F1 Madness

Tag: marina bay circuit

  • 2013 Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix Free Practice 2 Report

    The preparations for Sunday’s Singapore grand prix kicked off today with three hours of free practice around the floodlit Marina Bay circuit.

    The first free practice session was topped by the 2009 winner of the Singapore GP, Lewis Hamilton. However, free practice two is where Sebastian Vettel stamped his, and Red Bull’s authority, quite ominously.

    The three-time reigning world champion dominated the timing sheets for the majority of the session. Vettel not only set a time six tenths of a second quicker than teammate Mark Webber but more stunningly a full second faster than the Mercedes duo of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. Vettel’s closest rival in the world championship fight, Fernando Alonso, managed the 6th quickest time.

    An initial flurry of activity had the entire field out on the red walled supersoft tyres simulating a qualifying run. The difference between the two compounds ranged from eight tenths of a second up to 1.4 seconds in the case of Mark Webber. Lotus’ Kimi Raikkonen was the only driver who elected not to run a quali sim instead focusing on the set-up and long run pace of the E21.

    A few minor excursions included both Mark Webber and Felipe Massa kissing the wall towards the end of the lap. Both these driver’s escaped without damage to their cars but Pastor Maldonado wasn’t as lucky. The Williams driver spent the majority of the session sliding his car around perilously close to the barriers; unfortunately for the Venezuelan it was one slide too many as he lost his front wing after skidding into the barriers. In his defence, the Williams looked a right handful  from the moment it left the pitlane. Romain Grosjean reported to his team that he had “hit something” and that he had lost the brakes.

    As the session settled in so the driver’s got on with the task of evaluating their long run pace. The differing fuel loads in the various cars is privileged information but irrespective of this knowledge the Red Bull looked on rails around the Marina Bay circuit. More importantly, was Vettel’s ability to set metronomically consistent lap times.

    It’s early days yet in this race weekend but Red Bull again look the odds on favourite to feature prominently. Nevertheless, some of the best qualifying laps that has been seen this season has come from Lewis Hamilton. The Brit may yet find something overnight and should be a good bet for a front row starting position if not a stolen pole.

    FP2Sing

  • 2013 Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix Free Practice 1 Report

    2013 Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix Free Practice 1 Report

    Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time of the first free practice session for the Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit

    Mercedes look to be back on top after the first free practice session with Lewis Hamilton setting the quickest time of the session with a 1:47.055. Red Bull’s Mark Webber finished P2 with a 1:47.420, 0.365s slower than Hamilton’s time. Webber’s team mate, Sebastian Vettel finished the session in P3, 0.830s slower than Hamilton’s P1 time. Nico Rosberg, and Lotus’ Kimi Raikkonen rounded up the top 5 in P4 and P5 respectively.

    As expected, Mercedes and Red Bull are looking very strong so far. Ferrari and Lotus are quite a long way behind and its going to take something special from them to get ahead of Red Bull and Mercedes.

    With this being FP1, we’ll get a better gauge of pace after FP2 later this afternoon.

    You can join us for updates throughout the FP2 session later on.

    Below is the full time sheet for the FP1 session:

    Singapre_FP1

     

  • F1 2013: Singapore GP Preview – Singapore’s city lights ignite

    F1 2013: Singapore GP Preview – Singapore’s city lights ignite

    The Formula 1 paddock has departed the European continent for the final time in the 2013 season. Now the final pushes towards championship glory, towards a race seat for next year, or towards a few extra points begin. The final stretch of the calendar begins with Singapore’s Marina Bay circuit, round thirteen of the championship.

    The initial announcement of Formula 1 under floodlights was met with skepticism and questions about whether a spectacle of such proportions was even with the realms of possibility. It became a reality in 2008 as Formula 1 set off for Singapore and its floodlit city streets. Images of gleaming bodywork, glowing exhausts and city skylines quickly became a spectacle worthy of the greatest motorsport series in the world.

    CrashgateThe Singapore GP still feels relatively new to the Formula 1 calendar but in reality has been a part of the yearly roundabout since 2008 and has already had its fair share of controversy. The inaugural race, won by Renault’s Fernando Alonso, was plunged into a controversy which had been dubbed Crashgate. Team principal of Renault Flavio Briatore ordered Brazilian driver Nelson Piquet Jr. to deliberately crash and force the deployment of the safety car. The intentional crash was arranged in order to provide Fernando Alonso with an advantage by making an early pitstop. Since then the Singapore GP has been thankfully controversy free and filled with memorable race victories.

    It comes as no surprise that Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel seem to excel  on the Singapore streets. The German has taken the last two victories and share’s the distinction of two race wins around these parts with Fernando Alonso.

    Lewis Hamilton won the 2009 edition of the race and could be a favourite to repeat the feat this weekend. As street circuits tend to go they share some similarities amongst each other; it’s no different for Monaco and Singapore. Although the streets of Monte Carlo are not quite as intensely layed out as the Marina Bay circuit it can be considered an indicator. It is in these set of circumstances that Mercedes found  themselves leading the pack. If it is to be a similar case this weekend there, hopefully, will be no sign of a procession.

    The bumpy Marina Bay circuit requires a return to the high downforce set up and an extreme level of concentration through its complex twenty-three corner layout. Pirelli has made the soft and supersoft compound tyres available for use this weekend;  and given the offset previously seen between these two tyres, strategy will play a part during the Singapore GP.

    However, the perfect strategy will mean little if the race is ruined by being stuck in traffic. Overtaking on street tracks is always at a premium and Singapore is no exception. A good slot on the grid will be vital to a good position come race day.

    The question of how the track remains completely illuminated is answered by using, in total, 1500 lighting projectors to light the driver’s way throughout the 61 lap race Singapore GP.

    That leaves only the question of who will top the podium come Sunday.

  • Broadcast Times for the 2013 Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix

    Broadcast Times for the 2013 Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix

    The only night race on the Formula 1 calendar takes place in Singapore at the Marina Bay Circuit. Even though it is a street circuit, it isn’t that slow. There are a few medium speed corners and with turn 10 being modified to just a left hander, instead of the chicane, we can expect lap times to be a bit quicker and also some overtakes into turn 10.

     

    Below are the broadcast times for the 2013 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Circuit (All times are GMT+2):

    Free Practice 1: Friday 12:00

    Free Practice 2: Friday 15:30

    Free Practice 3: Saturday 12:00

    Qualifying: Saturday 15:00

    Race: Sunday 14:00

     

    As always you can catch our live updates on Twitter (@F1_Madness) and we will have updates for you throughout all three practice sessions.

  • Weather Report for the 2013 Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix

    The Singapore Grand Prix is the 13th stop on the Fomula 1 Calendar. The start of the second round of the fly away races for the season.

    The heat and humidity are the biggest concerns for the teams and drivers. The weather for the weekend will be rather hot and humid with temperatures for the Practice Sessions, Qualifying and the race to remain in the mid-twenties. There is a chance of thunderstorms throughout the weekend and we can expect some rain. The rain will make a very interesting addition for the night race.

    SingaporeWeather

  • Virtual lap of Singapore (Marina Bay) with Fernando Alonso

    Virtual lap of Singapore (Marina Bay) with Fernando Alonso

    Take a virtual lap around the Marina Bay circuit in Singapore with Fernando Alonso.