Singapore Airlines Singapore GP 2016

[J.Clark]

A night race - fantastic race to watch with all of the colors under the lights.

I have some truly mixed feelings about the circuit.  Sometimes I think it is fantastic, and sometimes not - the lights do influence my thinking in all likelihood.  The circuit itself is okay I suppose.  It is roughly 3 miles in length with 23 turns, most of which are tight and low-speed.  The speed trap is probably not at the fastest point since it is on the start/finish straight instead of the run between turns 5 & 7 - turn six is pretty much a no-lift as I recall.  There are two DRS zones, just mentioned.

The lap record was set just last season by Ricciardo at 1:50.041. 

Current drivers who have won:
Vettel (3), Hamilton (2), Alonso (2* - 2008 was highly controversial)

2008 was the year that Ferrari released Massa with fuel hose still attached and cost him a relatively easy win.  Alonso was struggling until Flavio decided a "minor" crash would allow Alonso to perfectly time a pit stop and help him back up the ladder, and eventually led to him winning that race.  It was highly controversial and Flavio paid a price, but . . .

I can only guess, but the cost for the average fan to attend this venue is likely close to that of the race in Monaco.

[Scott]

Calling for some rain on Sunday...could make things spicy 

[Jericoke]

Calling for some rain on Sunday...could make things spicy 

Have we had rain at Singapore before?  Or could this be the first ever wet night race?

[J.Clark]

I don't think it has rained there for a race before.

I wonder about the glare of the lights in the spray.

[Steve A.]

Not really sure about this race, the fact it's a night race and the lights make it interesting but as far as the actual racing not so sure.  One good thing is Mercedes are brought back into Ferrari and Red Bulls pace so that could be added spice, we'll see. As far as rain with lights and spray it could end up.a procession behind the safety car, so for once I would prefer a dry race.

[Jericoke]

Not really sure about this race, the fact it's a night race and the lights make it interesting but as far as the actual racing not so sure.  One good thing is Mercedes are brought back into Ferrari and Red Bulls pace so that could be added spice, we'll see. As far as rain with lights and spray it could end up.a procession behind the safety car, so for once I would prefer a dry race.

These past couple of seasons we've seen great races at 'dull' tracks and dull races at 'great' tracks.  So I don't think it's foolish to be optimistic.  I do think that FIA has become very cautious when it comes to wet races.  I can't say I blame them, but it does make the races dull to watch.

[lkjohnson1950]

Ricciardo says he feels he's owed a win in 2016 for Monaco, and he thinks this is his best chance so he's going all out this weekend. Could be very interesting.

[cosworth151]

FP1 Results:


1   33   M.VERSTAPPEN   1:45.823   
2   3   D.RICCIARDO   1:45.872   
3   5   S.VETTEL           1:46.287   
4   44   L.HAMILTON   1:46.426   
5   6   N.ROSBERG   1:46.513   
6   7   K.RAIKKONEN   1:46.890   
7   55   C.SAINZ           1:46.936   
8   26   D.KVYAT           1:47.683   
9   19   F.MASSA           1:48.044   
10   21   E.GUTIERREZ   1:48.109   
11   14   F.ALONSO           1:48.202   
12   11   S.PEREZ           1:48.214   
13   27   N.HULKENBERG   1:48.359   
14   77   V.BOTTAS           1:48.453   
15   12   F.NASR           1:49.595      
16   22   J.BUTTON           1:49.615   
17   30   J.PALMER           1:49.794   
18   20   K.MAGNUSSEN   1:50.263   
19   94   P.WEHRLEIN   1:51.112   
20   9   M.ERICSSON   1:51.479   
21   31   E.OCON           1:52.379   
22   8   R.GROSJEAN      No Time

Mercedes position isn't as strange as it might first look. They were on Softs. The other top runners were on Ultrasofts.

Grosjean was the first car out but came right back in. The team later tweeted: "Issue with @RGrosjean's car based on low intake pressure. Bodywork off, investigating possible leak. Session over. #FP1" He finished the session playing card in the garage.

[Irisado]

I also have mixed feelings about this track.  As a spectacle, it is all rather dramatic and looks very impressive under the lights.  That said, the track is not inspiring and the racing is only remotely interesting if it rains or if drivers make mistakes and crash, which leads to safety cars messing up the strategy and putting drivers out of position.  Otherwise, it's a dull procession, offering little on track entertainment.

It is the best chance this year for another team to beat Mercedes on pace.  Red Bull has the best chance in my opinion.  Ricciardo and Verstappen are both looking fast, and Hamilton has had a lot of problems and mistakes, while Rosberg has been into the wall.  Mercedes will be under pressure, possibly for the only time all year, so let's hope that someone can take advantage to give us a contest.  If not, it will be the midfield where all the action is, as usual.

[cosworth151]

Times for FP2:

1   6   N.ROSBERG   1:44.152   
2   7   K.RAIKKONEN   1:44.427   
3   33   M.VERSTAPPEN   1:44.532   
4   3   D.RICCIARDO   1:44.557   
5   5   S.VETTEL           1:45.161   
6   27   N.HULKENBERG   1:45.182   
7   44   L.HAMILTON   1:45.275      
8   55   C.SAINZ           1:45.507   
9   14   F.ALONSO      1:45.779   
10   26   D.KVYAT       1:46.029   
11   11   S.PEREZ        1:46.063   
12   22   J.BUTTON      1:46.574      
13   21   E.GUTIERREZ   1:46.727   
14   19   F.MASSA       1:46.856   
15   77   V.BOTTAS     1:46.960   
16   20   K.MAGNUSSEN   1:47.161   
17   30   J.PALMER      1:47.166   
18   12   F.NASR         1:47.531   
19   8   R.GROSJEAN   1:48.391   
20   9   M.ERICSSON   1:48.487   
21   94   P.WEHRLEIN   1:48.505   
22   31   E.OCON        1:48.823

[lkjohnson1950]

Renault had only 1 upgraded engine for R/B and Max got it. We'll see how much edge it gives him over Daniel.

[cosworth151]

My favorite radio call of the week-end (so far):

Ricciardo (after Nasr cut him off): "####, coming out of the pits, using the DRS and doing all sorts,"

Reply from his engineer: "You have to remember it's Nasr..."

[Scott]

Renault had only 1 upgraded engine for R/B and Max got it. We'll see how much edge it gives him over Daniel.

Looking at FP2 it gave him 2/100ths...maybe Max needed it more than DR 

In all seriousness, why would they give it to MV? 

My favorite radio call of the week-end (so far):

Ricciardo (after Nasr cut him off): "####, coming out of the pits, using the DRS and doing all sorts,"

Reply from his engineer: "You have to remember it's Nasr..."

   

[Jericoke]

Renault had only 1 upgraded engine for R/B and Max got it. We'll see how much edge it gives him over Daniel.

Looking at FP2 it gave him 2/100ths...maybe Max needed it more than DR 

In all seriousness, why would they give it to MV? 

My favorite radio call of the week-end (so far):

Ricciardo (after Nasr cut him off): "####, coming out of the pits, using the DRS and doing all sorts,"

Reply from his engineer: "You have to remember it's Nasr..."

   

MV is their race winner, he's their rising star.  I don't know what sponsors are saying behind closed doors, but I suspect he's the 'flavour of the month', so of course he'll get preferential treatment.

Alternatively, given Renault's reliability struggles, perhaps a new unit is seen as a risk, and thus a risk to be given to the new guy.

Alternative B, given the Byzantine rules regarding engine penalties, it's possible that Max has the allotment available and Daniel doesn't... or this means that in the future Max will suffer a penalty where Daniel doesn't.

Alternative C, the team, behind closed doors, came up with a fair way to decide.  Sorry Daniel:  rock smashes scissors.

Finally, screwing over the Aussie is a tried and true strategy at RBR.  When in doubt, stick with what works.

[lkjohnson1950]

Or, Daniel got the only upgrade at Monaco? (I seem to recall.)