Formula1

• Mixed fortune for Renault - or is it?
• Disaster for Ferrari
• Championship almost there for Hamilton and McLaren
• Singapore - Track review

Mixed fortune for Renault - or is it?

After each race Nelson Piquet says he is learning from his mistakes. Wonder when he really does that. In yesterday's race...his misfortune (in other words - familiar result) meant that he created an opportunity for his team mate Alonso to become the "Knight" of the first ever night race. While Fernando was lucky, we cannot credit only his luck. The car performed extremely well and he was able to create a big gap between himself and the second position and drove a splendid race.

Disaster for Ferrari

Filipe Massa did everything right from qualifying until the first pit stop of the race....and then the disaster at the pits meant that he was out of the race...and I guess even the Championship.

Kimi's poor show continued. There is no one to blame except him (can credit the bad/raised kerbs to an extent) for his result. He could have finished the race in points so that the team would have kept up the lead in the constructors. Now with ZERO points from Singapore GP to Ferrari, it looks like McLaren will easily take the constructors championship (if they don't get into any more controversies)

Championship almost there for Hamilton and McLaren

Hamilton is 7 points ahead of nearest contender Massa and comfortably ahead of Kubica and Kimi. Hamilton looks extremely focused on securing the championship that he lost in the very last race previous season. If no misfortunes come in his way and that of the team, I am sure he will take the championship with ease which he rightly deserves this season.

Singapore - Track review

Few of my observations on the track and the venue:

• Awesome experience - The night race was a wonderful phenomenon. I am sure people who were at the trackside watching the race had a wonderful time.
• Too bumpy for comfort - I could see the drivers fatigued and their heads swaying from side to side. The organizers need to improve the track for a smoother ride and better over taking possibilities. Had there been rains or 3 more laps involving safety car, then the race would have been ended based on reaching time limit and not completing the laps. In most races the average time to complete stipulated number of laps have been approximately 90 minutes (this one took almost 118 mins). With humidity being a major concern, and to add to that the slow average speed to complete the race and a bumpy track, it was pretty tough on the drivers.
• Kerbs too high and dangerous - Fisichella had a crash and so did Kimi. Both, thanks to kerbs that were too high and at the wrong places.
• Right season to conduct the race? - FIA must look at swapping the Singapore GP with other venue so that it is not held in the peak monsoon season. In the event of the monsoon downpour, the race would definitely be washed away due to dangerous driving conditions.
• Grand stand and fans - People watching the race on TV just could not feel the excitement of the FANS. The crowd and glamour that is associated with Formula 1 was not visible because of this being a night race. The track was well illuminated but not the grand stands.
• Incredibly dangerous pit-lane - Almost every driver complained about the dangerous pit-lane entry. It is surprising that FIA never looked at this flaw in design.

Labels: Dangerous pit-lane, F1, Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, Filipe Massa, Formula 1, Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton, pit lane, pit stop, Singapore GP

# posted by Naveen Picardo : 2:03 AM