The only night race of the season is always a spectacle.
Qualifying ended with a close fight between Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull.
Grid: HAM, ROS, RIC, VET, ALO, MAS, RAI, BOT, MAG, KVY, BUT, VER, HUL, GUT, PER, GRO, SUT, MAL, BIA, KOB, CHI, ERI.
Air temperature 29°C; track 36°C; humidity 64%
Tyre choices: prime=soft (yellow markings), option=super-soft (red)
Looks like the whole grid are going to start on options.
Radio for ROS discussing an ongoing problem – official feed says it’s his steering wheel
HAM leads away on the formation lap
ROS is left sitting in his grid spot, working away at the wheel
Rest of the grid streams past
ROS will have to start from the pit lane
KOB slowing; he’s pulled off track
HAM slows and tries to bunch up, so he won’t have to sit too long
Space where ROS should be (P2) and KOB (P20)
01/61: ALO dives past both Red Bulls but cuts the first corner
VET squeezed past teammate RIC too
ALO lets VET and RIC past
MAG runs wide; BUT past his teammate
ALO past RIC again
Radio from HUL asking the team to check his front wing
02: HAM, VET, ALO, RIC, RAI, MAS, BUT, BOT, MAG, KVY
Radio for ROS telling him the only thing working on the steering wheel is the gear change paddles!
Incident involving car 14 (ALO) under investigation – track limits
Radio for PER encouraging him to pass GUT; PER says he thinks he has front wing damage
03: DRS enabled
Incident involving car 14 (ALO) – no further action
Turn 7 incident involving car 20 (MAG) under investigation – track limits
04: HAM fastest lap 1:53.540
Radio for RIC – rear brakes are hot; change balance
05/61: HAM, VET, ALO, RIC, RAI, MAS, BUT, BOT, MAG, KVY; retirement: KOB
VET f/lap 1:53.532
06: HAM f/lap 1:53.035
HAM leads VET by 2.1secs
Radio for VER telling him KVY (his teammate) given 2 laps to attack MAG
Turn 7 incident involving car 20 (MAG) – no further action
07: Radio for BIA telling him his brakes are hot
Radio for VET – good job on fuel
ROS still down in P20 – he’s only managed to pass CHI since the start
08: HAM opening his lead – now 2.8sec to VET, who is 5.5sec ahead of ALO
VER passes teammate KVY for P10
On-board with ROS – looks like he’s missing 4th gear
09: SUT pits; more options
10/61: HAM, VET, ALO, RIC, RAI, MAS, BUT, BOT, MAG, VER
HUL pits; options again
11: MAS, KVY & GRO all pit – KVY switches to primes
HUL blasts past ERI but ROS is still stuck behind him
When will Mercedes retire ROS?
12: RAI, BOT, VER and MAL all pit
Radio for ROS – we’ll change steering wheel and drop you off the jacks because neutral won’t work!
13: VET, ALO and RIC – P2, 3 and 4 all pit
Double stop from Red Bull – VET a little slow out of the box but didn’t appear to hold up RIC
Still only KVY on primes
14: HAM pits – 2.9sec stop – options
As HAM pits, VET told he won’t be able to undercut HAM so stand down
Incident involving car 25 (VER) under investigation – track limits
ROS pits – slowly into the box – change steering wheel – reset everything – doesn’t look like he can find a gear
ROS waving his hands – he can’t get it in gear – team turn it off
15/61: HAM, VET, ALO, RIC, MAS, RAI, BOT, PER*, BUT, VER, MAG (*PER has yet to pit)
5sec stop/go penalty for car 25 (VER) – track limits and gaining an advantage
16: PER pits, as do GUT and BIA
ROS is out of the car but hasn’t taken his helmet off – is he hoping they can fix the problem?
17: RIC f/lap 1:52.964
Radio for HAM – brakes looking good; ask if he has any problems to report; no
18: HAM f/lap 1:52.882
19: GUT pits; straight into the garage
20/61: HAM, VET, ALO, RIC, MAS, RAI, BOT, BUT, VER, MAG; retirements: GUT, ROS, KOB
Replay shows GUT throw his gloves and kick a tool box in frustration at having to retire
CHI pits – puncture – struggle to get front jack under the car
21: HAM has stretched his lead to almost 8secs over VET
ALO closing on VET
22: BBC interview ROS – “bit of a roller coaster; no, it was just down”
Sauber say GUT had an electrical problem
23: Radio for HAM – tyre degradation is OK; picked up debris in front wing; HAM says handling is OK
MAS pits – 2nd stop – options
MAG locks up and cuts a corner but no real advantage gained
24: Radio for RAI – push now; stay out and push
BOT, KVY and MAL pit
Replay shows MAL be released from his box but the front left wheel gun was still attached
25/61: ALO and VER pit
MAS takes P8 from HUL
ALO pushing hard on his out lap
26: VET pits from P2 – ALO pushing hard – VET rejoins well behind ALO
BOT f/lap 1:52.515
27: HAM pits – slow stop – 4.7sec compared to 2.7 for most stops
VER f/lap 1:52.217
Replay shows HAM’s stop took a little longer because they were clearing debris from his front wing
28: RIC pits – primes
ALO f/lap 1:52.115
Radio from MAG – seat is very hot
29: HAM f/lap 1:51.793
HAM 4.4sec ahead of ALO, who in turn is 5.9sec ahead of VET
GRO looking for a way around PER
RIC slowing
30/61: HAM, ALO, VET, RIC, BUT, MAS, RAI, BOT, VER, MAG
PER pits
31: PER’s front wing just disintegrated
Safety Car deployed
Replay shows PER try to squeeze between SUT and the wall; that’s what initially damaged his wing
32[SC]: Radio for HAM warning him to watch for debris; HAM says he’d just run over it; watch tyre pressures
ALO pits
BUT and RAI pit too
VER cuts Turn 2 as ALO exits the pit lane near him – VER doesn’t seem to have slowed for yellow flags either
33[SC]: Marshals picking up pieces of carbon fibre
Radio from VET – wants to stay on primes as long as possible
34[SC]: Most of the field on primes now except HAM, VER, MAG, KVY and SUT
Radio for MAG reminding him to drink – MAG says it’s too hot, it’s burning his mouth!
HAM weaving behind the SC, trying to get them to go faster
35/61[SC]: HAM, VET, RIC, ALO, MAS, BOT, BUT, RAI, VER, MAG; KVY, HUL, GRO, SUT, MAL, BIA, PER, ERI, CHI; retirements: GUT, ROS, KOB
Lapped cars (BIA, PER, ERI & CHI) can now overtake
Radio from BOT – steering is feeling sticky
5 second stop/go penalty for 99 (SUT) – track limits and gaining an advantage
36[SC]: Incident involving cars 11 (PER) and 99 (SUT) under investigation – causing a collision
37[SC]: SC in at the end of this lap
Incident involving cars 11 (PER) and 99 (SUT) – no further action
Radio for HAM – 7 cars behind all on primes; HAM asks if it’ll be a problem and told no; hmmmm
HAM backs everyone up as the SC heads for the pits
38: HAM scurries away
39: HAM already has a 3.2sec lead over VET
Radio for BOT – need to make this tyre last to the end (he’s already done 15 laps on them)
40/61: HAM, VET, RIC, ALO, MAS, BOT, BUT, RAI, VER, MAG
DRS enabled
HAM f/lap 1:50.417 – 5.8sec lead
MAG all over the rear of VER
41: Radio for VET – try to make tyres last to end; VET says he’s not sure it’s possible
SUT pits; into the garage & retires – that’s both Saubers out
Radio from HAM asking how many laps left and how many might go to the end
42: HAM’s lead up to 9.7sec; he’s got to keep building that gap so he can make another stop
43: Radio for HAM – target 7 more laps on these tyres
44: HUL around the outside of KVY to take P11
KVY pits
Radio from KVY – dying without a drink – sounds like something RAI might say 🙂
45/61: HAM, VET, RIC, ALO, MAS, BOT, BUT, RAI, MAG, HUL
VER & PER pit – that’s the 4th stop for PER
46: HAM now over 17sec ahead of VET
47: MAG pits; quick stop
BUT all over BOT, and RAI is closing on BUT
48: Radio for RIC telling him to hold the overtake button in two turns “to fix a car problem” or is that coded driver coaching?
ERI holding up KVY and PER
49: KVY inside ERI; PER follows through
PER attacks KVY; takes P14
50/61: HAM, VET, RIC, ALO, MAS, BOT, BUT, RAI, HUL, MAL
Radio from BUT – sounds surprised – “Williams is so fast in a straight line”
51: HAM now 22.7sec ahead of VET; that’s the 7 laps he was told
Radio from HAM – need to box me soon
52: HAM will take on primes so he’ll be on the same compound as everyone else, just a lot fresher
Radio for HAM setting him a lap target; HAM says rears are seriously worn, might explode
Mercedes mechanics ready in the pit lane
53: HAM pits – good clean stop – rejoins between VET and RIC – well done
HAM is already on VET’s tail
54: Radio from BUT – car shut down
HAM passes VET for P1
55: HAM, VET, RIC, ALO, MAS, BOT, RAI, HUL, VER, MAL; retirements: BUT, SUT, GUT, ROS, KOB
Incident involving car 25 (VER) under investigation – track limits
Yellow flags still out for BUT’s parked car
56: MAG takes P10 from MAL
57 = 5 laps left: RIC close to VET but will he challenge his teammate?
ALO right on RIC’s tail – RIC’s tyres are 9 laps older
5 second stop/go penalty for car 25 (VER)
58: HAM pulling away from the VET-RIC-ALO battle
59: 3 laps left but looks more likely we’ll hit the 2 hour limit first
VER dives down the inside of RAI – takes P6
60: MAG falling backwards – down to P11
PER takes P9 from teammate HUL
RAI defends from PER
HAM takes the chequered flag – that means he now leads the Drivers’ Championship
PER is past RAI and BOT!
BOT is fishtailing – he has no grip left
Provisional result: HAM, VET, RIC, ALO, MAS, VER*, PER, RAI, HUL, MAG; BOT, MAL, GRO, KVY, ERI, BIA, CHI
DNF: BUT, SUT, GUT, ROS, KOB
*VER will have his 5sec penalty added but he’s still P6.
GridBids picks: ROS (DNF), HAM (P1), RAI (P8), MAL (P12), GRO (P13), BUT (DNF) & HUL (P9).
“You scored 31 points for this race and have a total of 633 points this season. You ranked 111 for this race and 113 overall.”
“McLaren’s Kevin Magnussen needed treatment from a doctor because of injuries from an overheating seat in the Singapore Grand Prix.” http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/29303579
Mercedes say Nico Rosberg’s retirement from the Singapore Grand Prix was caused by his car being contaminated by a “foreign substance”.
The team said analysis of the German’s steering column revealed a residue of a material used in pre-event servicing.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/29387429