Singapore Grand Prix - Marina Bay

[René]

The circus has left Europe behind for the remainder of the season. Seven races to go (just as much as the entire 1950 season!) and only a miracle can keep Lewis from winning another title. But the racing has been good lately (actually since that dreadful race in France) so there’s still a lot to look forward to. The Marina Bay circuit usually guarantees a lot of action and it’s always spectacular to see the cars on a street track.

The Singapore race still feels like a 'new race’ but it has been on the calendar since 2008. Interestingly, only two drivers of the current grid have won here; Sebastian Vettel (3x Red Bull and 1x Ferrari) and Lewis Hamilton (1x McLaren and 3x Mercedes). Alonso and Rosberg are the other winners.

This should make Hamilton and Vettel favorites for the race but Seb is not in a good place at the moment and the Ferrari doesn’t look like the best package anyway for this track. That could actually be the Red Bull so Max should be the one to look out for and maybe even Albon. But Leclerc in his current form could also spring a surprise… bring it on!

[Carl]

In baseball terms I am 2 for 2 and batting 1.000 with Charles Leclerc, so spin the wheel, croupier. I'll stay on Red 16 

[chrisb]

I have no idea - mass carnage at the 1st corner aka last year when an ambitious move takes out the leaders and Albon takes a very fortunate victory, or, as more likely the fight will be intense, is this the time Seb proves his critics wrong and sweeps the field, or, one from Lewis or Charles, with a Max thrown in for good sport, whatever else it will be tense, in cricket terms they have bought the heavy rollers out

[robmarsh]

I wish they would run it in daytime so I could see the city.

[René]

Sept 19, 2019 6:33:37 GMT robmarsh said:

I wish they would run it in daytime so I could see the city.

But then I would have to get up in the middle of the night!

[René]

Grosjean confirmed for 2020 at Haas again and Ferrari backs Giovinazzi at Alfa... so where does the Hulk go now? Back to Williams? Kubica is out for 2020 so there's a possibility. Otherwise it's FE for the German...

[Deleted]

I thought it was Latifi for Williams 2020? (Assuming he gets the superlicense points)

Where does Hulkenberg go? It would be an injustice if he was out.

I'm not sure in my mind that either of the existing Haas drivers are more deserving, nor indeed do i think Ocon was especially more convincing.

[robmarsh]

I was sad to see Robert Kubica is leaving. He still did a magnificent job to get back to F1.

[charleselan]

Surely not right that Hulkenberg is possibly on the way out of F1 and Grosjean is retained. I like Roman and he can be very quick but these past two seasons have not been impressive, yet Nico has not been eclipsed by Ricciardo.

I agree with Joe above in that Ocon will not prove to be any better, however he fits with Renault and is French. Just bear in mind if MB had thought he was of the very highest level he would be in that second car next year and not Bottas.

With the way the Fizzy Drinks team operate maybe they will put Nico in at Toro Rosso with the possibility of moving him up should Alex Albon not live up to expectation. Nico could prove to be a very solid second driver with Max at Red Bull and in a good car will bring in lots of points. However I have a feeling that Alex will  prove to be very strong and not need replacing, he impresses me in the car and out.

I am hoping young Charles gets his elbows out again this weekend and this time with Max, payback for Austria . This could be fun.

[Carl]

Sept 19, 2019 17:49:37 GMT robmarsh said:

I was sad to see Robert Kubica is leaving. He still did a magnificent job to get back to F1.

Agreed.  I imagine we all wanted him to regain his past form but quietly doubted he would. 

As you say, a magnificent job and he should be proud. 

[René]

Only FP1 but the signs are it could be a good race. As expected, Red Bull is fast but Ferrari is close. Their new nose section seems to work. Mercedes not clear yet as they didn't use the softs but the Mercs seem to prefer harder tyres. FP2 will tell us a bit more.

[René]

Mercedes back on top in FP2 but the gap between Lewis and Valtteri is huge (1.1sec). Max very fast again in second and a descent 5th for Albon. Vettel 3rd but he was on a very fast flyer before he encountered a sleeping K-mag so there's still margin. In race trim the Ferraris seem to be struggling though. Let's see what tomorrow brings. Forza!

[chrisb]

saddened by the news of the Hass resigning Gross and Mag, neither of whom I would put 'up there' but ce la vie, it would make a nice circle if the Hulk returns to the fold of Williams and puts them back on the road to glory

Lewis and Max are looking good, but most impressed with Albon,

[René]

Whooaahh! Forza Ferrari! Forza Charles Leclerc!

[René]

Wow, what a performance by Charles Leclerc (again). Obviously the new aero package works really well on the Ferrari but that pole lap was completely on the limit. Fantastic stuff! I actually thought this time Sebastian was going to take pole but his second run was scruffy and Charles's was sublime.

Lewis's lap was also very good, how he found almost a second in his second attempt was impressive. Sorry but Valtteri will never be on that level.

Max was understandably very disappointed. Red Bull came to Singapore believing it could fight for the win but that seems unlikely now.

What a shame Ferrari's understanding of the SF90 has come so late in the season. And just think how things would look if Ferrari had not made the mistakes they did and Charles had not had the bad luck in Bahrein... ah well, Forza Ferrari!

Charles is on a high!