[Official] Singapore Grand Prix 2022: Grand Prix Weekend Thread - Round 17 of 22

[Born Racer]

It can feel like an age since both Singapore, which returns this weekend, and Suzuka, back in a fortnight, reverberated to the sound of Formula 1's V6 hybrid engine. A pandemic notwithstanding, the series appears to have undergone one of its 'changing of the guards' within those intervening three years. Lewis Hamilton is yet to win a race this season, the first time that has happened in his F1 career. Ferrari have won races, this time with Leclerc and Sainz, and Max Verstappen appears to be running away with it. George Russell has been capable of challenging seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. Formula 1 has always been a highly car-dependent series, though, and Hamilton claims to be as on it as ever. He should be disregarded at one's peril.

Singapore holds its thirteenth World Championship Grand Prix this weekend. A symbol of the contemporary tendency of iconic circuit surroundings and modern entertainment razzmatazz, the Marina Bay circuit played host to Formula 1’s first ever night race in 2008.

A 318,000 watt capacity is required to pump the circuit with artificial lighting and the definition of the different elements of the cars is fantastic as they shimmer under the floodlights, with sparks from the underside particularly prominent.

With 23 corners (14 left-handers and 9 right-handers), it has more turns than any other Grand Prix on the calendar, bar Jeddah, and at 61 laps, it generally goes on to become the longest race in the season, running to the 2-hour limit before the laps have been completed. The shortest race here was 2018's 1 hour 51 minutes.

On past form, the safety car is almost a certainty – it has appeared at least once in every Grand Prix held at this track, perhaps most memorably in the first ever Formula 1 race, when Renault’s Nelson Piquet agreed to crash in order to assist Fernando Alonso (who went on to controversially take the first victory) and in 2015, when during a safety car period, a spectator got through a gap and made it onto the track.

The shortest margin of victory here was 0.239 in 2010, with Alonso beating Vettel, although in 2016, Ricciardo ran winner Rosberg home close after a frantic battle near the end, with the margin 0.488 at the end. Vettel did manage to hold off Alonso by almost 33 seconds in his 2013 win, however.


The history

The race goes back further than 2008, though, as there was a Grand Prix in Singapore in 1961, named the Orient Year Grand Prix. It formed part of a campaign called ‘Visit Singapore - The Orient Year’ to attract tourists to the region and it took place on a street track named the Thomson Road Grand Prix Circuit. There were races for both cars and motorcycles, and Ian Barnwell won the former in an Aston Martin DB3S. The event then turned into the Malaysian Grand Prix until 1965, at which point Singapore gained independence and it became the Singapore Grand Prix the following year.

The event was run to Formula Libre rules and the circuit was known for being a dangerous track with one of the corners named ‘The Hump’, a right-hander through which the cars left the ground, as well as a section which became known as ‘Murder Mile, a corner nicknamed Devil’s Bend and a right-left-right-left sequence dubbed 'The Snakes'.

Singapore's Lee Han Seng took the spoils in the 1966 Grand Prix in a Lotus 22, in addition to claiming the Sports Car and GT race in a Lotus-Ford Twin Cam. Rodney Seow, also from the country, won the following year in a Merlyn-Ford, with Australia's Garrie Cooper sealing victory in 1968 in an Elfin-Ford, before Graeme Lawrence of New Zealand embarked on a hat-trick in a McLaren-Ford, Ferrari and Brabham-Ford. The 'Jolly Green Giant', Australian Max Stewart won the 1972 edition in a Mildren-Ford, while his compatriot Vern Schuppan was victorious in 1973 in a March-Hart.

In the opening race at Marina Bay in 2008, Felipe Massa's Ferrari led Hamilton's McLaren away from pole and pulled a gap. Fernando Alonso, who had qualified fifteenth, made an early stop on Lap 12 to change from the super-softs to the softs and rejoined at the tail of the field. A mere two laps later, team-mate Nelson Piquet Jr crashed at Turn 17, which brought out the safety car. When the pitlane was opened, Felipe Massa was among the many to pit, but was released with the fuel hose still attached and his team had to run to the end of the pitlane to remove it. The order now transformed, Nico Rosberg and Robert Kubica were given penalties for having to stop for fuel before the pitlane had opened. Rosberg, however, had built a lead in his Williams and dropped to just fourth. Jarno Trulli now led from Giancarlo Fisichella.

When Trulli and Fisichella one-stopped, Alonso took over the lead and held it to the end, despite making a second stop on Lap 42. Rosberg was runner-up and Hamilton third. A year later, it emerged that Piquet had been ordered to crash to benefit Alonso, and Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds left the team and were sanctioned by the FIA.

In 2009, Hamilton led the early stages from pole, while Rosberg grabbed second spot, before getting a second penalty in as many years, as he crossed the white line of the pit exit after his stop on Lap 18. A subsequent safety car following the second crash by Adrian Sutil in two Singapore events was followed by Jaime Alguersuari repeating Massa's fuel hose blunder of the previous year. Sebastian Vettel harried Hamilton for the lead, but when he made his second stop on Lap 39, he sped in the pit lane, handing himself a drive-through penalty, a frustration compounded by damaging the car on a kerb on the out lap. Hamilton went on to win from Timo Glock's Toyota and Alonso's Renault. It was the first race of the campaign with no Brawn or Red Bull on the podium.

A year later, it was Alonso who became the first repeat winner here, in addition to claiming his first 'Grand Chelem', after an intense battle with second-placed Vettel. The margin of victory was just 0.239, the closest yet seen here, while Mark Webber was third, after a collision with Hamilton saw the McLaren driver go out of the race. Michael Schumacher had a nightmare and collided with both Kamui Kobayashi and Nick Heidfeld. Heikki Kovalainen and Sébastien Buemi made contact and the former had to extinguish the fire on his car.

In 2011, it was much less close than the previous year, as Vettel took a lights-to-flag victory from Jenson Button's McLaren and the fellow Red Bull of Mark Webber. Schumacher was once again embroiled in a Singapore smash, this time with the Sauber of Sergio Pérez. After both pitting on Lap 12, Hamilton closed down Massa and made contact on the outside of Turn 7, necessitating a new front wing for him and a set of tyres for the Ferrari driver, who had got a right-rear puncture. The McLaren man also got slapped with a drive-through penalty. Massa later sarcastically patted him on the shoulder in the paddock while he was doing an interview in the press pen.

Hamilton started the 2012 event on pole, with Pastor Maldonado alongside in the Williams, but it was Vettel who came through to win after the McLaren driver suffered a gearbox failure on Lap 22. Schumacher made it a hat-trick of collisions at this track, this time meeting Jean-Eric Vergne's Toro Rosso. Jenson Button and Alonso completed the podium in their McLaren and Ferrari, respectively.

In 2013, Vettel got away from pole more slowly than Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes, who grabbed first slot into Turn 1 but ran wide, handing the place back. Thereafter, he controlled the race to the finish, taking a hat-trick of wins at Marina Bay and a Grand Chelem. In second was Alonso, who stopped on the slowing-down lap to pick up Webber, whose engined had lunched itself on Lap 60 and set on fire. Both received reprimands, but Webber's impacted his next race, as this was his third one, and he got a ten-place grid penalty. Kimi Räikkönen was third.

Lewis Hamilton took the spoils with Mercedes a year later, becoming the third repeat winner at Marina Bay, meaning all drivers who had won there had done so multiple times. Alonso made a brave lunge into Turn 1, but ran wide and slipped back. The Red Bulls of Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo completed the podium. Hamilton's team-mate and championship rival Nico Rosberg had a wiring loom issue and dodgy steering wheel, started at the back and went out on Lap 13.

It looked like it could be a second year in succession of starting quandries for Rosberg, when in 2015, he had a glitch on the way to the grid and stopped at the end of the pitlane. The issue was resolved, though, and he took up his sixth place. Vettel had taken pole and went on to take a fourth Singapore victory and the first of two for Ferrari. Ricciardo followed him home within a second a half in second in the Red Bull, while Räikkönen managed third. The race was marred by an intruder sneaking on to the track.

2016 saw Rosberg become the fourth driver to win at Marina Bay (and the only driver to win here who is not still competing), as he comfortably took victory from pole. Carlos Sainz's Toro Rosso tangled with Nico Hülkenberg's Force India on the opening lap, sending the latter out of the race. Ricciardo was runner-up for a second straight year, but this time just under half a second behind, while Hamilton ended up third. After a couple of technical-related grid penalties, Singapore specialist Sebastian Vettel climbed from 22nd to 5th.

In 2017, we witnessed the first wet weather at a night Grand Prix. A spectacular accident into Turn 1 involving the Ferraris of Räikkönen and Vettel and Max Verstappen's Red Bull, eliminated all three from proceedings and made it the first time in F1 history that both works Ferraris retired on the opening lap. Lewis Hamilton then led and went on to win from Ricciardo, once again second, and Valtteri Bottas in the sister Mercedes. The race marked Jolyon Palmer's first points finish of the season in sixth, but it was announced that weekend that he would be replaced by Carlos Sainz for 2018.

Hamilton won again that year, this time from Verstappen and Vettel. Kevin Magnussen set what stands as the fastest race lap to this day in his Haas. In 2019, the last iteration of the race before this season, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc took pole, but it was his team-mate Vettel who took a fifth victory, and his first in a little over a year. Leclerc sealed the runner-up slot and in doing so, gave Singapore its first 1-2 finish for a team, while Verstappen completed the podium. As in 2016, Sainz and Hülkenberg collided, but this time, both drivers survived the race. Kevin Magnussen set fastest lap again for the second year in succession, but did not get the extra point for doing so, as he was outside the top ten finishers.


Trivia

There has only been one 1-2 for a team here, in 2019, for Ferrari.

Sebastian Vettel has the most wins in the Singapore Grand Prix, with five.

In the modern incarnation of the race, the only driver to win who is not still competing is Nico Rosberg, who took his solitary victory in 2016.

Lewis Hamilton has four first places, while Fernando Alonso has two. Sandwiched between them on wins is Graeme Lawrence, who won in 1969, 1970 and 1971.

Max Verstappen has never won here, but a Max has - Max Stewart in 1972.

At Marina Bay, the safety car has appeared at least once in every race.

Four of the Marina Bay races have exceeded the two-hour limit and have been won at the end of that lap.


The track

There have been four different version of Marina Bay. The 'Singapore Sling', The wiggly Turn 10 chicane, was removed for the 2013 Grand Prix and replaced with a simple left-hander. In 2015, Turns 11 to 13 were modified, while Turns 16 and 17 were changed for the 2018 event.




Other information

Circuit length: 5.063 km
Number of laps: 61
Race distance: 308.706 km
Dry weather tyre compounds: C3, C4 and C5

Race Lap Record: 1:41.905 (Kevin Magnussen – Haas-Ferrari - 2018)
First Grand Prix in Singapore: 1961
First Singapore Grand Prix: 1966
First Grand Prix at this circuit: 2008
First Grand Prix on current configuration: 2018

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[Tourer]

Thanks BR - great intro, you've nailed it again.

Cool to see that an Aston won the first Singapore GP - hard to see how they'll get that done this year but you never know with attrition that this race sometimes throws up!

Interesting to see that the FIA are adjusting the bouncing metric from this race on - kinda makes sense as they gather data but it does beg the question of driver safety / comfort. If the metric was set on what was medically considered to be OK for drivers, what does that mean if a higher tolerance is now permitted? Have to wonder if this change is due to changed info on what drivers can tolerate or if the change is to avoid a number of teams breaching the old metric and potential issues arising from that with enforcement?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Excellent intro as ever.


Can Super Max do it and win the WDC this Sunday? Leclerc must finish lower than eighth for Verstappen to become champion, or lower than seventh if Verstappen also sets fastest lap.

[S griffin]

Ferrari looking good in practice again. Merc did well, but not quite there. Can Max do it this weekend? I'm not sure he will, but the way things have been going, I wouldn't be surprised

[Dixie Flatline]

Pouring with rain ahead of free practice 3.

[Alan52]

Qualifying put off until tomorrow?

[bathurst77]

And its belting rain at the track right now so practice is on hold so go to church!

Expect hours of chat about budgets

[tux]

Why dont they just go the whole way and just ban wet running completely? Saves having to make, transport and mount wet tyres..

[Dixie Flatline]

Looks like the rain is abating about 15 minutes into the session.

[bathurst77]

Expected to go green in under 10 minutes

[bjohnsonsmith]

Verstappen was on a flyer and pitted. Was it fuel?


Leclerc on pole, his 9th this season.

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Verstappen was on a flyer and pitted. Was it fuel?

That was the only explanation I could think of, unless he had some kind of engine warning sign or something.

[crmalcolm]

From the BBC:

"Red Bull's Verstappen appeared to have the pace to take pole but abandoned his penultimate lap after an error and then was told urgently to pit before finishing his final one.

He swore over the radio, saying: "I don't get it. What are you saying?"

It was later confirmed Verstappen began run out of fuel."

[E.B]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Verstappen was on a flyer and pitted. Was it fuel?

Yes confirmed he had to abort and pit to ensure he had enough fuel to provide a sample.... the penalty for not having enough for that being a rear of grid start. So 8th is better than 20th especially round the streets of Marina Bay.
I think 8/12 races here have been won from pole..... of course Alonso won from P15 in 2008, but he had a little outside help then.
Maybe Max can still win from 8th with some clever strategy and a Safety Car.

[Mike Harte]

Whilst wearing my tin foil hat, I wondered whether this was a cunning plot by someone in the team so as to deflect attention away from BudgetGate!

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Whilst wearing my tin foil hat, I wondered whether this was a cunning plot by someone in the team so as to deflect attention away from BudgetGate!

How much money saved by putting less fuel in?

[E.B]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Whilst wearing my tin foil hat, I wondered whether this was a cunning plot by someone in the team so as to deflect attention away from BudgetGate!

No...... that biscuit goes to Mercedes (or more specificlly the FIA) for the Lewis Hamilton Nose Ring saga.
Lewis was reported to the headmaster for wearing jewellery in the car, namely a nose ring. So Lewis trotted off to tthe Headmasters study and told them he had the nose ring put in after Monza knowing he would have to remove it inline with the no nose ring FIA ruling. However said piercing got infected and so Lewis gave the Head his Medical certificate saying not to remove it until the infection was cleared. Following Lewis's infected nose being inspected by the FIA Doctor he was absolved of the crime... the FIA Doc agreed with the Medical note.

You couldnt make this stuff up... Anyway the FIA doc is amusing. :
https://www.fia.com/sites/default/fi...pendix%20L.pdf

BUT it does not end there..... Mercedes got summoned for submitting an incorrect self scrutineering form. They declared that their car and drivers met all the rules, which Lewis didnt because of not complying with Appendix J Chapter 111 of the FIA rules relating to jewellry. They should have said that their was a medical issue etc.

They got fined $25000 for submitting an erroneous self scrutineering form.
Again worth a read for the Lols
https://www.fia.com/sites/default/fi...ing%20Form.pdf

Is all this non racing fines etc not getting a bit out of hand?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by E.B

No...... that biscuit goes to Mercedes (or more specificlly the FIA) for the Lewis Hamilton Nose Ring saga.
Lewis was reported to the headmaster for wearing jewellery in the car, namely a nose ring. So Lewis trotted off to tthe Headmasters study and told them he had the nose ring put in after Monza knowing he would have to remove it inline with the no nose ring FIA ruling. However said piercing got infected and so Lewis gave the Head his Medical certificate saying not to remove it until the infection was cleared. Following Lewis's infected nose being inspected by the FIA Doctor he was absolved of the crime... the FIA Doc agreed with the Medical note.

You couldnt make this stuff up... Anyway the FIA doc is amusing. :
https://www.fia.com/sites/default/fi...pendix%20L.pdf

BUT it does not end there..... Mercedes got summoned for submitting an incorrect self scrutineering form. They declared that their car and drivers met all the rules, which Lewis didnt because of not complying with Appendix J Chapter 111 of the FIA rules relating to jewellry. They should have said that their was a medical issue etc.

They got fined $25000 for submitting an erroneous self scrutineering form.
Again worth a read for the Lols
https://www.fia.com/sites/default/fi...ing%20Form.pdf

Is all this non racing fines etc not getting a bit out of hand?

Amazing.

[Adam43]

Nah, everyone loves it.

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Verstappen was on a flyer and pitted. Was it fuel?

Another lap would've put him over the cost cap.

[Adam43]

Sounds like it happened about the same time last year…

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

Another lap would've put him over the cost cap.

And of course Red Bull wouldn't want to exceed the cost cap.

[Adam43]

The CFO called him into the pits.

[bathurst77]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Whilst wearing my tin foil hat, I wondered whether this was a cunning plot by someone in the team so as to deflect attention away from BudgetGate!

Or was Budgetgate an invented ploy by Toto&co to disrupt and distract RB, and this fuel thing a result?

[Adam43]

Yeah that’ll be it.