Sixth running of the Singapore Grand Prix; the track is slightly changed from last year, with the removal of a chicane.
Air temperature 29°C; track 32°C; wind 3.0m/s
Remember this is a night race under floodlights, starting at 8pm local time, so track temp will drop a little.
Tyre choices: prime=medium (white lettering); option=super-soft (red).
Provisional grid: VET, ROS, GRO, WEB, HAM, MAS, ALO, BUT, RIC, GUT; HUL, VER, RAI, PER, SUT, BOT; DIR, MAL, PIC, VDG, BIA, CHI. [Qualifying]
My GridBids picks are: VET, BUT, RAI & HAM.
VET leads everyone away on the formation lap
BBC report RAI still suffering with back pain
SUT is the only one starting on primes
01/61: ROS takes P1 into Turn 1 but VET fights back and reclaims P1
ALO up to P3 already
MAS squeezes HAM wide but HAM takes P6
RIC down to P14
02: VET, ROS, ALO, WEB, GRO, HAM, MAS, BUT, HUL, PER
Radio for HAM telling him to give the place back to MAS
HAM hands over P6
03: VET fastest lap 1:52.866
DRS now enabled
RAI lining up GUT
04: Radio for WEB already telling him to look after his tyres
05/61: RAI takes P11 from GUT
Radio for VET reminding him there will (probably) be safety cars so look after tyres
06: Radio for WEB – suggest 2 second gap to ALO to preserve tyres
09: GRO setting some good sector times
10/61: VET, ROS, ALO, WEB, GRO, MAS, HAM, BUT, HUL, PER; no retirements
11: RAI pits – more options – bit slow moving the front jack away – rejoins P17
12: ALO f/lap 1:52.849
GUT pits from P13 – clean stop
Tail-enders all pitting
13: MAS pits – primes – rejoins P13 behind MAL
Second stop for BIA – steering wheel change
Radio from WEB – trouble with the rear
14: VET f/lap 1:52.756
WEB pits, as do BUT and HUL
GUT f/lap 1:52.212
15/61: ALO pits – primes – rejoins P6 behind DIR
RAI f/lap 1:51.768
16: ROS pits from P2; GRO and HAM pit too
HUL and PER attacking MAL
17: MAL pits
18: VET pits – primes – rejoins still P1 ahead of ROS
20/61: VET, ROS, DIR, ALO, WEB, GRO, HAM, MAS, BUT, RAI; no retirements
BIA first to be lapped
21: DIR pits – now everyone has stopped once
23: This circuit is called the Monaco of the east, and I agree – it’s very processional!
24: Radio for VET suggesting using KERS earlier in the lap
25/61: VET, ROS, ALO, WEB, GRO, HAM, MAS, BUT RAI, PER
RIC is in the wall!
Safety Car deployed
26[SC]: Replay shows RIC locked up his front left
Into the pits come ALO, GRO, MAS, BUT, RAI, PER, HUL, GUT, SUT, MAL, PIC
27[SC]: Penalty for HUL? (I caught the tail-end of something the BBC commentators said – I thought they said penalty but I can’t find any mention.)
28[SC]: Lapped cars may now overtake – cars 22 (BIA) and 23 (CHI)
Radio for VET – we have more fuel than we need
29[SC]: still waiting for BIA & CHI to rejoin the back of the pack
30/61[SC]: VET, ROS, WEB, HAM, ALO, GRO, DIR, MAS, BUT, RAI; PER, HUL, VER, GUT, SUT, MAL, BOT, VDG, PIC, CHI, BIA; retirements = RIC
SC in at the end of this lap
VET starts to back up the pack
SC pulls into pit lane
VET bolts away in the penultimate turn
31: MAS looking for a way past DIR
32: Radio for VET – use the tyres, open the gap
Radio from HAM – keep eye on tyres pressures – ran over debris – front right; engineer says it looks ok
33: VET f/lap 1:50.641 – gap over ROS 5.8secs
Radio for GRO – problem with air – box this lap; GRO: “NO!”
34: VET f/lap 1:50.430
GRO pits – very long stop as they top up the engine
Radio from GRO during pit stop – “what is wrong with this car?”
35/61: VET, ROS, WEB, HAM, ALO, DIR, MAS, BUT, RAI, PER
VET’s lead over 10secs
37: VET f/lap 1:50.182
GUT runs wide across the marbles and barely kept the car out of the wall
Radio for BIA – “you are quicker than Max so pass him”
38: Radio for ROS – rubber in front wing is reducing downforce
GRO pits again – retires
39: VET f/lap 1:50.123 – gap to ROS over 18secs
Radio for BUT – expect top 6 runners have to stop again
40/61: VET ROS, WEB, HAM, ALO, DIR, MAS, BUT, RAI, PER; retirements: GRO, RIC
41: WEB pits from P3 – clean stop – rejoins P13
SUT pits too
Radio for HAM – “push, push – it’s all starting to happen now”
42: VET f/lap 1:50.022
ROS pits from P2 – quick stop but rejoins just behind WEB
43: DIR and MAS pit – DIR barely stays ahead
44: HAM pits – good stop – rejoins P10 behind ROS
SUT f/lap 1:49.656
45/61: VET pits – clean stop – new options – rejoins ahead of ALO, so he’s still P1
Radio for ROS telling him to push but ROS says he has to save his tyres
46: VET, ALO, BUT, RAI, PER, HUL GUT, WEB, ROS, HAM
Will ALO pit again? I suspect not
47: VET f/lap 1:48.574
RAI closing on BUT
Radio for VET – look after the brakes
48: Radio for HAM – we need to get past Webber – ROS has been given the same message
HAM right on the tail of his teammate
49: WEB not getting past GUT so the Mercedes pair are closing in
WEB uses DRS to take P7 from GUT
GUT not putting up a fight as ROS passes him
Easy pass for HAM to take GUT too
50/61: VET, ALO, BUT, RAI, PER, HUL, WEB, ROS, HAM, GUT
GUT struggling for grip as DIR closes on him
DIR makes a nice pass to take P10
51: RAI still all over the tail of BUT
52: Radio for VET – brake vibration increasing
BUT having to drive quite defensively
53: WEB looking for a way around HUL
54: WEB inside HUL to take P6
55/61: RAI finally makes a dive past BUT to steal P3
WEB lining up PER
DIR catching up to the Mercedes pair
Radio from HUL saying he thinks he should let ROS past so he can get to the end; team say keep fighting
WEB looking at the outside of PER
DIR locks up – nose first into the tyre wall
Good thing DIR is fine as the marshals watch from behind the fence
ROS and HAM pass HUL
DIR has kept it running – reverses out of tyre wall but engine stops
56: Smoke coming from DIR’s car – probably nothing serious but still no marshals on site
WEB past BUT for P4
DIR’s car has been removed under yellow flags
57: HAM has a peak at his teammate but ROS holds P7
ROS inside PER to take P6
MAS all over the rear of HAM
Radio for WEB telling him to short-shift
58: ROS almost beside BUT … edges ahead, and takes P5
HAM past PER for P7
HAM past BUT too
MAS past PER
New tyres were clearly the way to go
59: MAS attacking BUT now; MAS takes inside line and takes P7
Radio for WEB – need lower revs
SUT looking at the rear of HUL
60/61: VET, ALO, RAI, WEB, ROS, HAM, MAS, BUT, PER, HUL
ROS closing on WEB as the Red Bull is limping home
ROS dives past WEB and takes P4
61: HAM past WEB too
Radio from WEB – “in trouble”
WEB’s Red Bull sounds terrible
On-board shows WEB has little power
MAS past WEB for P6
WEB on fire! Stops in Turn 7 – Hopefully finds a marshal quickly
VET takes the chequered flag
Long gap until ALO crosses the line
RAI, ROS, HAM, MAS, BUT, PER, HUL, SUT
ALO picks up WEB and gives him a lift
Christian Horner tells VET that WEB lost water pressure
Provisional result: VET, ALO, RAI, ROS, HAM, MAS, BUT, PER, HUL, SUT; MAL, GUT, BOT, VER, WEB, VDG, CHI, BIA, PIC
DNF: DIR, GRO, RIC
Penalties:
Also…
[source: FIA]
My GridBids picks were: VET (P1), BUT (P7), RAI (P3) & HAM (P5).
“You scored 56 points for this race and have a total of 707 points this season. You ranked 24 for this race and 9 overall.”