2009 Singapore GP preview

[MrMasher]

Masher, I have a McLaren shirt going cheap if you think you need it..........? DT_Xtremez_14:

<---Masher hangs his head in shame--->DT_Xtremez_42:

 

[MrMasher]

Friday practice.

First practice saw the Brawns fastest with Rubens still retaining the edge over his team mate. The Red Bulls weren't that far off and neither were the McLaren's.
Grosjean managed to stuff it into Piquet corner! Imagine the pits when the heard say on the radio "Sorry guys, I lost the car in Turn 17,"DT_Xtremez_42:
Grosjean has been suffering from food poisoning, Lucas Di Grassi is standing by to jump in if needed.
Notice Alonso in 4th. Perhaps his recent comments about a podium here isnt just wishful thinking?

01 R. Barrichello Brawn GP 1:50.179 19 laps
02 J. Button Brawn GP 1:50.356 22 laps
03 M. Webber Red Bull 1:50.416 21 laps
04 F. Alonso Renault 1:50.567 16 laps
05 S. Vettel Red Bull 1:50.614 16 laps
06 H. Kovalainen McLaren 1:50.699 21 laps
07 L. Hamilton McLaren 1:50.715 17 laps
08 R. Kubica BMW 1:50.815 15 laps
09 K. Räikkönen Ferrari 1:50.865 19 laps
10 K. Nakajima Williams 1:51.089 25 laps
11 N. Rosberg Williams 1:51.427 23 laps
12 A. Sutil Force India F1 1:51.544 14 laps
13 S. Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:51.643 28 laps
14 N. Heidfeld BMW 1:51.656 15 laps
15 T. Glock Toyota 1:52.083 20 laps
16 J. Trulli Toyota 1:52.135 20 laps
17 G. Fisichella Ferrari 1:52.390 24 laps
18 V. Liuzzi Force India F1 1:52.905 23 laps
19 J. Alguersuari Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:53.232 25 laps
20 R. Grosjean Renault 1:53.458 9 laps


Practice 2

Nick Heidfeld managed to nose his beemer up the front for this session trading lap times with the Red Bull's and Brawn's.
Vettel put more laps in than he has in recent races.
Just over half an hour into the session Webber lost his car on a dusty bit at the last corner and planted his it into the wall. He was looking quick as well.
The rest of the session saw the usual fastest lap swap arounds with Vettel ending up on the top slot and Alonso 2nd.

01 S. Vettel Red Bull 1:48.650 31 laps
02 F. Alonso Renault 1:48.924 27 laps
03 H. Kovalainen McLaren 1:48.952 30 laps
04 N. Heidfeld BMW 1:49.098 31 laps
05 J. Button Brawn GP 1:49.311 34 laps
06 M. Webber Red Bull 1:49.317 14 laps
07 N. Rosberg Williams 1:49.333 33 laps
08 T. Glock Toyota 1:49.342 30 laps
09 L. Hamilton McLaren 1:49.358 28 laps
10 R. Kubica BMW 1:49.609 24 laps
11 R. Barrichello Brawn GP 1:49.616 30 laps
12 A. Sutil Force India F1 1:49.710 31 laps
13 J. Trulli Toyota 1:49.795 29 laps
14 K. Räikkönen Ferrari 1:49.941 29 laps
15 K. Nakajima Williams 1:50.023 34 laps
16 G. Fisichella Ferrari 1:50.253 31 laps
17 S. Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:50.527 29 laps
18 V. Liuzzi Force India F1 1:50.605 28 laps
19 R. Grosjean Renault 1:50.972 17 laps
20 J. Alguersuari Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:51.423 31 laps


This weekend the lap times should get quicker as the track rubbers in. Its a dusty bouncy circuit and the soft compound so far is wearing away quite quickly. Advantage Brawn!
The only thing to get in the way would be a spot of rain to wash off the rubber. Linky

The 3rd and final practice starts at midday on the red button, or on the BBC F1 website.

 

[spanners]

Rubens Barrichello is having his gearbox changed prior to qualifying, which means a 5 place penalty on Sunday’s grid.
See here

Good intro MMDT_Xtremez_30:

 

[MrMasher]

Rubens Barrichello is having his gearbox changed prior to qualifying, which means a 5 place penalty on Sunday’s grid.
See here

Good intro MMDT_Xtremez_30:

Good spot spanners.
Might we see a light fuelled Rubens in Q3?

 

[spanners]

Good spot spanners.
Might we see a light fuelled Rubens in Q3?

I think he may well do that. Just watched the practice session, Jenson was not happy with his car at the end of it, quite a bit behind Rubens.

 

[MAINJAFAD]

Qual positions and weights. Barrichello starting 10th with a 5 grid penalty for an early gearbox change.

Pos Driver Weight (kg)
1. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 660.5
2. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 651.0
3. Rosberg Williams-Toyota 657.5
4. Webber Red Bull-Renault 654.5
5. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes 655.5
6. Alonso Renault 658.0
7. Glock Toyota 660.5
8. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber 650.0
9. Kubica BMW-Sauber 664.0
10. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 664.5
11. Nakajima Williams-Toyota 680.7
12. Button Brawn-Mercedes 683.0
13. Raikkonen Ferrari 680.5
14. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 678.0
15. Trulli Toyota 690.9
16. Sutil Force India-Mercedes 693.0
17. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 683.5
18. Fisichella Ferrari 678.5
19. Grosjean Renault 683.0
20. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 656.0

 

[Gundulph]

Great to see Hamilton on Pole again, lets hope this week he can win it...

Shame about Barichello as he had a chance to close the Championship points gap a bit...

How many more Races left for this Season MrMasher?

 

[MrMasher]

Great to see Hamilton on Pole again, lets hope this week he can win it...

Shame about Barichello as he had a chance to close the Championship points gap a bit...

How many more Races left for this Season MrMasher?

3 races left after this one. Japan, Brazil and Abu Dhabi.

I must say, I couldn't believe eddie jordans comment; it was advantageous for Rubens to crash. What an utter tit!

 

[I Look Like Kevin Costner]

Ruebens will start with a car that will not be handling the same as before it crashed, regardless of the same settings being applied. Button totally mucked up again and it will be interesting if he can pull anything out of the bag.. Hamilton favourite to win...

 

[rest have risen above me]

3 races left after this one. Japan, Brazil and Abu Dhabi.

I must say, I couldn't believe eddie jordans comment; it was advantageous for Rubens to crash. What an utter tit!

Nice intor again MM thankyou..

I agree about the Eddie Jordan comment the man quite spoils my watching of the build up at times.

 

[MrMasher]

I'm glad it's not just me! I used to like EJ as well. What does everyone else think of him?

 

[Grease Monkey]

Eddie Jordan

Eddie Jordan

Not EJs greatest fan but he is employed as the bad cop with David Coultard as the good un. Hope the commentators change for next year.......

 

[propersplitbrainme]

I'm glad it's not just me! I used to like EJ as well. What does everyone else think of him?

EJ is a blithering idiot Mash, I've thought this ever since he first opened his mouth at the start of the season and let what it likes fall out!
Well, another boring race but its all still alive at the top of the championship tree. Weird season.

Edit- No Jenson there weren't two safety car stints, just the witless interviewer failing to make her point clearly.

 

[MrMasher]

Quite possibly the most boring race I have ever seen. Except for that 6 car event in Inianapolis, that is.
At least Nascar is on later.

 

[spanners]

Too long and boring, why oh why do they hold races at circuits like this? With only 1 overtaking point, why does this track have a future? I was reading an interview with Adrian Newey the other day and he was asked how would he improve over taking, his answer was to change the circuits or drastically reduce downforce on the cars. The teams are not going to let sponsorship spaces go, so surely now is the time to change the circuits, before we end up with more boring Valencia and Singapore type races.

 

[I Look Like Kevin Costner]

And Button gets out of jail again! If he scores 5 points more than Ruebens in the next race and loses less than 6 points to Vettel, he is WDC..

Brawn only need 12 more points in the last thre races to become WCC.

Hamilton was brilliant and yes,,, the race was a snooze fest...:raf:

 

[Gundulph]

Good to see Hamilton stay in front this week! I thought he'd missed the chance when he went back in the Pits with 16 Laps to go...

Looks like we will at least see another British Champion this Season... DT_Xtremez_14:

 

[propersplitbrainme]

Too long and boring, why oh why do they hold races at circuits like this?

Three reasons....

1. Money
2. Money
3. Might have something to do with money.

These 'races' are utter cr@p. Yes it looks spectacular seeing F1 cars zooming around city streets under intense floodlights but races they aint. If this is what the FIA sees as the future of F1, it needs to have a long, hard look at itself.

 

[MrMasher]

Three reasons....

1. Money
2. Money
3. Might have something to do with money.

These 'races' are utter cr@p. Yes it looks spectacular seeing F1 cars zooming around city streets under intense floodlights but races they aint. If this is what the FIA sees as the future of F1, it needs to have a long, hard look at itself.

I wholeheartedly agree. We need to get a good balance of tracks including the ones with overtaking opportunities. The FIA seriously need to look at the downforce issues. Even at tracks with overtaking opportunities we haveseen processional races because of the downforce turbulence produced by the leading car. This in turn reduces the following cars downforce on the nose. With the rules staying similar for next season it won't be much better.