Well an interesting qualifying session has been conducted under the lights in Singapore, the track looking resplendent in the artificial glow truly emphasising the sparks and liveries in the darkness. The overall outcome may not have been too different, in fact not different at all - considering the same team has been on pole for all of the races this season, and that team ended up with a complete lockout of the front row once again.
The session did see larger gaps between the cars throughout - naturally there were pockets of close competition but the three divisions were clearly formed this weekend with virtually no overlapping of categories. After issues on Friday regarding the track coming apart in the corners some curbs had been removed most notably the ones after the second bridge. The chicane at turn 10 still remains - a complete abomination to the world of motor-racing and if I didn't need the TV my lunch would have been propelled at it with some force. That said it probably works for touring cars or other low powered formulae.
But back to the session at hand after a little distraction regarding a satanic corner - which doesn't mean it plays decent metal music - there was a qualifying session to account for here and here is how things unfolded this afternoon.
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| Credit to F1Fanatic.co.uk for the image |
After spending some time at the community centre - the home of my almost theatrical exploits and where victory was attained in throwing ping-pong balls into jars. Albeit once. But victory none-the-less, as a result the blog now has an official mascot in the form of the blog goldfish - who doesn't actually have a name yet but all in good time on that one. Just hope the fish lasts long enough to see the season out.
While the fish was acclimatisation to his/her new surroundings it was time to turn the attention to the impending start of Q1. But like in Monza when the lights went out none of the cars did - hiding away in their garages waiting for someone else to leave first to clear up the surface first. In the end it was Williams with Rubens Barrichello who were the first to break cover and take to the streets - with his team-mate not too far behind.
Their initial control of the time-sheets was erased when the division one cars left the pit garage to destroy the efforts Williams had put on the board. McLaren were the early leaders with Button, but this was before Red Bull set a time - and given the ominous pace set by Vettel in FP3 Jenson's time out front was numbered. It didn't take long for the German Bloke to destroy the fastest time to go 0.6s faster than anyone else.
At the back the drop zone was populated by the three newer teams who were a long way off the pace as they were in Monza. Leaving only one place in relegation, this week it was Renault Squadron who were struggling. Their car was having difficulties in the high downforce configuration and were woefully slow in comparison to their usual form. Both Vitaly and Bruno swapped places in the drop zone but on the final lap Senna pipped Wing Commander Petrov binning the Russian out of Q1 and into 18th place.
Next up there was Q2, minus the three bottom teams and Petrov, this session was brought to life by Lewis Hamilton as the first car to the track. So the internet claims but I was making a nice mug of tea in the inter-session break and mistimed my return. Anyhow in this session division one were on track early on Button once again taking the early lead - only to be beaten once again and considerably by that German bloke. Both drivers running the softest compound tyres for the run.
Just as Vettel had completed his lap the session was brought to a temporary stop - and not surprisingly it was the horrific turn 10 'corner' that was the cause of the stoppage, along with it's victim in the form of Kamui Kobayashi. The Sauber driver had been hitting the curbs in the chicane in practice - already holding the record for the airtime, but Kamui eclipsed that record in Q2 soaring off the second curb and into the outside wall. A red flag was flown until the Sauber was winched away and the barriers pushed back.
Time for Q2 - part two and the intervention had caught several drivers out such as Schumacher and Massa who were on a lap when the red flag came out. But easily managed to sail into the top ten - with Renault Squadron out of contention this weekend there were two places opened up in the final session. Force India were the team to take those places despite a strong challenge from One-stop Perez and the Williams cars. A mammoth gulf lay between the top three teams and everyone else, Mercedes were on their own as the 4th team and for this weekend Force India were in formation flying in fifth. Somewhere on his final run Hamilton encountered difficulties causing a rear puncture off camera, Lewis theorised that the curbs were responsible, perhaps a loose bolt like the ones seen in FP1/2.
The final session was about to begin - and a queue was forming at the end of the pit lane Two-Cakes-Up Button headed the line from the two Ferraris and Hamilton. As a result the four cars headed out in a line and held each other up, to the point where Hamilton was trying to pass Massa in front on the exit of the tunnel; before making the move stick on the final chicane. Red Bull however were in space by themselves with the other teams in the pit lane. The opening runs placed Vettel once more considerably in the lead from both McLarens and Alonso, while Massa aborted the lap.
Final runs of qualifying were building to set the line up for the race tomorrow. Force India and Michael Schumacher deciding not to play remained in the garage - automatic penalty points for them then. Consequently Massa and Rosberg were the only cars to add to the leader-board, in what was turning into a neutered conclusion to the session. With Hamilton stuck in the garage as timing the refuelling didn't allow a final run ended his chances of improvement. Webber brought the only real change hoisting the second Red Bull onto the front row, alongside Vettel who in turn failed to extend his advantage after a mistake in the horrific chicane.
So the grid was set completely in Noah's ark formation for the top ten with Red Bull leading McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes and Force India - the last three cars not taking part. Resulting in a rather colour coordinated grid, which demonstrates the importance of car performance here as teams were for the most part running in close pairs. With the main exception of Sauber where Kobayashi was attacked by the evil thing that is Turn 10...
The Official Bonus Points Championship points winners
Although the final segment of the session was somewhat dampened by 30% of the competitors not taking part the highest rate of none participation of the year so far there were points to be awarded for those who did do a good job today.
- Kamui Kobayashi - for holding the highest jump in the chicane, when such a corner is placed in the track may as well make use for it and Kamui gained the most air albeit ending in the wall. But he was higest before that in FP2 so still gets a point
- Jaime Alguersuari - for getting so closest to the wall - on camera at least - on the exit of the turn 11-12 chicane before the Anderson bridge. I'm sure D.C. called it something else but from the perspective of this corner of the internet it is the Anderson bridge.
- Sebastien Vettel - such dominance of the qualifying session does really deserve a bonus point
- The Official Blog Fish - gets an introductory point for joining the team here
- Williams - for being much more competitive here, pulling away from STR and this week Renault Squadron with a decent chance of getting some points this weekend.
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| It's the Blog fish in its new habitat |
The Also Official Penalties Championship
Only one penalty has surfaced this weekend and that has been handed to Vitantonio Liuzzi after his collision in Monza wiping out Petrov and Rosberg in turn one. Liuzzi has been awarded a 5-place grid drop after qualifying which turns out to be completely pointless considering he starts last anyway, which should be now 29th position behind all the support vehicles on the grid as well. But in reality will have a grand total of zero effect on the outcome of the starting line up.
The Still Official Dubious Dealings Championship
There are some penalty points to be awarded after today's session, and they are assigned as follows
- Michael Schumacher: For not running in Q3
- Adrian Sutil: For not running in Q3
- Paul Di Resta: For not running in Q3
- The turn 10 chicane: For being completely and utterly pants
Looking to tomorrow
The grid may be set but that may not mean the final order has been decided. Red Bull may be in for another win but what may occur behind them is anyone's guess, McLaren and Ferrari will be rather close and the early stages of the race Mercedes could tag along and take advantage of their strong starts. Then there will be a gap developing back to the mid-field with Force India and Williams in close company.
As usual there will be cars towards the back looking to make up for a poor qualifying in an effort to get their cars back up to where the raw pace dictates they should be. In this instance that torch falls to Kamui Kobayashi after crashing in Q2 will be looking for an improvement and naturally some bonus points. On top of that there is Renault Squadron who will be hoping their race pace will be better.
But this being a street track there is a high chance of madness with outbreaks of contact and carnage, so a safety car intervention is a strong possibility and have been common in previous running of the Singapore GP. Then there is a second element of madness that could join the proceedings, the chance of some rain... showers are apparently in the area and one could strike the circuit. Now rain, during a night race would be something completely different a whole new experience altogether. Would the artificial floodlights create blinding reflections off a wet race track, and what visibility problems would a cloud of spay cause at night.
There are so many questions and possibilities for what is the longest race of the season coming in at close to two hours and maximum time. So plenty of time for different strategies and accidents to play out on the streets of Singapore. This is one of the most exciting races of the year as the streets can throw up so many possible outcomes, so prepare the race snacks for the immense spectacle that will take place tomorrow.
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