The Far East’s only downtown grand prix has high kerbs, big walls and drama by the bucket. The Singapore Grand Prix is already nailed on as a modern classic, and the third running did not disappoint. The drivers tell the story of the race in their own words.
There were a few Singapore rookies…
"It is a new circuit for me, it is a city course and it will be my first night race. Singapore will definitely be an exciting adventure.”
Michael Schumacher, Mercedes
“I know the track from the simulator.”
Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber
“I’ve prepared on the PlayStation.”
Vitaly Petrov, Renault
The circuit itself was a worry for some drivers…
“The [Singapore Sling] chicane is probably the worst corner I’ve driven in F1. I mean, it’s just ridiculous.”
Lewis Hamilton, McLaren
“There are some corners where you really need to ride the kerbs and others you cannot touch because they are too high. You have to be very focussed because otherwise you may lose the car.”
Sébastien Buemi, Scuderia Toro Rosso
“The surface is far less bumpy, but the new surface can be quite slippery, especially after rain.”
Rubens Barrichello, Williams
Red Bull Racing were expected to be back on form…
“It has a few things here and there which have been pretty good for us in the past, so we’re optimistic that we can continue to chip away and keep boxing.”
Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing
"The Red Bull looks crazy quick.”
Lewis Hamilton
But a surprising qualifying session saw Fernando Alonso pushing Sebastian Vettel into second place with Webber fifth behind the McLarens.
“We know that there are some circuits where pole position is important. This is one.”
Fernando Alonso, Ferrari
“On my first run [in Q3] I caught Michael [Schumacher] quicker than I thought. I misjudged the gap a little bit and was stuck behind him. Not much I could do. Then for the second run I had a good beginning of the lap but lost time in the middle sector after ‘slightly’ hitting the wall. Obviously we should have been on pole today but we didn’t achieve our optimum. Too many mistakes.”
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing
“[The Red Bulls] are beatable, Fernando has proved that today. Clearly they don’t have the two-second lead that they had at one stage this year.”
Lewis Hamilton
“It could have been better, it could have been worse.”
Mark Webber
Everyone got a clean start but Tonio Liuzzi (Force India) coasted to a halt on lap two. The safety car came out, Alonso, Vettel, Hamilton and Button kept going, Webber pitted and rejoined in 11th.
“I questioned the team about that one, to be honest. I thought ‘hmm, I’m not sure about this, we go back a lot’, but it looked like the field had already spread out. I was surprised I didn’t lose as many positions.”
Mark Webber
The first half of the race was all about Webber keeping within the length of a pitstop (about 28seconds) of the cars ahead.
“We had to open a gap to Webber of about 30 seconds to be able to pit and stay ahead of him. We were pushing to the maximum, but the walls are close and it’s a little risky around here.”
Fernando Alonso
“I had to clear a few guys. First I followed Kobayashi for a few laps. I thought ‘my God, if he drives like that for two hours it’s going to be interesting.’ He was really on the limit, just missing all the walls and jumping kerbs. Michael (Schumacher) was very good, fair. I had a good battle with him. And then Rubens was driving well and clean. Then it turned into an incredibly strategic race for us.”
Mark Webber
After the leaders had all pitted, Kobayashi crashed and the safety car was back out. Webber, now third, had both Virgins between him and the leaders, giving Hamilton a chance to pass. The championship leaders collided; Hamilton went out, Webber carried on.
“Lewis had to have a go. Neither of us wanted to give an inch and in this case it ended up in some contact. I had vibrations solidly after that and just had to get the car home.”
Mark Webber
“I thought I’d got sufficiently past him. I braked, turned in, and tried to leave enough room on the inside – and the next thing I knew I’d got clipped, my tyre was blown, and that was it.”
Lewis Hamilton
It finished with Alonso beating Vettel by 0.2seconds, with Webber third and Button fourth...
“I was hoping for him to hit the wall but he didn’t do it!”
Sebastian Vettel
… a late collision between Sébastien Buemi and Heikki Kovalainen left the Lotus driver on fire and parked on the main straight.
"It was not safe to take into a pitlane full of people. I stopped in front of the Williams boys and they gave me a fire extinguisher. I should ask Tony [Fernandes] for more money, as it seems I’m a fireman now too.”
Heikki Kovalainen
Despite a below-par qualifying performance, Red Bull Racing extend their lead in the Constructors’ Championship enhanced while Mark Webber stretches his advantage in the Drivers’ – but one win still separates the top five drivers.
“There are five drivers and we each have a 20 per cent chance of being World Champion. Maybe Mark has a little bit more because he’s in front, but any one of us can win two or three consecutive races, or have a couple of retirements and be out of it.”
Fernando Alonso
“I think we have a very good chance. Korea is an unknown but if you look at Japan, Brazil and Abu Dhabi, we have a very strong car. We are Red Bull, we are in a unique position this year and we are horny. Can I say that in English?”
Sebastian Vettel.
Want more?
- A night out with Sebastian Vettel
- Keep up with Red Bull Racing.
- 'Do not write off Hamilton' says David Coulthard
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