Following the finale of the Singapore Grand Prix, this weekend, Toyota launched a protest against a Sebastian Vettel pitstop, deemed ‘unsafe’ by the Japanese marque.
Toyota’s complaint that Vettel was released unsafely into the path of their German driver Timo Glock was rejected by the stewards following examination of video footage, and interviews with the drivers involved.
This means that Vettel will keep his fifth place result from the Grand Prix, and sees Toyota remain fifteen points clear of Scuderia Toro Rosso, with three rounds remaining.
The stewards in Singapore handed out two penalties following an incident involving Nick Heidfeld, of BMW-Sauber, and Rubens Barrichello, of Honda, during the first qualifying session.
Due to the disturbing nature of the track design, whereby the pitlane entrance and exit are on the racing line, Heidfeld inadvertently blocked Barrichello, who was on a flying lap.
Heidfeld, who had qualified in P6, will be demoted to 9th on the grid for impeding Barrichello’s lap, whilst the Brazilian picks up a 10,000€ fine for an incorrect entry to the pit lane.
Neal’s View: If anyone should be picking up penalties it is the circuit designer. To have the pitlane entrance and exit on the racing line is pure madness, and both Heidfeld and Barrichello can feel rightly agrieved about the incident.
McLaren-Mercedes have announced that Heikki Kovalainen utilised his ‘free’ engine change prior to today’s qualifying session at the Singapore Grand Prix.
All drivers are permitted one ‘joker’ engine change this season, and after noticing some wear on Kovalainen’s engine, opted to play that card.
Mercedes’ motorsports boss Norbert Haug said:
“We have changed the engine in Heikki’s car as a precaution.
“We saw a little bit of usage in the engine and this is a joker engine – so there is no grid penalty applied. The decision was taken yesterday.”
Haug insisted that the move was merely precautionary, and would not have been taken under last season’s rules, where there was no ‘joker’.
“If there was not a joker engine we would certainly have done nothing, and the chances that we would not have a problem are really high.
“It is a critical time of the year and if you have it available you should use it. We have had very good reliability so far. If you see only a risk of one or two percent, maybe it is even less, then you should use it if you can.”
Fellow McLaren driver, and Drivers’ Championship leader, Lewis Hamilton still has his ‘joker’ to play with four races, including tomorrow’s Singapore Grand Prix, remaining.
Neal’s View: This penalty-free engine change helps keep the top drivers racing each other. However, the rules are there for a reason, and should an engine fail, the same penalty should apply if it is the first time, or the twentieth.
On Friday, Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone revealed his plans to hold an Indian Grand Prix from 2011 – 12 months later than previously thought.
Whilst Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi announced last year that a deal had been agreed for a Grand Prix in New Delhi from 2010, Ecclestone had his doubts that 2010 is a realistic target.
“It’s all going on as usual, but these things take time… Probably 2011 is what I want.”
The ambitious Indian plans were unveiled just over a year ago when the IOA publically announced it had received a letter from Ecclestone, stating the country could host a race if it met certain qualifying criteria – most worrying, one criteria is to build a circuit!
Neal’s View: Bernie is desperate to get in to emerging markets, like India, who will provide him with a lot of Wonga. But Formula One risks leaving the fans behind because many new tracks do not provide exciting races.
BMW-Sauber’s Polish driver, Robert Kubica, has admitted that he is frustrated with the Hinwil-based squad’s inability to challenge Ferrari and McLaren-Mercedes at the top of the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. Kubica is feeling disillusioned with his team’s lack of progress from their strong early-season form.
The Pole, fourteen points behind Lewis Hamilton in the race for Formula One’s top prize, the Drivers’ Championship, is considering his future with the team. Reports suggest that Kubica held clear-the-air talks with team boss Mario Theissen at the last Grand Prix, in Monza, but has not had his doubts removed in the run-up to this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.
“My view has not changed a lot. We did sit down but I think there was no top secret and no miracles in the talks. It was good to talk. But the situation was not really changed.
“Of course as a driver you always want the maximum, and you always want a better car and to be a bit quicker.
“Even if you win, you can always find things to improve and to get stronger. There is no secret that we did not develop as was predicted.
“Lately, we don’t have big steps forward in performance but still we are managing good results. If we hadn’t had the problem in Spa with the second pitstop most probably I would have finished three races in a row on the podium – even though there have been some strange circumstances.
“But still, maybe lap time wise we are not the strongest but reliability is very good and we are able to do strong results.”
Neal’s View: Many were surprised by BMW’s early decision to focus on their 2009 car, but Kubica should take heart from two areas. Firstly, there is an old adage cited around the paddock: to finish first, first you must finish. BMW’s reliability is second-to-none in 2008, and this bodes well for the future. Secondly, we just have to look at Honda and Toyota. It is possible to go from a quick car to an awful one in a short space of time (Isn’t that right Jenson?) But to get to the front of the grid takes time. BMW are almost there, and I would expect a stronger challenge next season.
It has been revealed that officials at the Singapore Grand Prix have made changes to the kerbs at the Turn 10 chicane.
Drivers had reported that the high bumps, put out to stop cars cutting the chicane, were potentially dangerous, should a car run wide.
The drivers were worried that hitting the bumps could cause suspension damage or even damage a tub. They also raised concerns that the bumps would pitch them into the wall on the outside of the corner.
Jenson Button of Honda said:
“If you run over that kerb it is going to do a tub and probably your spine as well. It is strange we haven’t tested it before, and only here.
“I know the reason for it as it is to stop us cutting the kerbs which is understandable, but it doesn’t account for a locked up wheel or a failure.”
F1 Race Director Charlie Whiting made an inspection on Thursday afternoon, with modifications made to the second kerb ahead of today’s practice session.
As a result of the modification, the bumps have been ground down with smoother edges – meaning cars will simply ride over them in the event of a driver mistake.
Neal’s View: This will be a test of drivers’ mettle. How close to these kerbs are they prepared to get?
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.
“What happened is that he took an advantage by cutting the chicane.
“You can ask drivers how many overtaking moves you see there.
“None between the last corner and the first corner, because there is such a small straight there. That is my opinion and it doesn’t change.”
Sebastian Bourdais:
“I think it is very clear, the rules are clear. Maybe the penalty is very hard but he has made the same mistake twice, he did in Magny-Cours and he did it in Spa.
“I don’t really understand why there is such a mess around it, there is a rule book and everyone has to obey the same thing. The penalty is rough but it is up to you to give the position back.”
Nico Rosberg:
“He did have an advantage because he would not be so close if he had not cut the chicane but the penalty was a bit harsh as it did not have a big result in the end result. But it won’t stop us from trying to attack definitely.”
Jarno Trulli:
“I agree the penalty was quite big but I am not a steward. But it is also clear he got an advantage.
“The rules are very clear, if you cut the chicane you get the advantage you have to drop it and lose advantage, in Lewis’ case he should not attack in the first corner that is it.
“This last chicane, they have a lot of run off area they give you more chance to attack because in case of mistake you won’t end up in wall or gravel. We have more chance to overtake.”
Giancarlo Fisichella:
“I just seen pictures so difficult for me to say if it is right or not what happened. For sure maybe he took a small advantage that is why he had the possibility to overtake him again in braking for Turn One, but obviously 25 seconds penalty was quite a strong penalty.”
