Formula One

[Rahul]

Lewis Hamilton 84
Felipe Massa 77
Robert Kubica 64
Kimi Räikkönen 57
Nick Heidfeld 56
Heikki Kovalainen 51
Fernando Alonso 38
Sebastian Vettel 27
Jarno Trulli 26
Timo Glock 20
Mark Webber 20
Nico Rosberg 17
Nelsinho Piquet 13
Rubens Barrichello 11
Kazuki Nakajima 9
David Coulthard 8
Sebastien Bourdais 4
Jenson Button 3
Giancarlo Fisichella 0
Adrian Sutil 0
Takuma Sato 0
Anthony Davidson 0


Note - Super Aguri withdrew from the championship after round four.


http://www.formula1.com/results/driver/



Updated: Singapore Grand Prix 28/9/08

[ricardamanutd]

I'm in love with the Marina Bay Circuit here soo beautiful at night. But Ferrari did not perform well here with the pit stop problems and Kimi crashing out

[Rahul]

McLaren-Mercedes 135
Ferrari 134
BMW Sauber 120
Renault 51
Toyota 46
STR-Ferrari 31
Red Bull-Renault 28
Williams-Toyota 26
Honda 14
Force India-Ferrari 0
Super Aguri-Honda 0


Note - Super Aguri withdrew from the championship after round four.


http://www.formula1.com/results/team/

[versa]

For those who missed the live action....


Alonso wins drama-filled F1 Singapore GP

SINGAPORE (AFP) - - Spain's Fernando Alonso won his first race in a year at the Singapore Grand Prix Sunday, taking the chequered flag in a drama-filled inaugural night race as a comical error cost Felipe Massa dearly.

It was the Renault driver's first victory since the Italian Grand Prix last year and capped a remarkable weekend that saw him top two of the free practice sessions but start 15th on the grid after a mechanical problem in qualifying.

He claimed his 20th career triumph by 2.95 seconds over Germany's Nico Rosberg in a Williams and Britain's world championship leader Lewis Hamilton.

Toyota driver Timo Glock was fourth with Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel following up his win in Italy this month with fifth. BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld took sixth.

"It is fantastic, I am extremely happy. I can't believe it right now and it will take a few days to realise what we have done," said Alonso.

"Winning had seemed impossible all season but we have been competitive all weekend. The car was super."

The race was a new experience for every driver on a street circuit under powerful spotlights and it turned out to be one of the most exciting of the season.

Despite dark clouds lurking, Singapore's notorious tropical downpours stayed away and the whole race was run in dry, but hot and humid conditions.

Rosberg scored his best ever finish and was over the moon.

"The car felt pretty good and we knew we could be strong on this track and for once the luck went with us," he said.

Similarly, Hamilton was happy to get points while Massa didn't.

"I enjoyed driving here and I'm pretty happy," he said. "It was a tough weekend but we got some good points."

Ferrari's Massa started from pole but a disastrous mistake cost him the race and valuable points in his push for the world title.

His 13th place finish means he lags seven points behind Hamilton with just three Grand Prix left at Japan, China and Brazil.

The Brazilian was in the pits on lap 15 when he was given the green light and drove off with the fuel hose still attached to his car, leaving one of the pit crew floored and subsequently carted off in a neck brace.

Massa ended up sitting in his Ferrari at the end of the pit lane as the crew ran after him and managed to pull the hose free, but it ruined his chances. He was given a drive through penalty and rejoined in 18th place.

It was a miserable night for Ferrari with defending world champion Kimi Raikkonen ramming his car into the barriers with just four laps left.

"We could have finished first and second and it could have been different," said Massa, but he refused to blame the crew member who gave the green light too early.

"We are all human beings, everyone makes mistakes. I am not the sort of person who goes to a guy and fights with him."

The Massa drama occurred after the cars came in when Nelson Piquet careered into a wall, causing massive damage to his Renault.

He climbed out unscathed but the safety car was deployed.

Massa was leading at the time with Hamilton second but at the restart, Rosberg was in front and Alonso fifth.

But Rosberg was subsequently slapped with a 10-second stop-go penalty for coming into the pits before it had opened after the Piquet crash.

The complicated scenario saw Toyota's Jarno Trulli in the lead on lap 28 but without having pitted with Alonso second, Rosberg third and Hamilton sixth.

With Trulli taking his first pit stop soon after Alonso amazingly found himself in front just after the halfway mark.

He came in for his second pit stop on lap 41 and emerged just ahead of David Coulthard and Hamilton.

Remarkably, when Coulthard pitted soon after, he too drove off with the fuel pipe attached, knocking over a mechanic who was stretchered off.

There was more action to come.

Alonso was cruising with a 23-second lead when Adrian Sutil shunted his Force India into the wall, bringing the safety car out again and wiping out the Spaniard's advantage.

When they restarted with seven laps left it was a sprint to the finish and the two-time world champion made no mistakes.

[abojodeh]

ow i forgot to watch the race

and i have F1 channels


idiot

[RedForceRising]

I would like to add that there were 4 Germans in the top 6.

Thank you!

[Rahul]

I would like to add that there were 4 Germans in the top 6.

Thank you!

Are you a German?

[versa]

Are you a German?

He is a half German who goes around speaking like a German.

[RedForceRising]

Half German half Chinese Singaporean, grew up in Germany before moving to Singapore.

Proud of both countries!

[Rahul]

Alonso hails great F1 weekend

Singapore Grand Prix winner Fernando Alonso hailed Formula One's first night race as a "great weekend" for the sport

The Spaniard claimed a historic victory on Sunday in a thrilling race while Williams' Nico Rosberg came second and championship leader Lewis Hamilton third.

However it will not hold fond memories for Ferrari after first Felipe Massa went from pole to 13th following pit-lane drama while Kimi Raikkonen failed to finish following a crash with three laps remaining.

But for Alonso, who had climbed from 15th to win the race, the weekend was a highlight in an otherwise frustrating season.

"It was a great weekend for everyone in Formula One, the first night race," he said.

"We all had a new challenge in front of us and we will all be part of history.

"We (Renault) have had a tough season but now we are fighting for fourth place in the constructor standings.

"This victory is well deserved as the guys worked extremely hard all season."

Alonso's future at Renault has been uncertain for much of the season and when asked if he was now preparing for another season with the team he said: "I didn't say that.

"It's not changing the decision for next year. As I've always said, Renault will be my first priority because I feel I'm at home in this team."

With Massa failing to finish in the points, Alonso's former team-mate Hamilton has opened up a seven-point gap at the top of the driver standings.

It was a pleasing result for the 23-year-old, especially after a week in which he saw his appeal for a points penalty he incurred at the Belgian Grand Prix ruled inadmissible.

"It was a positive end to a difficult weekend at this fantastic new venue," said Hamilton.

"This is not a great circuit to overtake but I really enjoyed driving the track.

"I anticipated it being probably the hardest circuit to drive on but it was nowhere near so I was feeling pretty happy.

"It was a good result to come here for the first time and score points."


http://www.espnstar.com/motorsport/f...at-F1-weekend/

[Rahul]

Rosberg reveals penalty fears

Nico Rosberg thought his podium hopes at the Singapore Grand Prix had been ruined after he was hit with a penalty.

The Williams driver was given a 10-second stop-and-go penalty on Sunday after he was forced to pit while the pit-lane was closed after the safety car had been deployed due to Nelson Piquet's crash.

Rosberg was leading after the safety car left the circuit and it took the stewards a further five laps to penalise him, after which time he had built a big enough lead that when he returned to the track he was able to secure second place at the inaugural night race.

Renault's Fernando Alonso won his first race of the season while McLaren's Lewis Hamilton came third to further extend his lead at the top of the driver standings.

"At the time the team said I had to have a 10 second stop-and-go penalty, which I thought was going to come anyway, I thought it was all over," said Rosberg.

"I dropped to sixth but then they said the guys in front still need to stop so it was looking great again.

"It was then me racing Fernando. I thought I might have a chance against him but he was just a bit quick. Still it has been a great result for us.

"It felt good and we were definitely quite strong on this track which is really pleasing that we had a good chance this weekend."


http://www.espnstar.com/motorsport/f...penalty-fears/

[Rahul]

Massa rues pit lane error

Felipe Massa admitted the pit-lane drama which cost him at Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix was a bitter pill to swallow.

The Ferrari driver had started the race - the first in Formula One history held at night - on pole and well set to overtake McLaren's Lewis Hamilton at the top of the driver standings.

However, after the safety car had been deployed following Renault driver Nelson Piquet's crash the Brazilian entered the pits.

There Massa was incorrectly given the green light to leave while the fuel hose was still attached and he knocked over a member of the pit crew as he attempted to head back out on to the circuit.

He reached the end of the pit lane where mechanics struggled to remove the hose before he was able to rejoin the race at the back.

Massa finished in 13th place while Renault's Fernando Alonso took advantage to snatch his first victory this season.

Even more disappointing was that title rival Hamilton claimed third place to secure six points, opening up a seven-point gap at the top of the drivers championship with three races remaining.

"It is hard to deal with losing in this fashion," he said. "It was a race that was within our grasp with a car that was just the way I wanted.

"We had a good strategy and all the signs were there that we could get a one-two finish. But things can change in a moment and that is what happened."

Massa refused to blame anyone for the incident and instead vowed to give his best shot in overturning the gap between himself and Hamilton.

"At the pit stop one of our guys made a mistake but we are only human," he added.

"Each one of us always tries to do our best and these things can happen. On this track it is almost impossible to overtake and ending up at the back meant I had no chance of getting into the points.

"We have the potential to do well as we saw today and we will give it our best shot. We mustn't give up and I'm sure we won't."

Ferrari's disappointment was compounded after Kimi Raikkonen crashed out of the race with three laps remaining and also missed out on the points.

Consequently, McLaren leapfrogged Ferrari into first place in the constructors' standings and Raikkonen admitted morale was low in the team.

"My situation in the championship was already rather compromised so this doesn't really make much difference but I am unhappy because the team lost precious points in the constructors' classification," the world champion said.

"Clearly morale is not high today but I am not used to giving up and I will do my very best to try and help the team reach its targets.


http://www.espnstar.com/motorsport/f...it-lane-error/

[versa]

25 pictures of the recent Singapore Grand Prix

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/200...rand_prix.html

[Rahul]

25 pictures of the recent Singapore Grand Prix

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/200...rand_prix.html

Fabulous pictures mate. Thanks for the link.

[Rahul]

Top teams pass notes to improve overtaking

The 2009 Formula One season could see a lot more passing manoeuvres thanks to a unique collaboration between three of the sport’s leading teams. Backed by the FIA, top design engineers from Ferrari, McLaren and Renault worked together to help frame changes to the aerodynamic regulations that should make overtaking far less of a rarity.

Under current regulations, a driver typically needs to be as much as two seconds a lap faster than the car in front to have a realistic chance of passing. That should be cut to around a second next year thanks to a host of bodywork changes, including wider front wings that can be adjusted by the driver from the ****pit - a Formula One first.

Instigated by the FIA at the beginning of 2007, the Overtaking Working Group (OWG) - comprising Ferrari’s Rory Byrne, McLaren’s Paddy Lowe and Renault’s Pat Symonds - used McLaren’s advanced Formula One simulator to evaluate overtaking at Turn 1 of the old Barcelona circuit. Having established the existing ‘two seconds per lap’ requirement, they set about cutting that in half through aerodynamic changes.

They quickly learned that previous FIA proposals aimed at increasing overtaking, in particular the planned Centreline Downwash Generating (CDG) rear wing, had some major flaws. Utilising a conventional wind tunnel rather than computer-based Computational Fluid Dynamics, they instead came up with a series of new measures which should guarantee the desired effect.

The most obvious changes to the cars will be a taller and narrower rear wing, a shorter rear diffuser, and the loss of bodywork appendages such as deflectors, winglets and chimneys. Perhaps the most interesting revision, however, is to the front wing, which will become much wider. It will also be Formula One racing’s first (legal) moveable aerodynamic device, with the driver able to fine tune its settings from the ****pit.

“The flap will be controlled and monitored by the standard ECU,” explains OWG member Paddy Lowe. “The software in this unit is FIA-controlled, so it will only allow two adjustments per lap. The number of settings available to the driver will be up to the team, but the maximum flap angle range is +/- 3 degrees (i.e. 6 degrees total), so probably a team might provide one-degree steps.”

Having achieved their target of the ‘one second per lap’ requirement, it remains to be seen how the OWG’s measures will perform during an actual Grand Prix. Have they got the balance right? After all, many will rightly argue that overtaking in Formula One - the world’s premier motorsport series - should be difficult.

“In my view the reduction from two seconds to one is a very big and important step,” says Lowe. “We may indeed find that this is sufficient. Clearly a zero second per lap differential is nonsensical, so it is not as though we only made half the necessary progress! I also do not believe we want to make overtaking trivial if your car is at all faster - i.e. if we reduced that same number to 0.2sec/lap, say, then it would almost guarantee that any faster car could overtake any slower car without delay - a really quite boring prospect.”

It’s clear the changes should make for even more exciting racing, but that doesn’t mean they will make life any easier for the drivers. They already have a myriad of controls to deal with from the ****pit and next year will see the addition of not only adjustable wings but also KERS, the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (which could also boost overtaking).

As Lowe succinctly puts it, “Switch 'real estate' on the steering wheel is becoming as difficult to find as it is in the ****pit of a 747!”

http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2008/10/8472.html

[Rahul]

Williams retain driver line up

Williams have announced that both Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima will continue to race for the team next season. They also confirmed that Nico Hulkenberg, who is currently leading the Formula Three Euroseries, will carry on as test driver.

With a raft of regulation changes scheduled to be introduced in 2009, Williams believe that continuity in the driver line-up will be an important factor in the success of their championship challenge next year.

““I am delighted we are able to maintain continuity with our drivers going into 2009,” explained team principal Frank Williams. “Nico Rosberg continues to be one of the most capable drivers in the sport. Kazuki is getting stronger all the time and has more to offer and Nico Hulkenberg is developing well.”

Thus far Rosberg and Nakajima have scored 26 world championship for the team this season, with the German driver clinching a second podium with a career-best second place at the recent Singapore Grand Prix. Nakajima's best result to date has been a sixth place in Australia.

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin...8/10/8465.html

[Rahul]

Curbing instincts tough for Lewis

Lewis Hamilton says he hates driving for points as he bids to become Formula One's youngest world champion.

Hamilton found himself curbing his natural racing instincts during last Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix when he finished third at the end of the sport's first night race.

But the 23-year-old McLaren star also feels it proved a valuable lesson which will stand him in good stead over the remaining three races in Japan, China and Brazil.

"I think I learned something when I was behind David Coulthard in Singapore," remarked Hamilton, who has a seven-point cushion over nearest rival Felipe Massa.

"Previously, you'd tell yourself to be consistent and avoid any unnecessary mistakes, but it's one thing saying it and another to do it.

"Once you get in the car it can be hard to stop the instincts you have been developing since you were eight years old.

"But I actually think Singapore was a good learning experience.

"There was less pressure to achieve a victory because of the unusual circumstances, which meant I was actually able to start thinking of the world championship.

"I hate driving for points, but I think we can all see the benefit of that approach at the moment."

The unusual circumstances referred to by Hamilton relate to the problems suffered by Massa, who finished an eventful 13th after starting from pole.

The Brazilian was embroiled in a pit-stop fiasco when he exited too early, knocking over two mechanics before heading down the pit lane with the fuel hose still attached to his Ferrari.

Massa was also given a drive-through penalty for an unsafe release from the pits, before a spin late on caused Adrian Sutil to crash.

Such a disastrous race means Hamilton has a healthy advantage over Massa going into next Sunday's race in Fuji where he triumphed last year during a torrential downpour.

Hamilton is naturally looking forward to returning to the scene of such a memorable victory, and hoping for one notable change.

"I love Japan," enthused Hamilton.

"Last year might have been difficult because of the wet weather and the poor visibility, but I actually really enjoyed that weekend.

"One of the questions I get asked most is whether I prefer to drive in the rain, and my answer is always the same - I'll race in the wet or dry, I don't mind.

"But it's always easier for us drivers to race in the dry, so I'd always prefer a dry race."

[Rahul]

Some Formula 1 news coming in:

Mosley issues stark spending warning
FIA president Max Mosley has warned that Formula One may only survive one more year if it does not introduce dramatic spending cuts.

http://www.espnstar.com/motorsport/f...ending-warning


Di Resta due for McLaren test
British driver Paul di Resta was on Tuesday due to test with the McLaren Mercedes Formula One team at Silverstone.

http://www.espnstar.com/motorsport/f...r-McLaren-test


F1 drop Canadian GP
The Canadian Grand Prix has been dropped from the Formula One calendar for the 2009 season.

http://www.espnstar.com/motorsport/f...op-Canadian-GP


Ferrari to ditch own light system
Ferrari are to ditch their electronic pit stop system in the wake of a costly blunder at the Singapore Grand Prix.

http://www.espnstar.com/motorsport/f...n-light-system

[Rahul]

Friday practice session 1:



http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2008/802/6570/

[Rahul]

Friday Practice session 2:



http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2008/802/6571/