Singapore Airlines Singapore GP 2014

[J.Clark]

Singapore is a fantastic circuit, enhanced by the fact that it is run after sundown.  The colors are fantastic under the lights!

It is a relatively new circuit and anything but traditional, or a typical Tilke design.  It is a street circuit in the true sense, as is Monaco, driven on daily with local traffic, unlike Canada and Australia for example which are basically parks and while driven upon, are not subject to the city traffic wear and tear.

It is a race I hope to be able to attend one day.  It is very expensive for just about anyone who doesn't live in Singapore, and the getting there is probably the least of the expense, as hotels and etc are all high dollar deals.

Six years ago, it saw its first Grand Prix.  There was great controversy because Massa had the race fairly well in hand when at a critical point in time, Piquet was directed to crash lightly and bring out a safety car, allowing Alonso to pit and make huge gains, assuming the lead from well back in the field.  Renault suffered greatly, but was not punished during the race and Alonso ended up winning it.  Massa's race was completely ruined by a bungled pit stop when he was told to go by the green light while the fuel hose was still attached to the car . . .

Former winners of this event are: Alonso (2), Hamilton, Vettel (3).  Of the the three, I think most would agree that the only one with a real chance of a repeat is Lewis.  Talk is that the Red Bull should do better at this circuit, but I doubt that Mercedes, Williams and Ferrari will make it easy for Red Bull.
The record for a lap of the 5km circuit in Singapore is held by Vettel at 1:48.574 and was set last year (2013) so it could conceivably fall to someone else this year.

There is a factor that will likely be talked about during the pre-race program, if not throughout the weekend.  It seems that the FIA are going to be monitoring closely the radio communications between drivers regarding car and/or driver performance.  I gleaned this from another source. 
Whiting, who has acted on a regulation that states drivers "must drive the car alone and unaided", made teams aware of the clampdown in a Technical Directive issued ahead of next weekend's Singapore Grand Prix.
     "In order to ensure that the requirements of Article 20.1 of the F1 Sporting Regulations is respected at all times we intend to rigorously enforce this regulation with immediate effect. Therefore no radio conversation from pit to driver may include any information that is related to the performance of the car or driver," Whiting explained.
     To deter teams from attempting to find a way around the issue, Whiting added: "We should also remind you that data transmission from pit to car is specifically prohibited by Article 8.5.2 of the F1 Technical Regulations."
Does this mean that they will not be able to communicate that a driver behind is closing a gap and that their driver needs to pick up the pace a bit, or that there seems to be a problem with something on the car that requires the short-shift, change brake setting to save them and other things such as that?

As for the cars and drivers expected performance, I can't see anyone other than Williams challenging the Mercs, and perhaps coming off of a podium finish Massa will be able to muster the "whatever it takes" to beat Bottas again at the front.  I hesitate to rule out Ferrari, at least Alonso's car, nor Ricciardo, whom I predict should again beat Vettel.

Behind those mentioned, I imagine both McLarens will be fighting with the second Red Bull, both Force India cars.

There will no doubt be some interesting fighting all race long in groups of four and five cars throughout the field.  There are two DRS zones and the one from turn 5 thru 7 is quite long.

All in all, it should be a great race to watch, as have so many this season.

[Scott]

Loving it as usual J. Clark.

I think you nailed the finish order...unless some unknown mechanical gremlin or a nasty wall jumps out at one of them, they should settle in just about how you have predicted.

The stupid, stupid, stupid FIA clarification of the regulation that in its spirit probably did NOT mean pit to driver radio instructions, will be an interesting one to watch hear.  I am strongly against this, and think it will simply lead to codes that the FIA won't be able to figure out.  The driver needs as much info as possible, and like you say, where are the FIA going to draw the line? 

I would love it if there was a reliable website that would post transcripts of pit to car radio.  F1 Fanatic sporadically has it, but I'm not sure even that is complete.

[John S]

I've a suspicion that Macca are throwing major upgrades at this race, so we may see them moving a bit further forward. 

[cosworth151]

The circuit has always reminded me of the old IMSA circuit in downtown Columbus back in the 80's. The loss of the "Singapore Sling" was a major downgrade. The gimmick of running the track under the grandstand was considered as part of a modification to the course at Indy back about 2005.

Hopefully, this will be the first and last race with the stone age radio restriction.

[J.Clark]

For clarification, here are some of what will and will not be allowed in radio/pit board communications to the driver:
Permitted messages:
*Acknowledgement that a driver message has been heard.
*Lap or sector time detail.
*Lap time detail of a competitor.
*Gaps to a competitor during a practice session or race.
*"Push hard", "push now", "you will be racing xx" or similar.
*Helping with warning of traffic during a practice session or race.
*Giving the gaps between cars in qualifying so as to better position the car for a clear lap.
*Puncture warning.
*Tyre choice at the next pit stop.
*Number of laps a competitor has done on a set of tyres during a race.
*Tyre specification of a competitor.
*Indication of a potential problem with a competitor's car during a race.
*Information concerning a competitors likely race strategy.
*Yellow flags, blue flags, Safety Car deployment or other cautions.


Prohibited messages:
*Sector time detail of a competitor and where a competitor is faster or slower.
*Adjustment of power unit settings.
*Adjustment of power unit setting to de-rate the systems.
*Adjustment of gearbox settings.
*Learning of gears of the gearbox (will only be enforced from the Japanese Grand Prix onwards).
*Balancing the SOC [state-of-charge of batteries] or adjusting for performance.
*Information on fuel flow settings (except if requested to do so by race control).
*Information on level of fuel saving needed.
*Information on tyre pressures or temperatures (will only be enforced from the Japanese Grand Prix onwards).
*Information on differential settings.
*Start maps related to clutch position, for race start and pit stops.
*Information on clutch maps or settings, e.g. bite point.
*Burn-outs prior to race starts.
*Information on brake balance or BBW (brake-by-wire) settings.
*Warning on brake wear or temperatures (will only be enforced from the Japanese Grand Prix onwards).
*Selection of driver default settings (other than in the case of a clearly identified problem with the car).
*Answering a direct question from a driver, e.g. "Am I using the right torque map"?
*Any message that appears to be coded.

In addition, on a separate matter, it is looking like the race could be a wet one.  If this is how it plays out, I would raise the question of visibility under the intense, artificial lighting, and the probable glare it may cause.  I would think this is a significant concern.

[Scott]

Wonder what penalties there are for breaking the radio rules.

[Monty]

   Missed FP1 - had to work! It's just not fair.

I was surprised to see Alonso on top! He must be getting everything and more out of the Ferrari to be in front of the Mercedes.
I also read that Hamilton was asking for data on the radio. I thought he was claiming he wouldn't miss the radio talk?
Vettel's Friday engine has blown. It surely won't be long before he has to use a sixth engine and take the penalty.

[cosworth151]

Do the radio restrictions apply to Free Practice sessions? That would be hugely counter-productive.

[Scott]

Alonso just behind Hamilton in FP2.  Ricciardo showing well and then Kimi in 4th.

[John S]

  Missed FP1 - had to work! It's just not fair.

I also read that Hamilton was asking for data on the radio. I thought he was claiming he wouldn't miss the radio talk?

I missed both practice sessions as well,    but I have Sky F1 so now catching up with both. 

Lewis was asking for the fastest sector times over the radio in FP1, - can't see how giving the fastest times in a sector  can be on the banned data list?   

But heigh-ho, it's all a learning curve. 

[Irisado]

I watched the short BBC highlight packages on the website.  I was surprised to see Alonso in the top spot in the morning, but Ferrari usually flatter to deceive on a Friday.  I expect a better performance than they offered at Monza though.  The closest challenge to Mercedes is likely to come from Red Bull at this track though.  Ricciardo looks handy.

Maldonado crashed again....  I really have to wonder whether Lotus have made the right decision regarding resigning him.  I know about the money, but he's just ordinary, unless the car is really fast, and even then he's inconsistent.

[Scott]

Lewis was asking for the fastest sector times over the radio in FP1, - can't see how giving the fastest times in a sector  can be on the banned data list?   

I think they can tell him what HIS sector times are, but not anyone else's or where he is relative to anyone else.

[J.Clark]

End of the day FFP-2 time sheet:
1.  Hamilton    Mercedes   1m 47.490s
2.  Alonso        Ferrari    1m 47.623s
3.  Ricciardo    Red Bull   1m 47.790s
4.  Raikkonen    Ferrari    1m 48.031s
5.  Vettel       Red Bull   1m 48.041s
6.  Magnussen    McLaren   1m 48.358s
7.  Button        McLaren   1m 48.435s
8.  Perez        Force India   1m 48.653s
9.  Hulkenberg       Force India   1m 48.751s
10. Kvyat        Toro Rosso   1m 48.770s
11. Vergne        Toro Rosso   1m 48.800s
12. Grosjean        Lotus    1m 49.062s
13. Rosberg       Mercedes   1m 49.075s
14. Maldonado       Lotus    1m 49.139s
15. Sutil       Sauber    1m 49.170s
16. Gutierrez     Sauber    1m 49.290s
17. Massa     Williams   1m 49.361s
18. Bottas     Williams   1m 49.971s
19. Bianchi     Marussia  1m 50.612s
20. Chilton     Marussia   1m 51.558s
21. Kobayashi     Caterham   1m 52.075s
22. Ericsson    Caterham   1m 52.936s

Williams are either sand-bagging, or they are in serious trouble here.   

Maldonado - unsurprisingly wrecks - (bet he could take back his wish to get out of Williams). 

Ferrari looking very racy and Kimi right up there in the top five.   

Vettel has more problems and I think an engine change.  Is he over the limit on engines?

I can't believe Nico whining about Maldonado's crash messing up his flying lap.  When it happened, there was a lot of time left on the clock for him to put in a respectable lap had he chose to do so, but he would appear happier whining and languishing almost two seconds off the pace of his teammate. 

One more practice, in which the gloves should come off, and then qualifying.

[John S]

I'm thinking Williams are in trouble, unless of course they can find something overnight. Here's some comments from Valtteri & Massa on Crash.net website:-

Both Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas were left surprised by their pace in FP2 after struggling to improve significantly on the supersoft tyre

“There were no real problems really, just some issues with the balance,” Bottas said. “The car didn't feel very good from the beginning and the whole day we struggled a bit, especially with the rear end of the car. I think the main thing for us that we need to work on is to get more lap time from the option against the prime because we only improved half a second and other teams improved 1.5 or 2 seconds so there is plenty of work to do.”

“It's a really difficult night for us,” Massa said. “We couldn't find the right balance, the right grip, especially on the rear of the car. So there is a lot that we need to do to improve the car for tomorrow. For sure we expect better than how it was today so I hope we find the problem otherwise it will be a very difficult weekend."

[Scott]

Yikes...sounds like it.  Hope they figure it out before the race.