doesn't seem to be an out of ten poll for this race....
 
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I don't think, Jen, that hitching a lift back to the pit when you could easily walk is a risk that in any way benefits anyone.
They do it in MotoGP without issue in fact the crowd love it, it shows good sportsmanship and camaraderie, which can only be good for the sport in general, whereas handing out a penalty for it is not good for the sport...
 
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