Singapore Grand Prix: Overtaking harder than Valencia?

Felipe Massa - Ferrari

Ferrari’s Felipe Massa believes it will be harder to overtake in Singapore than it was at the processional European Grand Prix at Valencia. The city-state is preparing to hold it’s first  Grand Prix this weekend under floodlights.

“Saturday will be very important. I’ve never driven on the Singapore track, but it’ll be even more difficult to overtake compared to Valencia, because the straights are even shorter.

“These days it is not very easy to overtake in Formula One. The cars have great aerodynamic downforce, [and] when you are behind a car you lose downforce.”

Street circuits, like Monaco and Valencia, are notriously difficult places to overtake, and even though a number of opportunities are expected to be presented by the challenge of the Marina Bay layout, combined with a strong possibility of monsoon-like rain in the evenings, safety is an issue for the drivers with no one being clear on the effect of reflections from puddles on track and rain drops will be.

This unique event will complicate drivers’ preparations further, with the stars flying out as late as possible, eating breakfast in the afternoon, dinner at midnight, and trying to sleep in the early hours of the morning.

Neal’s View: We are seeing more processional races, which is not good for the fans. As soon as we see some action, like at Spa, the FIA step in and clamp down on it. Hope I can find a television to watch it from though.