What did you think of the Singapore Grand Prix? Have you rated the race?
Here’s today’s round-up:
Links
F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone worries for Korean Grand Prix (BBC F1)
"Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone has expressed doubts over whether October’s Korean Grand Prix will go ahead.
"Ecclestone hopes the race will happen but says doubts will remain until the Yeongam track passes an FIA inspection.
"’It’s not good. It should have been inspected six weeks ago,’ he told BBC Sport at Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix. ‘What we’ve done is quite dangerous. It’s a question of do we cancel the race or not? They say everything will be OK – we have to hope they’re right.’"
Kovalainen: Track was safest option (Autosport)
"Heikki Kovalainen says he drove down the start-finish straight, rather than head into the pitlane, with his on-fire Lotus because he thought that was the safest thing to do."
Webber ‘very lucky’ to finish race (Autosport)
"Mark Webber was ‘very, very lucky’ to finish the Singapore Grand Prix on the podium claims Bridgestone, after discovering that his tyre was close to coming off its rim following his collision with Lewis Hamilton."
Ecclestone says HD F1 set for 2011 (Autosport)
"Bernie Ecclestone says Formula 1 is likely to be broadcast in High Definition as early as next year. The Formula 1 boss had said earlier this year that fans would have to wait until 2012 for HD broadcasts, but he suggested on Sunday that 2011 looked more likely now.
"’I think what’s being produced at the moment is very, very good but I think we’ll be moving to High Definition, probably next year.’"
Massa concedes title hopes are over (Autosport)
"Felipe Massa has conceded that his already slim title hopes are now effectively over after the gearbox problem that left him at the back of the grid for the Singapore Grand Prix.
"When asked by reporters in Singapore whether he felt his championship hopes would be wholly over if the five leading title contenders outscore him again, Massa said: ‘What do you think? Sometimes you ask some questions that are pretty easy to answer. I am not stupid. I know how this sport works, so for sure yes. It is pretty clear.’"
Haug Insists ‘No Cracks’ In Mercedes Team Harmony (Speed)
"Norbert Haug has once again played down rumors of discord within the Mercedes GP camp. Two weeks ago at Monza, speculation swept the Italian paddock that Michael Schumacher could follow team boss Ross Brawn out of the team at the end of 2010."
BUXTON: New Teams’ New Drivers? (Speed)
"While there is a fierce battle raging at the head of the championship, the fight over tenth in the teams’ title fight is just as fierce and with potentially even more at stake. For the new teams just one single point could net them a certain tenth spot in the table. It is a position which brings with it not only the mantle of the best of the new teams, but also a big wedge of cash from Bernie which could prove the difference between a new team’s future and its potential demise.
"So if you’re a new team, you’ve got to make sure you’ve got the right boys on board to get the job done as and when that opportunity arises. Two, we surmised, had… one had not."
Saturday iWitness in Singapore (Williams F1)
"Your eyes don’t deceive you: it really is a dead bat in the corner of the Toro Rosso pit garage. The mechanics discovered the dead creature on Tuesday morning, but decided to leave it in situ as a lucky charm. On the evidence of qualifying, when Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi qualified safely inside Q2, the spirits are on side."
Comment of the day
While Nico Rosberg had an uneventful run to fifth, Michael Schumacher again struggled during the Singapore Grand Prix. He finished 13th on the grid, following a collision with Kamui Kobayashi – and then went in to Nick Heidfeld.
DC says:
Who would have guessed that Rosberg would have more than double Schumacher’s points at this stage in the season? Is Schumacher that bad or Rosberg that good?
DC
From the forum
If you could design your own street circuit, what would it look like?
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On this day in F1
Stewart Grand Prix won its first and only win on this day in 1999 at the European Grand Prix.
Johnny Herbert went from 14th on the grid to finish first, thanks to heavy rain and a series of tyre problems – including a puncture for Ralf Schumacher which meant he lost the lead, Eddie Irvine’s Ferrari pitcrew fumbling to find a full set of tyres and David Coulthard crashing out in the wet on lap 38 while leading.
Jarno Trulli came second, followed by Rubens Barrichello in the second Stewart.
The Stewart Grand Prix team was set up in 1996 as the Ford works team. At the end of the 1999 season, Ford bought the team in its entirety and renamed it Jaguar Racing.
Icthyes (@icthyes)
27th September 2010, 0:17
Massa’s hopes were over after Hockenheim!
Just a tiny quibble Keith, Stewart was set up in 1996 but it’s sort of implied that was their debut season, when of course it was the year after. And of course Jaguar is now Red Bull, so they’ve come a long way!
But it was indeed one of the best races in modern F1 history, well worth watching all of it on YouTube. It was also the race where Ferrari screwed up Irvine’s bid to be world champion and there’s always been some conspiracy theories about it – none that I believe.
Maciek
27th September 2010, 7:59
All true – and how about those Williams? Worst livery ever?
Icthyes (@icthyes)
27th September 2010, 8:32
Up there with the vomit-inducing ING Renaults…
codesurge
27th September 2010, 10:44
And the 555/Lucky Strike-zippered BAR…
Electrolite
27th September 2010, 16:27
Weren’t all 1996 cars hideous ;)
Electrolite
27th September 2010, 16:30
Ah my apologies, 1999 is the year in question. 96 cars were ghastly though…
Skett
27th September 2010, 0:58
Kovalainen was completely right to do what he did. I was somewhat surprised when the commentators mentioned that it was stupid that he hadn’t. Come on, not everybody in the pitlane wears fireproof overalls!
BasCB
27th September 2010, 6:50
Great guy to think this all over. And a nice moment where he does the fire marshal job himself.
DC
27th September 2010, 8:00
Yeah, at first I was thinking he was crazy, but after consideration I think he did the right thing. Very cool under fire. (Literally.)
DGR-F1
27th September 2010, 11:49
I’m surprised theres no Box in the Pit Lane where a car like that could head straight to some Fire Marshalls…..
Chiv
27th September 2010, 1:23
That 1999 race is a great one to watch, one of the best races of that decade.
Very interesting to hear about webber, shows how much button lacked pace in the race if webbers car was broken
Skett
27th September 2010, 2:31
Well they said he was lucky to finish on that tyre, they didn’t say it affected his speed at all. I’m sure we would have heard radio transmissions if he felt anything different after
chiv
27th September 2010, 17:57
Apparently he had blisters on his hand from the vibrations Horner was quoted somewere saying after the race
Dev
27th September 2010, 2:42
When F1 should be in 3D… they gonna now show HD!! how lame is that!!
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
27th September 2010, 3:29
Not very. HD vs. 3D is the new VHS vs. Beta, and by all accounts, HD will win. 3D televisions are more expensive than HD, and more people have HD-capable sets than 3D. 3D will become a luxury in the future; HD will become the standard that everyone abides.
bosyber
27th September 2010, 9:14
Something like that – I saw “Resident Evil 3D” (yeah, I didn’t want to think, and it delivered that) last week, and the 3D does slightly increase the effect of some things, but the crispness partly depends on how well you eyes work with those silly, and when it has improved and is standard, might I add uncomfortable, glasses, and is still not as sharp as HD.
I would rather have HD crispness now (having just Saturday tried to check something about the McLaren new front wing/nose that was a bit too blurry on my HD capable tv to see very well), and maybe 3D in a few years, if at all.
Sush Meerkat
27th September 2010, 7:16
You can’t stream 3D yet, if they are filming it then its to sell it as BluRay’s, not too sure of the ins and outs but 3D can’t be broadcast via traditional means yet.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
27th September 2010, 8:13
If F1 in 3D is anything like as bad as the film I saw in 3D the other week, I’m not interested. Blurry, dim, out of focus, and nothing like actual 3D. The technology isn’t ready.
HD is ready and is, at minimum, five years overdue in F1.
Calum
27th September 2010, 8:28
Next year though ;)
alejandro
27th September 2010, 4:51
and here’s the state of Lewis’ wheel… jeez…
http://adamcooperf1.com/2010/09/26/lewis-hamilton-im-not-really-sure-what-happened/
BasCB
27th September 2010, 6:52
Wow. From what Autosport reports about Webbers wheel his might have looked only a tad better.
BasCB
27th September 2010, 7:06
http://adamcooperf1.com/2010/09/26/miracle-for-webber-as-tyre-holds-together/
Here is a picture of Webbers wheel
KNF
27th September 2010, 12:09
It’s incredible how the shattered bits off Lewis’ left rear rim didn’t slice up Webber’s front right, he really is living a charmed life right now…
US_Peter
27th September 2010, 6:37
Loved that Buxton article. It’ll be really be interesting to see how the grid shakes up for next year. Bring on silly season!
BasCB
27th September 2010, 7:01
Yea, thats a nice piece of reading. And it gives me hopes for Chandhok as well. Looks good, except for HRT.
Kolles is doing the same for them he did with Spyker, driver folley, development going nowhere.
Best prospect would be to find some new rich Indian (FI) or Mexican or whatever and sell the team on.
DC
27th September 2010, 8:04
Ooh! I think this is my 2nd COTD.
For the record, I think it is a bit of both: Schumacher is probably a bit more rusty than many imagined, and Rosberg is probably a bit more talented than his quiet career has shown so far.
Calum
27th September 2010, 8:35
I’d have this in London!
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4068523
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
27th September 2010, 10:59
That’s really stop-start. Is that switchback near the 5km mark even neccessary?
Calum
27th September 2010, 15:10
Deliberatly so, I was having a Tilke moment!
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
27th September 2010, 9:37
Kovalainen did a sensible thing as the pit lane is small & may have fuel & people in it.
Massa’s chances were over in Germany so it;s pointless to talk about it now.
Finally good to hear that Bernie is thinking about the F1 fans.
Casanova
27th September 2010, 10:31
With the championship remaining so close, I was looking for a graph on here that I’m sure Keith produced towards the start of the season – where the numper of points won by each driver is tracked race by race. I remember it being updated after China, Spain, and Monaco, but I can’t find it anywhere on the site now despite having had a good look!
It might also be interesting to see the same graph zeroed to the leader’s points – so plotting the points deficit to the championship lead race by race.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
27th September 2010, 10:46
You mean this?
https://www.racefans.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/gaptochampionshipleader.gif
Casanova
27th September 2010, 10:53
I mean exactly that! Great minds… Where is that linked from normally?
Alex
27th September 2010, 10:56
It might just be me, but I constantly fear Mercedes might do a BMW. If they don’t win the title in the next 3 years or so they run with their tail between their legs. I just get a feeling they thought they could buy out brawn, get another title or two plus all the good marketing that goes with it.
DGR-F1
27th September 2010, 11:54
I’ve been thinking that since the end of last year. Why couldn’t they be content with Mclaren, FI and Brawn as customers?
Or do you think they will do a ‘Renault’ at some point and sell out all but the name?
Icthyes (@icthyes)
27th September 2010, 16:06
That’s exactly what they thought they could do. Oops.
DGR-F1
27th September 2010, 11:47
Ah, so Bernie’s going to scrap the Korean GP now and give it back to Donington?
And if Brawn leaves Mercedes and starts his own team, would it be the mythical ’13th’?
:-)
Chris Yu Rhee
28th September 2010, 15:10
Well, Uncle Bernie’s given Korea ANOTHER extension to finish the track. That means it wasn’t ready today. I think that this is the third time that the KAVO organizers have broken their promise to complete the track by a certain time.
I live in Korea, and right now there is an absolute news blackout (both in English and Korean) on the F1 track not being completed, except for Ecclestone expressing his doubts about it being ready.
It took us ten minutes in the net to find a map (using Korean) to get to the track.
Here are some of the links to Local English newspapers’ articles:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2926424
http://www.koreaherald.com/sports/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20100926000223
http://www.koreaherald.com/sports/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20100905000250
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2010/07/136_69446.html
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2010/09/136_72630.html
and the funniest of all because of all the “pretty buildings” shown in the artist’s conceptual drawings that will NEVER be built… It’s a farming area.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/09/136_52407.html
I guess the organizer’s comment that they “…aren’t used to building to Formula One’s standards” says it all.
I sincerely hope that if they go ahead with the race, no one gets hurt.
Chris Yu Rhee
29th September 2010, 13:19
Here’s how to get the map:
http://www.koreangp.kr/f1lod/
choose “English” at the top
“how to find us” shows the highway routes (#1 and #15) stay away from highway #1 if you can. It’s the long way around.
From Incheon Airport, take the Incheon big bridge (the first interchange you come to-Airport New Town Square- turn right and head towards Songdo), then take the first exit you come to after the second toll gate to #50 East, then to #15 South.
Always go towards “Mokpo”. #15 goes all the way, but don’t get in the bus lanes (on the far left-in blue paint) unless you’re in a 10-12 person van that has six or more people!
This way you should encounter 4 toll booths; at the Incheon bridge 5,500 won, in Songdo 1,700 won, on #50 you just take the ticket, and then at the Mokpo interchange you give them the ticket when you get off the highway (probably 15,000+ won). Don’t lose that ticket!
From Seoul, you can take #1 (강남 대로) down, but that’ll be murder for a while until you’re out of Seoul proper. If the traffic is quiet in the city part of #1, it’s not bad in the city.
It is probably better to take the Seoul loop #120 or #100 to #50 towards Incheon, then get on #15 South.
“Shuttle” shows the shuttle routes
“map” shows a mini map of the local area.
Install Google toolbar and use the automatic translation feature. It makes viewing Korean webpages very easy because it can be set to automatically translate all Korean webpages into English.
Remember, if you’re staying at decent hotel, they almost always have English-speaking staff. It they don’t, go into a bigger hotel and ask for help.
Hope this helps!