The 2009 Singapore Grand Prix Thread

[Ed]

Grand Prix Preview (courtesy: The FIA) - For team previews visit the 2009 F1 Team Reports Forum

Round 14 of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship takes place at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore. Situated in the heart of downtown Singapore, the tight circuit passes various famous landmarks including Saint Andrew’s Cathedral, City Hall, the Supreme Court and the Esplanade Bridge. This will be the second night race held at the Marina Bay Circuit after the inaugural event in 2008.

Consisting of 61 laps, run on a circuit of 5.067km, the track is made up of public roads and features 23 corners, two of which will be taken at speeds in excess of 100 mph. Running in an anti-clockwise direction it is the only circuit which crosses two bridges and travels under a grandstand. Given that the race will take place at night, teams will face the prospect of the track temperature being cooler than the air temperature. This could create slippery conditions for drivers. Over 1,500 light projectors, each with 2,000 watt white metal halide lamps, will be used to illuminate the track. A maximum down force track, it varies in width from three-lane highways to narrow barricaded straights.



CHANGES TO THE CIRCUIT SINCE 2008

- The pit exit has been realigned to join the track after the first corner.

- The pit entry has been realigned to leave the track before turn 22.

- The track has been resurfaced between turns 5 and 7.

- The outer pit lane has been resurfaced.

- New kerbs have been installed on the entry to turns 1 and 5.

- The apexes of turns 13 and 14 have been tightened slightly.

- The second and third apexes of turn 10 have been moved left and right respectively to make the chicane slower.

- The kerbs on the three apexes of turn 10 have been redesigned in order to reduce the risk of a car being damaged if it crosses them.

- The kerbs on the exit of turn 14 have been moved 10 metres downstream.

- All rubber exit kerbs have additional fixations.

- An extra driver egress point has been added on the left between turns 17 and 18.

- The wall around the outside of turns 22 and 23 has been moved closer to the track.


SINGAPORE CIRCUIT – INTERESTING FACTS

- There will be 110 medical staff on standby at the event.

- The start and finish lines are not in the same place. The start line is at the beginning of the main straight whilst the finish line is located near the middle.

- The overall luminosity of the circuit will be 3,000 lux which corresponds to four times the lighting in an average sports stadium.

CIRCUIT DATA

Length of lap: 5.067km
Offset: 0.137km
Total number of race laps: 61
Total race distance: 308.950km
Speed limits in the pit lane: 60km/h during practice sessions;
100km/h during qualifying and race


FORMULA ONE TIME TABLE

Friday

Practice Session 1: 18.00 – 19.30 hrs
Practice Session 2: 21.30 – 23.00 hrs

Saturday
Practice Session 3: 19.00 – 20.00 hrs
Qualifying: 22.00 – 23.00 hrs

Sunday
Race: 20.00 hrs

[Ed]

We will be covering all the practice sessions, qualifying and the race from Singapore.

You can follow our coverage live here and we will post the coverage notes after each session here

[Ed]

First Friday practice coverage notes:

6:00 First Friday practice session from Singapore underway. Track temperature at 34 degrees while air temperature is at 31 degrees

6:01 Session underway and a few drivers go out on their installation laps

6:03 After ING have pulled their sponsorship from Renault, there are Renault signs in place of the ING signs on the car

6:04 Brawn cars are carrying Canon logos on their sides this weekend

6:06 Most cars have completed their installation laps. Hamilton is currently on the track

6:10 BMW Sauber are having high hopes on a major upgrade they are bringing to Singapore

6:12 Still no times set this session

6:13 Kovalainen pits and the track is quiet now!

6:16 More than 15 minutes in the session and no timed laps yet

6:17 The 2 Toro Rosso cars are back on the track now

6:18 Alguersuari starts a timed lap

6:20 A 2:00.874 for Alguersuari

6:21 Buemi sets a 1:59.195.

6:22 For reference the fastest lap time last year was a 1:45.599

6:22 Alguersuari improves with a 1:58.808

6:23 Buemi now sets a 1:55.715

6:25 Buemi improves again with a 1:54.526. Alguersuari now with a 1:57.647

6:27 More drivers are now on the track including Webber and Fisichella

6:28 Fsichella sets a 1:57.517

6:30 Webber sets a 1:54.790

6:31 Order after 30 minutes: Buemi, Webber, Alguersuari, Fisichella, Nakajima, Grosjean

6:33 Buemi now with a 1:53.757. Fisichella up into second

6:34 Webber goes fastest with a 1:53.076

6:35 Rosberg and Hamilton on quick ones!

6:35 Hamilton moves into 4th

6:36 Rosberg moves into second with a 1:53.198

6:36 Now Kovalainen moves into second and spins!!

6:37 Webber set to improve!

6:38 Webber sets a 1:51.912!

6:39 Button moves into second with a 1:52.157

6:40 Button now fastest as Grosjean spins!!

6:41 Grosjean actually hits the wall!

6:41 The rear right tyre is damaged. Session stopped

6:42 Bad memories for Renault!

6:43 Grosjean's car is still stranded on the track!

6:44 Grosjean was 7th fastest and on an improving lap

6:47 Halfway through the session and the order is: Button, Webber, Kovalainen, Rosberg, Hamilton, Fisichella, Grosjean, Nakajima, Buemi and Raikkonen

6:48 Grosjean's car now being cleared. Wondering why does it take them so long to clear cars here!

6:50 Session restarting in 2 minutes

6:52 Session restarts

6:53 A number of drivers are on the track immediately

6:54 16 drivers are on the track!

6:55 Sutil off but recovers

6:57 Alonso up into 4th on his first timed lap

6:58 18 drivers on the track!

6:58 Alonso improves to 3rd with a 1:51.909

6:59 Kovalainen goes fastest with a 1:51.255

6:59 Only Nick Heidfeld has yet to set a time

6:59 Raikkonen moves into second with a 1:51.534

7:00 And now it is Webber in second!

7:01 Button goes fastest with a 1:51.181

7:02 All drivers on the track (except Grosjean)

7:03 Order after 60 minutes: Button, Kovalainen, Webber, Alonso, Vettel, Raikkonen, Barrichello, Sutil, Nakajima and Rosberg

7:04 Barrichello now up into 3rd with a 1:51.274

7:05 Currently the top 8 are separated by just 0.353!

7:05 Button improves in 1st with a 1:50.703

7:07 Hamilton up into second with a 1:50.715

7:08 Vettel now up into 3rd with a 1:50.790

7:09 Fisichella is currently in 17th

7:13 Only Heidfeld currently on the track

7:14 No drivers on the track at this stage. Just over 15 minutes remain

7:18 Drivers are going back out for the final run this session

7:20 Kovalainen on a quick lap!

7:21 Kovalainen improves but remains in 4th with a 1:51.124

7:22 Barrichello fastest with a 1:50.549

7:24 All drivers are on the track now

7:25 Kovalainen now in second as Barrichello set to improve again!

7:27 Barrichello improves, Webber moves into second!

7:28 Alonso now on a flyer!

7:29 Alonso goes 3rd with a 1:50.567

7:30 Session over! Awaiting final timed laps

7:33 Session over. Top 10: Barrichello, Button, Webber, Alonso, Vettel, Kovalainen, Hamilton, Kubica, Raikkonen and Nakajima

7:35 11th - 20th: Rosberg, Sutil, Buemi, Heidfeld, Glock, Trulli, Fisichella, Liuzzi, Alguersuari and Grosjean

7:36 Most laps by Buemi with 28 laps. Least laps by Grosjean with 9 laps due to crash then Sutil with 14 laps

7:38 1st Friday Practice: Just over nine tenths separate the top 10. 2 seconds separate the top 16

Top 10:
1st Practice Session - Top 10
1. Barrichello . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:50.179
2. Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:50.356
3. Webber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:50.416
4. Alonso . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:50.567
5. Vettel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:50.614
6. Kovalainen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:50.699
7. Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:50.715
8. Kubica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:50.815
9. Raikkonen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:50.865
10. Nakajima . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:51.089

[Ed]

2nd Friday Practice coverage notes and comments:

9:23 Just under 10 minutes to the start of the second Friday practice session from Singapore

9:23 Rubens Barrichello was fastest in the first session ahead of Jenson Button and Mark Webber

9:26 Air and track temperature at 30 degrees

9:29 In the first session Romain Grosjean crashed his Renault in a very similar way to the Piquet crash last year! The session was stopped as the car needed to be recovered

9:30 Session underway and Rosberg and Heidfeld are the first to go out

9:31 The 2 Toro Rosso drivers follow

9:33 16 cars on the track now

9:35 Heidfeld sets the first time with a 1:57.379

9:35 Vettel now fastest with a 1:52.972

9:36 Heidfeld goes fastest with a 1:51.760

9:37 Adrian Sutil spins but recovers

9:37 Vettel fastest with a 1:50.958. Webber in second

9:39 Hamilton goes fastest only for Webber to better that!

9:40 Heidfeld goes fastest with a 1:50.539

9:42 Sutil is up into second!

9:43 Currently less than half a second separates the top 8!

9:44 Fisichella is slowest of those who set times so far!

9:46 Sutil goes fastest and Alonso moves into second!

9:48 Kubica and Grosjean have yet to set times

9:52 Webber now fastest with a 1:49.317!

9:52 Barrichello moves into second

9:54 Webber is over a second quicker than anyone else at this stage!

9:57 Webber is on the super softs which could explain the reason for the big gap to everyone else

9:58 Apologies, it is Vettel who is on the super softs. Webber is actually on the softs

9:58 Vettel moves into second with a 1:49.621

9:59 Fisichella goes out for another run. He is currently 19th and nearly 4 seconds off the pace!

10:02 Fisichella now up into 17th! Kovalainen on a quick one!

10:03 Kovalainen moves into 5th as Grosjean finally makes it onto the track

10:04 Webber crashes! Session stopped

10:06 He crashes going onto the main straight! Again it looks like it was due to lack of grip!

10:08 Webber's car is being cleared now. It sustained front damage particularly on the left side as he spun into the pit wall!

10:08 [Comment From Danfloyd ]
Bugger, he was looking fast [Ed] He was indeed. Fastest so far!

10:12 Session restarting in 2 minutes as the Red Bull mechanics have covered the car and are pushing it through the pitlane

10:13 Session restarting and Rosberg is the first out followed a few more cars

10:16 Halfway into the session - Top 10: Webber, Vettel, Barrichello, Kubica, Kovalainen, Sutil, Alonso, Heidfeld, Hamilton & Raikkonen

10:17 Rosberg moves into second with a 1:49.507 on super softs

10:17 Heidfeld goes fastest with a 1:49.098

10:20 Button improves into second. All the drivers are on the track (except for Webber)

10:21 Kovalainen pushing!

10:22 Kovalainen doesn't improve

10:24 Vettel now in second with a 1:49.278

10:28 Grosjean has only completed 5 laps and his time isn't competitive. Seems like the car has an issue after his crash in the first session

10:32 Grosjean who has yet to set a competitive time this session is back on the track

10:34 Grosjean sets a 1:52.857! Way off the pace!

10:39 Not much change in the order at this stage as the teams concentrate on their race setup

10:42 It will be interesting to see if Heidfeld's pace translates into a strong qualifying position. The team is counting on a strong showing

10:43 Fisichella remains in 19th after 26 laps! Raikkonen is in 12th

10:48 Kovalainen goes fastest with a 1:48.952 on super softs #F1

10:54 Vettel goes fastest with a 1:48.650

10:55 And Grosjean moves into 18th moving Fisichella down to 20th

10:56 FInal run!

10:56 Fisichella now in 14th with a 1:50.253

11:00 Session over! Awaiting final timed laps!

11:01 Alonso jumps into second with a 1:48.924

11:04 Top 10: Vettel, Alonso, Kovalainen, Heidfeld, Button, Webber, Rosberg, Glock, Hamilton and Kubica

11:05 11th - 20th: Barrichello, Sutil, Trulli, Raikkonen, Nakajima, Fisichella, Buemi, Liuzzi, Grosjean and Alguersuari

11:07 Most laps by Button & Nakajima with 34 laps each. Least laps by Webber with 14 before crashing & Grosjean with 17

11:08 Top 12 separated by 1.060 seconds


2nd Friday Practice - Top 10
1. Vettel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:48.650
2. Alonso . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 1:48.924
3. Kovalainen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 1:48.952
4. Heidfeld . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 1:49.098
5. Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:49.311
6. Webber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:49.317
7. Rosberg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1:49.333
8. Glock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:49.342
9. Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:49.358
10. Kubica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1:49.609

[Ed]

Saturday practice coverage notes and commnets:

6:47 Saturday practice starting in 15 minutes

6:48 It is reported that Rubens Barrichello will take a 5 place grid penalty due to a gearbox change

6:53 Sebastian Vettel was quickest on Friday while both Webber and Grosjean crashed during practice

6:55 Air temperature is 31 degrees while track temperature is at 35 degrees

6:57 Track conditions are dry

7:00 Session underway!

7:00 The cars go out on their installation laps

7:01 A few drivers practicing starts on their way out

7:02 Just the 2 Brawn cars still in the pits

7:03 Most of the drivers are now back in the pits as both Brawns go out

7:05 All cars are back in the pits

7:07 The overhead shot of the track is just magnificent showing the illuminated track

7:10 Fisichella is the first to go back out

7:12 Fisichella starts a timed lap. He struggled for most of yesterday but set some reasonable times late in the second practice

7:12 Grosjean and Alguersuari also on the track

7:12 Raikkonen on the track too

7:13 Alguersuari seems to have stalled it at the end of the pit lane!

7:14 The mechanics try to instruct the stewards how to push the car back so the mechanics can retrieve it!

7:15 Fisichella sets a 1:58.455

7:15 Grosjean sets a 1:52.436. Track very dusty!

7:16 Now Raikkonen is fastest with a 1:51.794

7:17 Ferrari targetting both cars to reach Q3 but admit that they are struggling as they are not developing the car like many other teams

7:17 Alguersuari out again and this time he practices a start successfully!

7:18 Raikkonen improves with a 1:50.347. Kubica in second and Buemi in third

7:19 20 minutes: Rosberg fastest with a 1:50.134

7:20 Now Kubica goes fasteest with a 1:49.679

7:22 Raikkonen goes wide and has to reverse to get back on the track!

7:22 Rosberg now quickest with a 1:49.447

7:24 Hamilton very quick in 1st sector as Kubica goes fastest with a 1:49.434

7:25 Hamilton goes fastest with a 1:48.346

7:28 Webber has made it out on the track. He is the only driver yet to set a time

7:30 Halfway into Saturday practice: Hamilton, Barrichello, Kovalainen, Heidfeld, Alonso, Kubica, Rosberg, Button, Glock and Nakajima

7:31 Fisichella is currently in 19th having done the most laps so far (9 laps)

7:33 Hamilton is over 8 tenths quicker than anyone else. Was he on a light fuel run ?

7:34 [Comment From RaHuL ]
Where are Luizzi and Sutil? [Ed] Liuzzi in 18th, Sutil in 13th (34 minutes)

7:37 [Comment From RaHuL ]
How the practice and qualifying affect the positions in race, if u can elaborate? and how practice is different from qualifying? [Ed] Practice is just that, drivers try to get the most out of the car in preparation for the race. Qualifying is where is all counts and they need to drive a perfect lap to determine the grid order

7:38 Trulli is in 20th place with an uncompetitive time. Looks like he has a problem

7:39 Fisichella up into 15th and ahead of Raikkonen at this stage (38 minutes in)

7:39 [Comment From RaHuL ]
That means officially practice doesn't count but whoever is fastest in qualifying will get the pole and so on? [Ed] Correct

7:40 [Comment From RaHuL ]
one lap is all it takes in qualifying? [Ed] There are 3 sessions in qualifying so 3 laps!

7:40 [Comment From RaHuL ]
like Hamilton did it in Monza to Sutil in last lap of qualifying? [Ed] Yes

7:41 Kovalainen moves into second with a 1:48.427!

7:41 Replay shows Sutil brushing the wall. Doesn't appear to have damaged anything!

7:42 [Comment From RaHuL ]
Then we can say that it's best of three in qualifying, the fastest lap of the driver will be counted, thnx [Ed] Not exactly. It is a knockout. Watch in a few hours!

7:43 Mechanics working on Raikkonen's car. Looks like something is wrong there!

7:43 [Comment From RaHuL ]
what is Q3? [Ed] Session 3 of Qualifying!

7:44 Hamilton improves with a 1:48.197

7:45 [Comment From RaHuL ]
you have to qualify for Q2 in Q1 and for Q3 in Q2, like that...if u don't then u r knocked out.. [Ed] Yes, slowest 5 are out in Q1 and Q2

7:46 15 min remain in Saturday practice - Order: Hamilton, Rosberg, Kovalainen, Glock, Barrichello, Trulli, Alonso, Sutil, Kubica & Vettel

7:47 Raikkonen goes back out. Currently in 19th!

7:49 Order: Hamilton, Rosberg, Kovalainen, Glock, Barrichello, Trulli, Alonso, Sutil, Kubica and Vettel

7:49 Pre-qualifying runs about to commence!

7:50 [Comment From RaHuL ]
time in IST for qualifing? [Ed] It is 22:00 Local time

7:51 [Comment From RaHuL ]
what is pre qualifying runs? [Ed] Runs to simulate qualifying. Low fuel and new tyres mainly

7:51 Raikkonen up into 7th on the super softs

7:52 Vettel goes quickest with a 1:47.938

7:52 [Comment From RaHuL ]
qualifying in 2hrs approx.? [Ed] Yes

7:53 Vettel improves slightly

7:54 19 cars on the track now!

7:56 Hamilton quickest in S1 but misses a turn and has to reverse back

7:57 A few drivers had their laps ruined due to that

7:58 Less than 2 minutes remain and Vettel still fastest ahead of Hamilton and Rosberg

7:59 [Comment From RaHuL ]
I have never heard of reversing in race so why are they revrsing here? [Ed] It is practice

7:59 Hamilton now fastest with a 1:47.632

8:00 Session over, awaiting final lap times

8:03 Saturday practice - Top 10: Hamilton, Vettel, Rosberg, Kovalainen, Kubica, Heidfeld, Barrichello, Glock, Buemi, Trulli

8:05 Saturday practice - 11th - 20th: Nakajima, Raikkonen, Webber, Button, Alonso, Liuzzi, Sutil, Alguersuari, Grosjean and Fisichella

8:06 [Comment From RaHuL ]
I know it is practice, so why they don't miss turns in race? and if they do then why don't they reverse? [Ed] They do but they have to be more careful. They can reverse but under certain conditions

8:07 1.041 separates the top 8. 2.009 seconds separate the top 19

8:09 Saturday practice: Most laps by Fisichella (21 laps). Least laps by Trulli (12 laps)

Saturday Practice - Order
1. Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:47.632
2. Vettel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:47.909
3. Rosberg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:48.332
4. Kovalainen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:48.420
5. Kubica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:48.501
6. Heidfeld . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:48.526
7. Barrichello . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:48.561
8. Glock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:48.673
9. Buemi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:48.754
10. Trulli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:48.757

11th to 20th: Nakajima, Button, Raikkonen, Buemi, Trulli, Sutil, Alguersuari, Fisichella, Grosjean and Liuzzi

[Ed]

Qualifying coverage notes and commnets:

9:54 Qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix starting shortly.
Lewis Hamilton was fastest in the practice session earlier ahead of Sebastien Vettel and Nico Rosberg

9:56 Just like yesterday evening, the air and track temperature is at 30 degrees

10:00 1st qualifying session underway!

10:01 Several cars go out straight away. Fisichella is the first out

10:02 Grosjean misses the turn!

10:03 Fisichella starts his flyer. He is already on the super softs

10:03 Grosjean complaining of 'no brakes'!!

10:04 A 1:51.028 for Fisichella!

10:05 Buemi fastest at this stage ahead of Raikkonen

10:05 Hamilton is the only one not on the track at the moment

10:06 Button now quickest with a 1:48.632

10:07 Barrichello very quick!

10:07 Vettel quickest with a 1:48.168

10:07 Barrichello sets a 1:47.939

10:08 Rosberg now quickest with a 1:47.636

10:09 Vettel goes fastest again although Hamilton is about to better that!

10:10 A 1:47.241 for Hamilton

10:11 [Comment From RaHuL ]
Sutil? [Ed] 14th

10:13 Hamilton sets a 1:46.977. First to set a time under the 1:47 mark this weekend!

10:14 [Comment From yz ]
what position is kimi in? [Ed] 14th at the moment

10:15 Raikkonen down in 14th and is back with the super softs

10:17 Raikkonen sets a 1:47.293 (2nd)

10:17 [Comment From vishnu ]
liuzzi? [Ed] Currently in 20th

10:17 [Comment From mish ]
go kimi

10:18 Looks like Hamilton (1st) and Vettel (3rd) opted not to go back out

10:19 Heidfeld moves into 3rd! Vettel could be in danger!

10:20 Button up into second with a 1:47.180

10:21 Session over!

10:22 Knocked out: Sutil, Alguersuari, Fisichella, Grosjean and Liuzzi

10:24 Top 10: Hamilton, Button, Raikkonen, Heidfeld, Rosberg, Barrichello, Vettel, Kovalainen, Kubica and Nakajima

10:27 [Comment From Danfloyd ]
expected faster from Webber there. [Ed] It is very close in the middle of the pack. Nothing in it!

10:27 Second session underway and Buemi, Vettel and the 2 Brawns are out already

10:28 [Comment From Marlon ]
What is Fiscichellas position [Ed]18th and out

10:29 12 cars on the track!

10:30 Raikkonen quickest in S1 so far!

10:31 Hamilton now quickest in S1. Button sets a 1:47.412

10:32 Barrichello now quickest, no it is Webber with a 1:47.030

10:32 Rosberg flying! A 1:46.197! Wow!

10:32 Alonso yet to go out!

10:33 A super lap from Rosberg! He is nearly half a second quicker than second placed Vettel!

10:35 This session look set to be very close!

10:38 Alonso up into 5th

10:40 Final laps in Q2

10:41 Button will not make it into Q3

10:42 Raikkonen will not make it to Q3

10:43 Barrichello makes it! Webber up into second

10:43 [Comment From Guest ]
button on fast lap [Ed] Button doesn't make it to Q3

10:44 Knocked out: Nakajima, Button, Raikkonen, Buemi and Trulli

10:47 Q2 - Hamilton in 4th and Kovlainen in 10th are separated by just 0.185 seconds

10:47 [Comment From Danfloyd ]
Gooo Webber, show em who's da boss,

10:47 [Comment From Marlon ]
i cant belive that raiki is out

10:48 [Comment From Marlon ]
his time? [Ed] 1:47.177

10:49 Top 10 after Q2: Rosberg, Webber, Vettel, Hamilton, Glock, Alonso, Barrichello, Kubica, Heidfeld and Kovalainen

10:49 [Comment From Ter ]
im so sad that kimi is out.........................

10:49 [Comment From Marlon ]
too bad... he might end up crashing with KERS

10:50 Final qualifying session underway!

10:50 Rosberg the first out

10:51 [Comment From Danfloyd ]
is Barichello now proving the Button wasnt good at the start of the season...his diffuser was?

10:51 Only Hamilton still in the pits now

10:51 [Comment From smitp ]
Come on Lewis!

10:52 Just a reminder that Barrichello will drop 5 places on the grid due to a gearbox change

10:54 If Rosberg manages Pole this evening, it will be the first for Williams since the European GP in 2005

10:55 Vettel quickest with a 1:48.204. Hamilton quick!

10:55 [Comment From Danny ]
GO Jenson Button!!

10:55 [Comment From Marlon ]
i hope he will end up 10th so that raki will gain a place atleast. Ferrari's must score points to be in 3rd

10:56 Hamilton fastest with a 1:47.891

10:56 [Comment From smitp ]
Jenson goes only tomorrow! [Ed] True, he is 12th

10:58 All the cars back on the track for the final timed lap

11:00 Barrichello crashes! Session stopped

11:00 Hamilton on Pole!

11:02 It is a pity that qualifying ended this way!

11:02 [Comment From Danfloyd ]
What a joke Barichello

11:04 Session will be restarted but there is not enough time to start a timed lap

11:05 Qualifying Top 10: Hamilton, Vettel, Rosberg, Webber, Barrichello, Alonso, Glock, Heidfeld, Kubica, Kovalainen

11:06 Now we await the fuel loads!

11:08 The clock ticks down for the final qualifying! Checkered flag is waved!!

11:15 [Comment From Danfloyd ]
Is Barichello working for Mclaren? he already had that 5 place grid penalty there was no use in pushing that hard. stinks of a setup! [Ed] He is fighting for the championship so I suspect it was just a driver error!

3rd Qualifying Session - Top 10

1. Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:47.891
2. Vettel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:48.204
3. Rosberg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 1:48.348
4. Webber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:48.722
5. Barrichello . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:48.787
6. Alonso . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:49.054
7. Glock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:49.180
8. Heidfeld . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:49.307
9. Kubica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:49.514
10. Kovalainen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:49.778

Note: Barrichello drops 5 places on the grid due to a gearbox change

[Ed]

Pre-race car weights:
(sorted by grid order)

Position Car Driver Weight [kg]
1 McLaren Mercedes Lewis Hamilton 660.5
2 RBR Renault Sebastian Vettel 651.0
3 Williams Toyota Nico Rosberg 657.5
4 RBR Renault Mark Webber 654.5
5 Brawn Mercedes Rubens Barrichello 655.5
6 Renault Fernando Alonso 658.0
7 Toyota Timo Glock 660.5
8 BMW Sauber Nick Heidfeld 650.0
9 BMW Sauber Robert Kubica 664.0
10 McLaren Mercedes Heikki Kovalainen 664.5
11 Williams Toyota Kazuki Nakajima 680.7
12 Brawn Mercedes Jenson Button 683.0
13 Ferrari Kimi Raikkonen 680.5
14 STR Ferrari Sebastien Buemi 678.0
15 Toyota Jarno Trulli 690.9
16 Force India Mercedes Adrian Sutil 693.0
17 STR Ferrari Jamie Alguersuari 683.5
18 Ferrari Giancarlo Fisichella 678.5
19 Renault Romain Grosjean 683.0
20 Force India Mercedes Vitantonio Liuzzi 656.0

[Ed]

Race coverage notes and comments:

7:26 The 2010 Singapore Grand Prix starts in 35 minutes. Follow our coverage here on NewsOnF1.com

7:29 Rubens Barrichello qualified in 5th place but will start in 10th due to an unscheduled gearbox change

7:38 The top 10 and their car weights:
1 McLaren Mercedes Lewis Hamilton 660.5
2 RBR Renault Sebastian Vettel 651.0
3 Williams Toyota Nico Rosberg 657.5
4 RBR Renault Mark Webber 654.5
5 Renault Fernando Alonso 658.0
6 Toyota Timo Glock 660.5
7 BMW Sauber Nick Heidfeld 650.0
8 BMW Sauber Robert Kubica 664.0
9 McLaren Mercedes Heikki Kovalainen 664.5
10 Brawn Mercedes Rubens Barrichello 655.5

7:43 As the qualifying session was stopped right at the end due to Barrichello's crash, it is hard to dermine who was quickest as all the drivers had to abort their final run. Hamilton though is in a strong position as he is heavier than all those around him

7:50 10 minutes to race start!

7:52 Nick Heidfeld is to start from the pitlane!

7:55 BMW team telling Heidfeld that while there are rain clouds, it isn't expected to rain on the track

7:56 Air temperature is at 30 degrees while track temperature at 33 degrees

7:58 Heidfeld was found to be underweight due to a ballast fitting error. The team changed engine and gearbox to his car.

7:59 The grid is being cleared for the formation lap

8:00 Formation lap underway

8:00 Most cars are on the soft compound

8:01 [Comment From RaHuL ]
chances of force india? [Ed] Difficult to tell but they are 15th and 19th here.

8:02 [Comment From RaHuL ]
Please tell the strategy of Force India...tyres, stops and fuel load [Ed]You can check the fuel loads on the discussion thread. We cannot provide a lot of answers during the race

8:03 The cars arriving back at the starting grid

8:03 Lights!

8:05 Clean start! Hamilton leads from Rosberg and Vettel

8:05 Alonso makes a good start then losses to Webber and Glock

8:06 [Comment From Parashar ]
please tell detail abt forceindia [Ed] Ok, Sutil in 15th, Liuzzi in 18th

8:07 Hamilton leads Rosberg by 1.4 seconds on lap 2

8:09 [Comment From RaHuL ]
could u elaborate a lil' ok at least tell: one stop or two? [Ed] No one can be for sure except the team. 2 stops are expected

8:09 [Comment From Parashar ]
is Liuzzi still behind fisi [Ed] Yes

8:09 [Comment From RaHuL ]
omg sutil is heaviest out here...693...are they going for podium

8:10 Grosjean pits!

8:10 He retires!

8:11 Hamilton leads on the 4th lap by 1.9 seconds. Vettel a further 1.4 seconds behind

8:12 [Comment From Parashar ]
even if nt podium for sutil atleast in top 8 , can he ? [Ed] Difficult

8:12 Grosjean is walking away after retiring with what seems to be a mechanical problem

8:13 McLaren telling Hamilton that they have a KERS issue and ask him to disable it!

8:13 [Comment From syed ali ]
cant even imagine of any thing at this point dude....lets jus see after a while

8:14 Vettel sets the fastest lap so far with a 1:1.49.122

8:14 [Comment From Parashar ]
any chances of rain ??? [Ed] Very low it seems

8:15 [Comment From RaHuL ]
Sutil:14th? [Ed] He is fighting with Alguersuari for 14th

8:15 Glock and Alonso have passed Webber!

8:16 Looks like he went off

8:16 [Comment From Parashar ]
does dat force india car of sutil looks fast i mean can he overtake 2-3 cars

8:17 Grosjean had brake problems

8:18 Webber had to give a place to Alonso because he passed him off track that is why he dropped behind. He had to let both Glock and Alonso through.

8:18 [Comment From RaHuL ]
Parashar he's very heavy and its early to say...he's gaining speed

8:19 Hamilton leads Rosberg by 2,4 seconds on lap 8. Vettel is 1.6 seconds behind

8:20 Team tells Sutil to try and managed the engine as it is overheating. He is stuck behind Alguersuari

8:20 [Comment From RaHuL ]
fisi is faster than sutil right now i think [Ed] Both are held up by Alguersuari

8:21 Rosberg catching Hamilton now. He set the fastest lap so far with a 1:48.352

8:21 FIsichella being urged by his team to pass Sutil

8:22 [Comment From Parashar ]
m sure he is on 1 stop [Ed] Super soft tyres may not sustain that long

8:22 [Comment From RaHuL ]
total laps? [Ed] 61

8:23 Alguersuari is very slow and now holding up the 5 cars behind him!

8:25 Raikkonen takes 12th from Buemi who has a very slow lap

8:25 [Comment From Parashar ]
i just hope sutil doesnt retires this time

8:25 [Comment From syed ali ]
howzz button and barichello going on....? [Ed] 7th and 10th

8:26 [Comment From Parashar ]
is that str faster den force india n ferrari [Ed] No but this track is very difficult to overtake

8:26 Sutil is trying very hard to pass Alguersuari

8:26 [Comment From RaHuL ]
Alguersuari is killing others race, either speed or get out of the way man

8:27 [Comment From RaHuL ]
wats with sutil, pass Alg..is Alg on KERS?

8:27 Liuzzi trying to pass Fisichella!

8:28 [Comment From syed ali ]
it was luzzi who retired last time.....not sutil i guess

8:28 [Comment From Parashar ]
this strs r real slow n pain for other cars

8:28 [Comment From Zee ]
Lost signal on ym tv due to rains. Was webber penalized ? [Ed] had to let Alonso through cause he passed him off track

8:29 [Comment From RaHuL ]
go liuzzi go

8:30 The Alguersuari train is holding up everyone behind. He is lapping in the high 1:54's, those in front are at least 3 seconds quicker!!

8:31 Replay shows a piece of rear wing flying off Glock's car! Yello flags are waved but their could be a safety car to clear it!

8:31 [Comment From RaHuL ]
yes syed

8:32 [Comment From Parashar ]
does force india retired ? [Ed] Only Grosjean retired

8:32 [Comment From RaHuL ]
STRs should be banned

8:32 [Comment From Parashar ]
syed ali dnt gives us heartbreak i tght luzzi got retired this time also

8:32 Hamlton leads Rosberg on lap 15 by 3.1 seconds. Vettel is a further 2 seconds behind

8:33 [Comment From Zee ]
What was the problem with Grosjean's car ? [Ed] Brakes

8:34 1st round of pit stops about to commence!

8:34 [Comment From syed ali ]
lolz, sorry dude...i was talking abt last time....nywy lets see abt now...

8:35 A marshal has managed to get on the track to clear the debris!

8:35 Vettel is the first to pit

8:35 Vettel rejoins behind Barrichell in 7th

8:36 Rosberg pits!

8:37 [Comment From Parashar ]
can any one tell position of sutil n luzzi [Ed] 15th and 17th

8:37 Webber pits too!

8:38 Rosberg may get a drive through as he jumped over the white line and then went back!

8:38 Fisichella and Liuzzi pit together!

8:39 And now Glock pits and Barrichello

8:40 [Comment From Parashar ]
wish liuzzi is out 1st [Ed] No but they may have fuelled him longer!

8:40 Hamilton pits!

8:40 Rosberg is under investigation

8:41 Hamilton stays in the lead!

8:41 Drive through for Rosberg! Hard luck

8:42 Heidfeld and Sutil touch

8:42 Sutil tries to pass Alguersuari, he spins then drives into Heidfeld!
Safety car!!

8:43 Plenty of debris on the track and many make their pit stops

8:43 [Comment From Parashar ]
i think rosberg loses chance of podium now [Ed]Yes!

8:47 Alguersuari pits and tries to get away with the hose still connected!

8:48 [Comment From Parashar ]
does sutil damaged his car ??? [Ed] He lost his front wing. He is 18th

8:48 [Comment From Zee ]
Safety Car is out !!!

8:49 [Comment From Kent ]
can Rosberg do his drive through during safety car? [Ed] Rosberg will follow the safety car to take his drive through. Worst case scenario for him

8:49 [Comment From Flyer ]
I hate ads during the race anything can happen.

8:50 Rosberg is very very unlucky. He will take his drive through when the safety car pits and that will put him last

8:50 [Comment From Parashar ]
guys tell latest retirements n positions [Ed] Retirements: Heidfeld and Grosjean

8:51 Sutil pits! He retires!

8:52 Looks like the damage he sustained from hitting Heidfeld is terminal

8:52 The field is now packed up as the safety car is about to pit

8:53 Lights off on the safety car

8:54 Race restarts!

8:55 Hamilton leads from Rosberg and Vettel on lap 25

8:55 [Comment From Leo ]
What happened to webber [Ed] He dropped back during the pits stops. Was disadvantaged due to safety car

8:56 [Comment From aswin ]
hamilton leads

8:57 The incident between Sutil and Heidfeld will be investigated after the race

8:57 Rosberg takes his drive through

8:58 Rosberg is last in 17th!

8:58 Sorry he is 14th

8:59 News from the Force India garage is that Sutil may go back out as they look at his brakes

9:00 Vettel is pushing! He is just 1 second behind Hamilton

9:01 [Comment From Parashar ]
good news

9:02 Hamilton leads Vettel by 0.8 seconds on lap 29. Glock in 3rd is a further 4.1 seconds behind

9:02 Glock is 3rd, Trulli is 13th!

9:03 Raikkonen is 11th, Fisichella is 15th!

9:04 It seems Vettel is trying to push Hamilton into a mistake

9:06 Rosberg trying to pass Trulli for 13th!

9:07 [Comment From Parashar ]
where is liuzzi ? [Ed] 17th and 1.3 seconds behind Fisichella

9:12 Glock is pushing. He is slowly catching Vettel and Hamilton. Rosberg pits

9:22 Vettel under investigation for speeding into the pitlane after making his second a final stop!

9:23 He will most likely get a drive through!

9:23 [Comment From Scott ]
Who has the fastest lap so far? [Ed] Hamilton - 1:48.345

9:24 Drive through for Vettel confirmed

9:26 Team tells Vettel to stay focused as they could finish 4th or 5th!

9:27 Vettel also has rear diffuser damage and hence the drop in his lap times

9:27 Vettel serves his drive through

9:28 He rejoins in 9th ahead of Raikkonen

9:29 Webber pits

9:29 Webber struggling with his brakes

9:32 Webber has crashed!

9:33 Hamilton pits and so does Barrichello

9:33 Replay shows Webber had brake failure!

9:34 Alonso now leads the race but has yet to stop!

9:36 Button is up into 3rd but has yet to stop!

9:39 Alonso pits from the lead

9:40 Alonso rejoins in 4th

9:41 [Comment From Jamin ]
Is someone's car underweight? [Ed] Heidfeld's was and that is why he started from the pitlane.

9:43 Button pits and rejoins ahead of Barrichello!

9:44 [Comment From RaHuL ]
Singapore track sucks, in race if you can't overtake then it's not the race...at least Delhi Grand Prix track shouldn't be like that

9:44 Raikkonen pits from 6th!

9:47 Alonso sets the fastest time of the race with a 1:48.240!

9:48 [Comment From RaHuL ]
Alguersuari is at well deserved 16th 18.4 secs behind his front driver omg....

9:50 Button is catching Vettel but he seems to be having brake issues too!

9:52 Button is nursing his car. 4 laps to go!

9:56 Hamilton leads Glock by 8.5 seconds on lap 58. Alonso in 3rd a further7.2 seconds

9:57 [Comment From RaHuL ]
This was a very slow race, can ne1 explain y? [Ed] Safety car period

9:58 2 laps to go and we will have a full 61 lap race!

9:59 Barrichello catching Button! Can he do it on the final lap ?

10:00 Lewis Hamilton wins the 2010 Singapore Grand Prix

10:01 Glock is second ahead of Alonso

10:02 Vettel, Button, Barrichello, Kovalainen, Kubica, Nakajima and Raikkonen make the top 10

10:03 [Comment From RaHuL ]
Have we seen ne ovetake in this whole race? [Ed] Very few! Rosberg overtook Alguersuari!

10:05 [Comment From Kent ]
Thanks you saved my day! I sit in a hotel in Turkey, I watch half an hour pre-race talk on TV. When the race is just to start, up comes a sign that I need a code to watch the race. The Hotel staff has no clue. Thanks again. [Ed] You are welcome. We had a few technical issues later in the race so apologies for that

10:07 Results: Hamilton, Glock, Alonso, Vettel, Button, Barrichello, Kovalainen, Kubica, Nakajima and Raikkonen

10:10 Rosberg 11th ahead of Trulli, Fisichella and Liuzzi
Retirements: Alguersuari, Buemi, Webber, Sutil, Heidfeld and Grosjean

10:12 [Comment From RaHuL ]
Thank you for live commentary [Ed] You are welcome, again delays later in the race due to technical issues

10:14 [Comment From Biraj ]
did hamilton deserve to win? [Ed] Yes, Rosberg and Vettel made errors that dropped them our of contention

10:16 [Comment From RaHuL ]
You don't write critical comments only comments praising u, hehe...biased man! [Ed] Certainly not! We had problems so we couldn't respond so quick. We publish all comments except offensive ones

10:17 [Comment From Chandrakin ]
I that case Monaco is even worse Rahul, only issues with singapore as I think are bumpy surface and darker patches still remaining in some places

10:18 [Comment From Scott ]
Thanks for the commentary! Do you know who finished with the fastest lap time? [Ed] Fastest lap time by Alonso !:48.240

10:22 [Comment From RaHuL ]
Start 1 finish 1, start last finish last, depend on others errors......can't do nething urself......would u call it a race? [Ed] That is the nature of street circuits ... unfortunately

10:23 [Comment From Biraj ]
does hamilton or kimi have a chance to win the driver's championship? [Ed] No

10:26 Alonso dedicates the podium to Flavio Briatore!

10:28 The next race is the Japanese Grand Prix next Sunday. Follow our coverage on NewsOnF1.com

Singapore Grand Prix - Top 10
1. Hamilton
2. Glock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +9.6
3. Alonso . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . +16.6
4. Vettel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +20.2
5. Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +30.0
6. Barrichello . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +31.8
7. Kovalainen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +36.1
8. Kubica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +55.0
9. Nakajima . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . +56.0
10. Raikkonen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +58.8
11. Rosberg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +59.7
12. Trulli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +73.0
13. Fisichella . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +79.8
14. Liuzzi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . +93.5

Retirements: Alguersuari, Buemi, Webber, Sutil, Heidfeld and Grosjean

[Ed]

Congratulations to Lewis Hamilton on winning the Singapore F1 Grand Prix. He deserved to win the race when his 2 main challengers committed errors.
Well done to Timo Glock for finishing second. This result may just save him the seat at Toyota. A huge contrast with Trulli's race which is surprising
Fernando Alonso managed to finish on the podium when he didn't expect to be able to. Given all the drama surrounding the Renault team, it is surprising that Alonso and his team managed to do well
Sebabstian Vettel may have had a chance or at least kept the pressure on Hamilton but he made a mistake by speeding in the pitlane. He'll learn from that
Jenson Button managed to finish ahead of Barrichello after staying out when Webber crashed. It was risky had the safety car been deployed but it wasn't and he pushed hard to get ahead. It was close as his brakes where pretty much finished!
Rubens Barrichello finished 6th which isn't a bad result when you start 10th but with Button getting ahead of him, he would not be pleased at all!
Heikki Kovlainen finished 7th. Seems that he enjoys finishing 6th or 7th!
Robert Kubica manages to squeeze into the points very quietly. Well done

We have added Nico Rosberg to the list even though he didn't finish in the top 8 as he looked strong to win or at least finish on the podium and just like Vettel, he made an error that cost him a drive through. Rosberg was the closest today to his first F1 win.

Ferrari struggled on this track with Raikkonen only managing 10th and Fisichella 13. Also Force India went back on this track and Sutil and Liuzzi where fighting at the back

Your thoughts and vote for the driver of the day ?

[Julian Mayo]

Typical street circuit, as boring as watching bat dung dry.
Sooty gets idiot of the day, closely followed by Vettel.
Weebbo gets the best deliberate half spin of the day, didn't that save his leg tho !!!
Boring, Bernie, boring, boring, boring.

[Snowy]

All the commentators were raving about the sight of F1 cars driving under floodlights. Perhaps if you're actually there it looks a little more stimulating, televisually it is pitiful and a lot like watching a 1990's sim. The ecological cost of that GP is astronomical, all those diesel powered generators and their backups must have accounted for half Singapore's carbon emissions for the week! If this is the FIA's and Bernie's idea of a more ecologically aware F1 we are all doomed.

Well done Lewis, he was in a class of his own all weekend. Although Friday seemed average, Lewis' first timed laps of both sessions were ominously quick.

The not so sutle move by Sutil ending Nick Heidfeld's run of 42 race finishes was an indication of just how long it takes a driver to learn not to make novice mistakes!

Nico was so apologetic after his mistake that it is hard to castigate him any more, however it is worth noting the incident was actually another case of the track not being "fit for purpose". There's dusty street circuits and then there is Singapore.

Brake failure for Mark was an unacceptable oversight from the team, it would appear they are still just learning the ropes.

[JayVee]

Well done to Hamilton. He did well but all those around him dropped off for silly reasons!

I was impressed by Glock managing to put the Toyota up there while Trulli struggled at the back. It is strange how some drivers wake up when their job is on the line

My (biased) driver of the day is Alonso. He beat the Red Bulls in a car that doesn't deserve to be in the points! Let alone all their problems. He will be impressive again in Japan!

Button was very lucky to be able to finish given his brakes were going. I think it will be his turn for things to go bad in Japan!

Alguersuari was really out of his comfort zone! If they want to keep this stupid ban on testing then rookies should not be allowed to race halfway into the season. Having said that, Fisichella didn't do that well either!!