Two weeks after Italy (Monza) the F1 circus is in Singapore for a night race.
The news seems to be dominated by Helmut Marko’s racist comments followed by an equally clueless “apology” and now the FIA say they have “reminded of his responsibilities as a public figure in motor sport in line with the FIA code of ethics”. Whiny Spice said Red Bull Racing wouldn’t comment because Marko is not employed by RBR (because if he was they’d clearly be over the budget cap) so how comes he’s always in the team’s garage? They call him an “adviser” but I wonder what advice he provides for free? (cough) Cheats (cough)
One big change for this weekend is the clamp down on (overly) flexible wings; coincidentally VET has really struggled throughout Free Practice. He’s complaining about both upshifts and downshifts, but both Red Bulls seem to be off the pace.
RIC is still recovering from his broken hand; he’s at the circuit but isn’t expected to be fit for the next race, so LAW is in the AlphaTauri.
Qualifying
(It’s a photowalk day so I can’t watch Quali live; I’ll catch up ASAP)
Qualifying session 1 (Q1)
Air temperature 29°C; track 34°C; humidity 77%
Queue forming at pit exit
Green lights mark the start of Q1
SAR 1:35.098
MAG 1:33.200
NOR 1:32.556
(PER P2)
(VER P3)
LEC 1:32.523
RUS 1:32.478
STR complains SAR impeded him
VER 1:32.398
SAI 1:32.339
Incident involving STR and SAR will be investigated after the session
5mins left; bottom 5 are STR, SAR, ALB, BOT, ZHO
All 20 cars are on track for the final flying laps
BOT P11, relegating HUL to P16
ALB P10, MAG P16
VER whining about there being “so many *** cars!”
ZHO P19
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are MAG, HUL, SAR, ZHO, STR
TSU 1:31.991
MAG P2, OCO P16
HUL P2, PIA P16
OCO P5, BOT P16
STR into the wall at Turn 19; yellow flags; the Aston Martin spins into the middle of the track; red flags
STR confirms he’s OK
Back of the grid: BOT, PIA, SAR, ZHO, STR
Replay shows STR’s front-left wheel escaped the tether and bounced across the track, just as PIA swerved to avoid colliding with STR’s spinning car
Replay of VER screaming and cussing at his engineer… not that he’s a spoiled brat or anything
Race control noted multiple cars impeding each other as they jostled to create a gap before starting their last flying lap
Qualifying session 2
VER sits at the pit exit line, waiting for the track workers to finish cleaning up after STR’s accident
13 cars on track, just RUS and HAM remain in the pits
VER 1:32.307
MAG 1:32.170
(PER P3)
NOR 1:31.951
SAI 1:31.893
ALO 1:31.835
RUS 1:31.743
TSU clearly impeded by VER but don’t hold your breath for a penalty – that’s the 2nd impeding incident by VER that’s been noted
5mins left; bottom 5 are PER, HUL, LAW, ALB, TSU
Yellow flag – PER loses the rear, spins in Turn 3
HUL P6, VER P11
VER P10, GAS P11
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are GAS, PER, LAW, ALB, TSU
GAS P11
LAW P10, VER P11
SAI 1:31.439
ALB P14
PER pits without trying to improve
Middle of the grid: VER, GAS, PER, ALB, TSU
VER jumps out of his car while the mechanics try to push it into the garage – he’s off to have scream at someone
LEC under investigation for not slowing sufficiently under the yellow flag… no, they’ve now decided not to investigate
Top 10 shootout is between SAI, RUS, ALO, MAG, NOR, HUL, LEC, HAM, OCO, LAW
Qualifying session 3
MAG 1:32.396
HUL P2
ALO 1:32.168
NOR 1:31.539
SAI 1:31.170
LEC P2
LAW P7
OCO P7
RUS P4
HAM P5
Order after the first run: SAI, LEC, NOR, RUS, HAM, ALO, MAG, HUL, OCO, LAW
They all pit; new tyres go on; they crawl out of the pit lane, trying to open a gap for their flying lap
HAM is the last to leave the pit lane
MAG P4
HUL P6
ALO P5
Chequered flag
SAI 1:30.984
NOR P2
LEC P2
LAW P9
OCO P6
RUS P2
HAM P5
Front of the grid: SAI, RUS, LEC, NOR, HAM, MAG, ALO, OCO, HUL, LAW
Radio from LEC kicking himself – he thinks he could have taken pole
Provisional grid: SAI, RUS, LEC, NOR, HAM, MAG, ALO, OCO, HUL, LAW, VER, GAS, PER, ALB, TSU, BOT, PIA, SAR, ZHO, STR
Although there are a lot of incidents “noted” and to be investigated, including multiple impeding incidents committed by VER
It’s funny how Red Bull are struggling as soon as the stewards start imposing the rule against flexible wings; coincidence?
“Lance Stroll and Aston Martin have agreed the Canadian will not race in Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix, following a huge crash in qualifying.” … “the team said Stroll was still feeling the after-effects of the crash and they have thus decided it is better for him to focus on full recovering in time for next weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.” [F1] [BBC]
ZHO is required to start from the pit lane because his car was modified whilst under Parc Ferme conditions.
When even the official F1 website has the headline “Verstappen escapes grid penalty for impeding”, you know he deserved at least one penalty for those multiple impeding incidents!
WTF1 documented the stewards decisions:
- ALLEGED IMPEDING OF TSUNODA – Verstappen was given a reprimand, and Red Bull was handed a €5,000 fine as the team admitted that there was poor communication on their part and did not advise Verstappen until Tsunoda was already alongside.
- ALLEGED IMPEDING ON SARGEANT – No further action, the stewards agreed it was safest for Verstappen not to move and said he did not unnecessarily impede Sargeant.
- ALLEGED PIT EXIT IMPEDING – No obvious advantage was gained by Verstappen by waiting at the pit exit, but the stewards did rule that a reprimand was of appropriate action in this case.
What a joke!
Race
Grid: SAI, RUS, LEC, NOR, HAM, MAG, ALO, OCO, HUL, LAW, VER, GAS, PER, ALB, TSU, BOT, PIA, SAR, ZHO* (*starting from pit lane)
Air temperature 30°C; track 37°C; humidity 70%; BBC’s forecast mentions thundery showers!
SAI leads everyone away on the formation lap
A mix of tyre strategies: SAI and RUS starting on medium compounds; LEC on softs; NOR through to LAW on mediums; VER on hard tyres
01/62: LEC ahead of RUS into Turn 1
HAM has to use the runoff in T1 but he’s ahead of RUS
Mercedes should tell HAM to let RUS reclaim the place
Yellow flag – TSU stopped in T14; he’s out of the car
02: SAI, LEC, HAM, RUS, NOR, ALO, OCO, MAG, HUL, VER
RUS takes P3
NOR thinks HAM should let him past too
03: RUS fastest lap 1:41.103
ZHO pits; hard tyres go on
VER takes P9 from HUL
Incident involving HAM noted (that’s the lap 1, turn 1 incident)
04: DRS enabled
LEC f/lap 1:40.752
Replay of HAM cutting T1; RUS took the apex and left HAM no space; I don’t see why NOR thinks he should be allowed past
HAM lets NOR through
05/62: SAI, LEC, RUS, NOR, HAM, ALO, OCO, MAG, VER, HUL
ZHO f/lap 1:39.869
Stewards decide no further investigation needed into Lap 1 T1 incident (because HAM’s let RUS and NOR past)
06: VER looking to squeeze past MAG; takes P8
07: VER closing on OCO … but the AlphaTauri (i.e. Red Bull’s second team) won’t hold him up
08: OCO has DRS behind ALO
10/62: SAI, LEC, RUS, NOR, HAM, ALO, OCO, VER, MAG, HUL, GAS, LAW, PER, PIA, ALB, SAR, BOT, ZHO; out: TSU
SAI f/lap 1:39.626
LEC has DRS behind teammate SAI but he’s told to back off a bit (3sec gap) in order to cool his brakes
11: VER now has DRS behind OCO
Radio for RUS, “It looks like they’re going to sacrifice LEC” – ouch!
12: VER has been told he’s not doing enough management given he’s on hard tyres
15/62: SAI, LEC, RUS, NOR, HAM, ALO, OCO, VER, MAG, HUL
Radio for LEC again telling him to allow 3sec gap to SAI
Radio for VER telling him to preserve his tyres
16: LEC f/lap 1:39.613
17: SAI f/lap 1:39.398
18: Radio for PIA warning him there might be light rain in about 5mins
19: Yellow flag – SAR in the wall at Turn 8; reversed out; his front wing is tucked under the left side of his bodywork but some carbon fibre parts flying off
20: SC deployed
SAR pits
21[SC]: Everyone pits except VER, PER, BOT
Berndt Maylander waves SAR to pass the SC
Replay of ALO locking up coming into the pit lane, crossed the solid white line; that’s an automatic penalty
Radio from LEC, unhappy that he’s been passed by RUS and NOR
Everyone now on hard tyres except ZHO (mediums)
22[SC]: SAI, VER, RUS, PER, NOR, LEC, HAM, ALO*, OCO, BOT, MAG, GAS, PIA, LAW, HUL, ALB, ZHO, SAR; out: TSU (*ALO probably going to get a 5sec penalty)
SC in at the end of this lap
VER doing his usual trick of threatening to come alongside the lead car, which is illegal
23: RUS all over VER’s tail
ALO given 5sec penalty for crossing the pit-in line
RUS takes P2 from VER
NOR takes P4 from PER
24: HAM past PER, but then runs wide; will he have to give up the place again? Certainly expect PER to be complaining on the radio
NOR takes P3 from VER
25/62: SAI, RUS, NOR, VER, HAM, PER, LEC, ALO, OCO, MAG
DRS enabled
LEC’s past PER for P6 (didn’t see it due to adverts)
27: Black and white flag for MAG for forcing another drive off the track
HAM inside VER to take P4
28: LEC takes P5 from VER
29: ALO runs wide, cuts T6
Radio from RUS, unhappy that SAI is “trying to back us up”
30/62: SAI, RUS, NOR, HAM, LEC, VER, PER, ALO*, OCO, MAG, GAS, PIA, LAW, HUL, ALB, ZHO, BOT, SAR (*5sec penalty to be applied)
31: SAI has a train of RUS, NOR and HAM all with DRS behind him
Half distance
32: VER complaining it’s like “driving on ice”
34: ALO closing on PER
35/62: SAI, RUS, NOR, HAM, LEC, VER, PER, ALO*, OCO, MAG
GAS takes P10 from MAG… but MAG fights back and reclaims it
Replay shows GAS squeezed MAG and forced the Haas to run wide
37: OCO takes P8 from ALO
38: Radio from SAI asking when he should push, he believes he’s got 1sec in-hand
Mercedes relay SAI’s message to RUS; RUS says he’s surprised he didn’t say 2sec
39: OCO switches back and steals P7 from PER
ALO blasts past PER
40/62: SAI, RUS, NOR, HAM, LEC, VER, OCO, ALO*, PER, GAS
GAS past PER for P9
PER pits; mediums go on; rejoins P18
RUS closing up on SAI
41: VER pits from P6; straddles the solid line; mediums go on; rejoins P15
BOT pits; he’s the last to make the mandatory stop
42: PER f/lap 1:38.551
Radio from ALO, “This is undriveable”
43: VER f/lap 1:37.713
Yellow flag – OCO has pulled off to the inside of T2
There’s no easy way to remove OCO’s car so there’ll probably be as SC
44: VSC deployed
The front runners passed pit-in
OCO throws his head restraint to the right of his car – if that landed on the track, will he be penalised?
45/62[VSC]: RUS and HAM pit; HAM will have to wait
RUS and HAM both take on new mediums; rejoin P4 and P5 respectively
ALO pits; serves his 5sec penalty; softs go on, but they dropped him off the jack too soon! They have to jack him up again so they can finish changing tyres – what a mess; rejoins P15
VSC ends
46: SAI, NOR, LEC, RUS, HAM, GAS, PIA, LAW, HUL
47: RUS f/lap 1:36.273 – that’s 1.7sec faster than SAI
Yellow flag – ALO has run wide in T14 but he’s recovered
48: HAM f/lap 1:35.867
ZHO lets VER through for P10
49: Radio from SAI asking about his pace; told “we need fast as you can to the end”
50/62: SAI, NOR, LEC, RUS, HAM, GAS, PIA, LAW, VER, HUL, ZHO, ALB, PER, MAG, BOT, SAR, ALO; out: OCO, TSU
RUS nearly 2sec/lap faster than SAI; he’s 5sec behind LEC
Pit exit incident involving PER and ALB noted – VSC infringement
51: VER inside LAW for P8
52: RUS 2.3sec behind LEC, 8.7sec from SAI
53: RUS now has DRS behind LEC
Yellow flag – BOT has pulled off at T14, heads down the escape road and parks the Alfa Romeo
RUS takes P3 from LEC
54: HAM now has DRS behind LEC; sweeps past the Ferrari for P4
NOR is about 6sec down the road
55/62: SAI, NOR, RUS, HAM, LEC, GAS, PIA, VER, LAW, ALB
VER takes P7 from PIA
NOR is slowly closing on SAI
56: RUS under 4sec behind NOR
NOR pushing on, though – he now has DRS behind SAI
57: Radio from SAI asking for the gap to NOR every lap
VER closes on GAS
58: RUS 1.2sec behind NOR
VER slides inside GAS for P6; he’s now 17sec behind LEC
NOR has DRS behind SAI again
Radio for SAI telling him NOR 0.8sec behind and has DRS; SAI says it’s deliberate – is SAI trying to help NOR defend from RUS?
59: Yellow flag – ALB has stopped in T13 but he’s moving again
Radio from SAI saying his front tyres are finished – doesn’t matter because he can’t stop
RUS pulls alongside NOR
60/62: SAI, NOR, RUS, HAM, LEC, VER, GAS, PIA, LAW, PER, HUL, MAG, ALB, ZHO, SAR, ALO; out: BOT, OCO, TSU
Incident involving PER and ALB – causing a collision
61: NOR, RUS and HAM all have DRS
SAI seems to be adjusting his speed to keep NOR just inside DRS distance – if it’s deliberate, it’s very clever
62: Yellow flag – RUS has run wide, into the barrier!
SAI takes the chequered flag
NOR P2
HAM P3
LEC, VER, GAS, PIA, PER, LAW, MAG
I’d just voted for RUS as driver of the day; I hope I didn’t jinx him
Replay shows RUS tapped the wall under braking for Turn 10, broke his suspension and that’s why he ran off into the tyre wall
Provisional result: SAI, NOR, HAM, LEC, VER, GAS, PIA, PER, LAW, MAG; ALB, ZHO, HUL, SAR, ALO, RUS
DNF: BOT, OCO, TSU
Fastest lap: HAM (1:35.867)
Post-race penalty: PER was given a 5-sec penalty and a point on his license for causing the collision with ALB … except it doesn’t make any difference, he’s still classified P8
[2023 calendar and driver line-up]
