Japanese GP: Qualifying - Results

Qualifying got underway a few hours after the last practice session and it was Nico Rosberg who took Pole Position for the Japanese GP. However, Daniil Kvyat was unlucky when he crashed at the end of Q3 and his car flipped over. Kvyat was uninjured but was forced to start the race from pit-lane after Red Bull had to rebuild his whole car. 

    The session was Red-Flagged with only 30 seconds left and was not restarted, leaving some drivers with no time for a final lap. Max Verstappen got a grid-penalty after an unsafe stop during Qualifying, when the car malfunctioned and he left it parked on the circuit.

 Here are the results.

GRID RESULTS:

1. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany

2. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain

3. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland

4. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany

5. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil

6. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland

7. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-Renault / Australia

8. Romain Grosjean / Lotus-Mercedes / France

9. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico

10. Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Renault / Spain

11. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus-Mercedes / Venezuela

12. Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain

13. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India / Germany*

14. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain

15. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden

16. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil

17. Max Verstappen / Toro Rosso-Renault / Netherlands**

18. Will Stevens / Manor-Ferrari / Great Britain

19. Alexander Rossi / Manor-Ferrari / America

PIT-LANE - Daniil Kvyat / Red Bull-Renault / Russia***

* - 3-Place-Grid-Penalty for collision with Felipe Massa in Singapore

** - Grid Penalty for unsafe stop in Qualifying

*** - Pit-Lane start due to crash in Q3

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Japanese GP: Free Practice 3 - Re-Cap & Results

The third practice session gave teams a better chance of running as the weather wasn't as bad as the previous two sessions on Friday. It was a Mercedes 1-2 this time around and fans could be sure their pace was back (If it ever even left).

    Valtteri Bottas was able to go out in this session after sitting out FP2 due to rain, and finished in 4th, just behind Daniel Ricciardo. Massa finished in 5th, right behind Bottas, making it a good session for both Williams drivers.

Here are the times from the session

TIMES:

1. Nico Rosberg - 1:33.995 / Mercedes-Mercedes
2. Lewis Hamilton - 1:34.292 / Mercedes-Mercedes
3. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:34.497 / Red Bull-Renault
4. Valtteri Bottas - 1:34.797 / Williams-Mercedes
5. Felipe Massa - 1:34.935 / Williams-Mercedes
6. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:35.082 / Ferrari-Ferrari
7. Max Verstappen - 1:35.160 / Toro Rosso-Renault 
8. Sebastian Vettel - 1:35.222 / Ferrari-Ferrari
9. Romain Grosjean - 1:35.602 / Lotus-Mercedes
10. Carlos Sainz - 1:35.963 / Toro Rosso-Renault
11. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:36.110 / Force India-Mercedes
12. Jenson Button - 1:36.174 / McLaren-Honda
13. Marcus Ericsson - 1:36.199 / Sauber-Ferrari
14. Daniil Kvyat - 1:36.294 / Red Bull-Renault
15. Pastor Maldonado - 1:36.307 / Lotus-Mercedes
16. Fernando Alonso - 1:36.360 / McLaren-Honda
17. Sergio Perez - 1:36.430 / Force India-Mercedes
18. Felipe Nasr - 1:36.919 / Sauber-Ferrari
19. Will Stevens - 1:39.653 / Manor-Ferrari
20. Alexander Rossi - 1:39.819 / Manor-Ferrari

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Japanese GP: Free Practice 2 - Re-Cap & Results

Another rainy session at Suzuka Circuit for FP2, which meant more limited running and slow lap times. Daniil Kvyat ended up on top this time around, after Carlos Sainz finished 1st in the previous session. Mercedes did better this time around with Rosberg 2nd and Hamilton 3rd. Bottas was the only driver who decided not to run in the session.

Here are the times

TIMES:

1. Daniil Kvyat - 1:48.277 / Red Bull-Renault
2. Nico Rosberg - 1:48.300 / Mercedes-Mercedes
3. Lewis Hamilton - 1:48.853 / Mercedes-Mercedes
4. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:49.097 / Red Bull-Renault
5. Sebastian Vettel - 1:50.268 / Ferrari-Ferrari
6. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:50.319 / Ferrari-Ferrari
7. Carlos Sainz - 1:50.418 / Toro Rosso-Renault
8. Max Verstappen - 1:50.542 / Toro Rosso-Renault
9. Felipe Nasr - 1:50.968 / Sauber-Ferrari
10. Pastor Maldonado - 1:51.557 / Lotus-Mercedes
11. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:51.674 / Force India-Mercedes
12. Jenson Button - 1:51.861 / McLaren-Honda
13. Marcus Ericsson - 1:51.934 / Sauber-Ferrari
14. Sergio Perez - 1:52.070 / Force India-Mercedes
15. Romain Grosjean - 1:52.534 / Lotus-Mercedes
16. Felipe Massa - 1:52.765 / Williams-Mercedes
17. Fernando Alonso - 1:55.239 / McLaren-Honda
18. Will Stevens - 1:58.059 / Manor-Ferrari
19. Alexander Rossi - 1:59.419 / Manor-Ferrari
20. Valtteri Bottas - No Time Set / Williams-Mercedes

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Japanese GP: Free Practice 1 - Re-Cap & Results

The first free practice session of the weekend was stalled by the weather quite a bit, although not delayed. Many drivers were unable to set times and there was limited running.

    Carlos Sainz was the lucky driver to end the session on top, while Mercedes didn't end up having a 1-2 finish for the session. While the rain was partially to blame, it also seemed the team was lacking pace.

    Of course, things were also very somber as this is the teams' first time back since last year, when Jules Bianchi crashed during the race. The teams and drivers have noted that he is always on their mind and that the race weekend would be tough.

Here are the times from the session

TIMES:

1. Carlos Sainz - 1:49.434 / Toro Rosso-Renault
2. Daniil Kvyat - 1:49.938 / Red Bull-Renault
3. Nico Rosberg - 1:50.077 / Mercedes-Mercedes
4. Sebastian Vettel - 1:50.519 / Ferrari-Ferrari
5. Lewis Hamilton - 1:50.722 / Mercedes-Mercedes
6. Max Verstappen - 1:50.940 / Toro Rosso-Mercedes
7. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:51.212 / Ferrari-Ferrari
8. Felipe Massa - 1:52.288 / Williams-Mercedes
9. Marcus Ericsson - 1:53.820 / Sauber-Ferrari
10. Valtteri Bottas - 1:53.964 / Williams-Mercedes
11. Felipe Nasr - 1:54.013 / Sauber-Ferrari
12. Jenson Button - 1:55.678 / McLaren-Honda
13. Daniel Ricciardo - No Time Set / Red Bull-Renault
14. Nico Hulkenberg - No Time Set / Force India-Mercedes
15. Sergio Perez - No Time Set / Force India-Mercedes
16. Fernando Alonso - No Time Set - McLaren-Honda
17. Pastor Maldonado - No Time Set / Lotus-Mercedes
18. Jolyon Palmer - No Time Set / Lotus-Mercedes*
19. Will Stevens - No Time Set / Manor-Ferrari
20. Alexander Rossi - No Time Set / Manor-Ferrari

* - Driving in this session only.

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Japanese GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Manor

Preview Quotes - Manor


Will Stevens - “This will be a very emotional weekend for us. We’re already a very close-knit team but occasions such as this only bring us closer and that helps us through the challenges we’ve experienced on and off the race track. In the same circumstances, Jules would have gone about the business of racing in a very focused and professional way and that is exactly what I’ll be doing. I didn’t have the best weekend in Singapore, albeit we secured another good two-car finish for the team. But I need to get on top of some of the issues which hampered my performance there, so we’ll work together as a team to understand and address them so that we can bring home another good result for Jules.”

Alexander Rossi - “My F1 racing debut in Singapore last weekend really couldn’t have worked out any better for me and I learned such a lot in a very short space of time. I head to Suzuka eager to pick up where I left off and focused on taking things to the next level, with the benefit of a little more familiarisation with the car and on a different type of race track. One thing I didn’t need to learn - because I already knew - was what a great group of people I am fortunate enough to be able to call my team. They made things very easy for me in Singapore and with a difficult weekend ahead for all of us, I’m hoping to do the same for them.”

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Japanese GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso


Max Verstappen - “It will be special to go back to Suzuka! I remember last year, first time at a real Formula One circuit with a Formula One car on such a challenging track… It’s a great track to drive and I can’t wait to get out there again. The first sector is great, with a lot of high-speed corners and I like the 130R. You need to find the right rhythm and stay in total focus to get the most out of the lap. The environment and the people are also very nice! They really like F1.”

Carlos Sainz - “Suzuka seems to be very similar to my favourite tracks, Spa and Silverstone, so I think I’m really going to enjoy it there. Probably it will become one of my favourite tracks once I’ve driven a lap of it on Friday. I’ve also heard a lot of good things about the Japanese fans. They seem to be very passionate… I’m really looking forward to it!”

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Japanese GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Sauber

Preview Quotes - Sauber


Marcus Ericsson - “I am really looking forward to Japan. It is a place I know well as I lived there for a year during my time in the Japanese Formula 3 in 2009. It will be nice to go back and meet all the passionate fans. I really like the track a lot and it is a lot of fun to drive there. I am looking forward to the Suzuka track’s challenge. With the aero update, I am confident we will be able to be in a strong position to fight for points there.”

Felipe Nasr - “It will be my first time driving a Formula One car on the circuit in Suzuka. I have always heard positive things about the track, and I cannot wait to drive there. The circuit is at the same time a real challenge for us drivers, as there are many medium and high speed corners, up and downhill sections, as well as tricky braking zones. The Japanese fans really stand out. There are so many people who are passionate about Formula One there. I like the atmosphere a lot. In Suzuka we will continue to work on our update package. We will validate the data from the race weekend in Singapore in order to make a further step ahead.”

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Japanese GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Force India

Preview Quotes - Force india


Sergio Perez - “We have taken a lot of encouragement from the result in Singapore, which was my third points finish in a row, and I think we can score well in Japan too. When you see how the VJM08 has developed and the results we are achieving, it tells you that we can be competitive on every track and Suzuka shouldn't be any different.

Suzuka is one of those tracks that gives you a very special feeling. It’s quick, with some great corners, and it’s a real challenge to hook up the perfect lap. You need to have confidence and be very committed, especially in the first sector which has a fantastic flow. When you have a car that is working well it’s one of the best places to drive a Formula One car.

Visiting Japan is always interesting and you can see how much the people love Formula One. The fans are very kind and have always given me a lot of support. It’s definitely a special race.”

Nico Hulkenberg - “The benefit of back-to-back races is that you can get back in the saddle right after a disappointing race. Singapore was a missed opportunity to score a lot of points but I've put it behind me now: I would rather focus on the positives and on the good pace we showed until the accident.

The week we spend in Japan is always good fun. All the drivers love Suzuka because it’s a classic, old-school track with some very special corners: the Esses, Degner, Spoon and 130R. It’s very fast, with high g-forces and you really feel the grip and performance from the downforce. In that sense, it’s also very physical on your neck.

The challenge of Suzuka is making sure you find the right rhythm. The lap is technical and you have to be precise because almost all the corners flow into the next one. That’s why a small mistake can be very costly in terms of lap time if you lose the flow of the whole lap. I’m a big fan of Japanese cooking and culture. You also see how much the race means to the fans because they wait for us at the hotel every morning and are always very respectful. ”

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Japanese GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Lotus

Preview Quotes - Lotus


Romain Grosjean - “Suzuka is probably my favourite track in the world and for many, many reasons. Of course 2013 holds a great memory as I led the race for a while. Mainly I love it so much because the track is a massive challenge and also the spectators are so passionate about F1. There is not a single corner on the track that is not a big challenge. When you finish a lap at Suzuka you really appreciate it because you know the car and you have been really tested and that you can be proud if you have got the maximum from everything.

It’s the kind of track where you find time and improvements, however small, all of the time. It is a very special race track in this respect. Sector one is unbelievable and after you have finished it you can breathe a little bit…but not for long. There is no margin for error with very little run-off area and the track is quite narrow, especially at the top of the hill. I love it. Every metre of the Suzuka track is special and every metre a challenge. The Spoon Curve is especially fantastic, a real thrill to drive in an F1 car.

There are a few good overtaking areas like the first corner, but only if you get a good exit from the last chicane. But probably the best one is in to the chicane itself, after the long back straight and 130R. If you get a tow here you can get inside under braking. There is also a small chance at the hairpin and maybe in to Spoon Curve too, but you have to be brave and usually rely on the guy in front to co-operate. Suzuka is quite a narrow track so it is not that easy to overtake, but it is a great challenge and very satisfying when you manage to execute one.

Suzuka is a track that highlights the good aspects of a chassis and it will certainly be a better place to exploit the positives of the E23 than Singapore. At Suzuka the driver can make a difference to some extent, especially through sector one, so I will be pushing very hard here to get the very maximum we can.”

Pastor Maldonado - “It is always nice to know you are going to be challenged by a circuit. If everything gets hooked-up then Suzuka is a pleasure. I really hope we can have a good weekend because at Suzuka it makes it even more of a pleasure to get it right. I think that for a driver it is at least comparable with Spa, maybe even better on some corners. I just love racing at Suzuka and indeed in Japan as a whole.

The start of the lap is incredible with the sweeps up the hill, right-left-right-left. It is really fast and you need a very good and nimble car to change direction quickly. They are really challenging corners where you need maximum concentration and bravery. The run-off is quite small, so it is really satisfying to get them right. When I first drove this track in 2011 it was a big deal for me because I knew that I could find a lot more time in the car. The corners are like this because you never get them 100 percent right the first time, you learn and learn which is what a great race track should be like I think. Then you have the Spoon Curve which is magnificent and 130R which is still challenging despite being flat-out now. All in all a great, great circuit and with some really steep gradients too. Almost a perfect track!”

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Japanese GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Red Bull

Preview Quotes - Red Bull


Daniel Ricciardo - “It’s fast, it’s flowing, and it’s got everything. High-speed, low speed, inclines, drops. Wonderful circuit. I think probably the first sector (is the key to getting the lap right). If you can get a good balance on the car and link up all the left-right, left-right corners, which normally puts you in a good position for the rest of the lap. So, if you want to prioritise the car set-up, it’s in that sector.

I love going to Japan, and I’m absolutely fascinated by Tokyo. I turn into a complete tourist, gawping at the place, the people, the food - it’s just so incredibly cool. Personally, I really like hanging out in the tiny bars: crazy little places maybe only five square meters. It’s a really good experience. I recommend it.”

Daniil Kvyat - “It’s a very special track. It’s got great history, a good feeling and also a lot of proper balls-out corners, which I like. It’s a really cool circuit. Also, it’s where I was announced as a Red Bull driver last year so that’s a good memory. Of course last year’s race was very, very difficult because of Jules Bianchi’s accident and we will all naturally be thinking of him when we are driving there this year.

There are plenty of places that are really fast: the double left of Spoon; 130R can be pretty challenging in the wet. The ‘Esses’ are very tricky; if you get any bit of it wrong it compromises your whole lap. You have to be brilliantly precise. To be honest I find the whole lap really interesting though; I like it a lot. I love high-speed corners and Suzuka has a lot of those, so it’s very easy to enjoy. If you get the flow and the lines right it’s a great feeling.

Japanese fans are very warm and welcoming and the atmosphere there is great. You always get given some odd gifts. Last year I got given a lot of fans - not people, things to, you know, cool you down! You also get a ton of stuff to sign. I really appreciate that the fans make an effort. They are passionate about Formula One and they really show it.”

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Japanese GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Williams

Preview Quotes - Williams

Valtteri Bottas - “The Japanese fans are the most fanatical in the world. They support you in a unique way, so it’s always a pleasure to go there. As a track it’s one of my favourites and I really enjoy the old-school fast corners. The first sector stands out as the most fun. The weather can always play a part so you always need to keep that in mind strategy wise. We will be going to Suzuka confident that we can be competitive and get a strong result.”

Felipe Massa - “Suzuka is like Spa in that it’s a historic track with fast corners, varying terrain and quick changes of direction. It isn’t the easiest track but that’s why the drivers enjoy it so much. The Japanese fans are very dedicated to Formula One and are very friendly which creates a very welcoming atmosphere. The weather can play its part and be very unpredictable but we need to make sure that we are competitive whatever the conditions.”

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Japanese GP: Driver Preview Quotes - McLaren

Preview Quotes - McLaren

Fernando Alonso - “I’m full of anticipation about going to Suzuka. It’s a really tough circuit, and a huge test for the drivers, as a lot of it is really narrow and bumpy so you need absolute commitment into every corner. It has almost the opposite characteristics to Singapore in terms of set-up, so it’s a very different challenge that we’ll face next weekend.

Like Jenson, I have a strong affinity with Japan, I love the country and I’ve always been fascinated by its culture. I’ve also loved racing there and I’ve won both at Suzuka and Fuji, so it holds a lot of special memories for me. The fans are one-of-a-kind and the circuit absolutely deserves its legendary status - it’s one of the most exciting on the calendar. Singapore is now behind us, but Suzuka will surely be a challenge. Our car is well balanced and feels good to drive, but on a circuit with such a high average speed it will be difficult to beat our competitors. We’ll take the samurai spirit with us to Suzuka, and as usual we won’t give up.”

Jenson Button - “Suzuka is my favourite track on the calendar without a doubt. The thrill of the Esses, the Degners, Spoon, 130R - they are a combination of corners like no other in Formula One and for a driver it’s a mega challenge.

Japan is like a second home for me. My wife is half-Japanese, I spend a lot of time there, the country is beautiful and the people are so warm and enthusiastic, you can’t fail to love it. I still regard my win at Suzuka in 2011 as one of my best - it’s such a challenge to get right as the circuit is narrow, twisty, and technical, so it’s one of the victories of which I’m most proud. Suzuka is the home Grand Prix for Honda too, so it will be an important weekend for the whole team. It’s not going to be an easy race, as the track is so quick and reliant on top speed, but we’ll be giving it our absolute all for the fans.”

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Japanese GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Mercedes

Driver Preview Quotes - Mercedes


Lewis Hamilton - "Singapore was a strange weekend but I'm chilled about it. It's been an incredible season so far and I've been around long enough now to accept that you can't win them all. So, it's just a case of leaving that weekend in the past and moving on to the next one. Japan is always a memorable weekend. Tokyo is one of my favourite cities and Suzuka is definitely one of the greatest tracks in the world - good for overtaking, with some legendary corners that have seen historic moments over the years. The fans, too, are incredible - so enthusiastic and welcoming. It was great to finally win there last year and that's the target again. Of course, returning to Suzuka also means we will have Jules in our thoughts and I'll be sending out strength to his family.

Nico Rosberg - "Obviously, Singapore wasn't a good weekend for the team but I know everybody has been working hard to understand what happened and it's good that we've got a chance to get straight back on it this weekend. Suzuka is an awesome track - one of the best in motorsport and a real test of driver skill. There's so much going on around the lap with high, medium and low speed corners all thrown in together. The first sector is great fun to drive; you have to really nail the line and a small mistake can cost you so much time. You have to find a good rhythm and that's a challenge I really enjoy. I haven't had the best of luck at this circuit in the past and I'd love to change that. We'll all be thinking of Jules and his family this weekend, of course. He will be always in our hearts.

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Japanese GP: Circuit Preview

 

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The teams continue the season in Asia for the Japanese GP and with it being a back-to-back race weekend, there's little time for preperation. Now, it's time to take a look at the circuit

    The "Suzuka International Racing Course" (Also known as Suzuka Circuit), is located in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, Japan. The circuit opened back in 1962 and is one of the older circuits on the calendar, although not the oldest. The current version has a capacity of 155,000 & is 3.609 Miles in length. It has a total of 17 turns and is the only circuit to run both Clockwise and Counter-Clockwise.

    Like this year, last year, Nico Rosberg took Pole. However, it was Lewis Hamilton who won the race, while Rosberg ended up finishing in Second. Sebastian Vettel finished in third.

    Retirements included: Fernando Alonso (Electronics), Adrian Sutil (Accident) & Jules Bianchi (Fatal Accident)

    No one has forgotten Jules Bianchi and the race this weekend will be a more somber event, with everyone still thinking of what happened last year. Safety has been improved, but there's still a chance of rain for the race, so everyone will be taking extra precautions to stay safe.

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Japanese GP: Schedule

Following technical issues, the articles regarding the Japanese GP are up late & we were unable to provide commentary for the 3 Practice sessions.

Here is the schedule:

Japanese GP Schedule

September 24th / Thursday

15:00 - Drivers Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)

September 25th / Friday

10:00 - 11:30 - Free Practice #1
12:35 - 13:30 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
14:00 - 15:30 - Free Practice #2
16:00 - 17:00 - Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)

September 26th / Saturday

09:30 - 10:15 - Team Pit-Stop Practice
09:30 - 11:40 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
12:00 - 13:00 - Free Practice #3
13:05 - 14:30 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
15:00 - 16:00 - Qualifying

September 27th / Sunday

09:40 - 10:50 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
12:00 - 13:00 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
12:30 - Drivers Track Parade
12:45 - 13:15 - Starting Grid Presentation
13:46 - National Anthem
14:00 - Race Start

(Times subject to change)

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Feature: Star Drivers Of The Singapore GP

Amy Hawk (Lead Writer & Editor) - "My driver of the weekend is Alexander Rossi - For multiple reasons. Not only is he the first American to drive in F1 since 2007, but he made his debut at one of the trickiest circuits and finished 14th. I'm excited to see how he does in the other 4 races that he will be competing in. It's really great to see him finally driving an F1 car."

Frances Fry (Assistant Writer) - My star driver of the Singapore GP weekend is Max Verstappen. The young driver raced with an incredible pace this weekend. It was quite obvious that he felt more confident in the car. This was especially evident in his incredible overtaking which made yet another appearance this weekend.

Despite this high point, the rookie did disobey team orders during the race. When asked to let his team-mate, Sainz, pass him, he swiftly replied with a harsh "No!". I feel this can be overlooked as Verstappen maturely offered an explanation for his actions, stating that he felt he had good pace. Overall, Max Verstappen has matured hugely since the start of the season. Toro Rosso have turned him into a confident and skilled driver that can take a place slyly and suddenly."

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Feature: Singapore GP - Our Post-Race Quotes

Amy Hawk (Lead Writer & Editor) - "What a fantastic race. Singapore is my favorite circuit, so I've been looking forward to it all season. A huge congratulations to Vettel, Raikkonen and the Scuderia Ferrari team on their win/podium. Also congratulations to Daniel Ricciardo, who was able to finish 2nd. A shame that McLaren had another double DNF. Things were definitely looking good for them, so it's hard to see them keep having to retire from the races when they had been in position to score some points.

    The accident between Hulkenberg and Massa was unfortunate and had it not happened, Force India could have problably gotten double points. But, Sergio (Perez) did an incredible job to score points for the team & has also scored points at all 5 Singapore GP's that he's done. Fantastic! I'd also like to congratulate Alexander Rossi on his debut with Manor. Finishing 14th on your debut, at Singapore, is incredible and I think he did a fantastic job."

Frances Fry (Assistant Writer) - "Singapore is, and most probably will always be one of my favourite races on the calendar. I put this down to the fact that the race takes place in the darkness of night. There's just something about seeing the Formula One cars under the white flood lights. It's a once in a season treat. A sight to behold.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed the race I find myself puzzled by the under performance of the Mercedes. Apparently I'm not the only person who finds them self in this state as various team members expressed their surprise at the DNF of Hamilton and fourth place finish of Rosberg. The unexpected twist from Mercedes added to the excitement behind the race as our podium was made of Vettel, Ricciardo and Raikkonen. Vettel has now won 4 races in Singapore from the last 5 years. Is Ferrari getting even faster?"

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Singapore GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

    With the weather hot and humid, plus the haze still lingering, teams knew there was room for electronic glitches and we'd already seen plenty over the weekend with lots of team radio transmissions not going through. Before the start of the race, Nico Rosberg began to have issues with his engine. He accidentally turned it off and then there were problems getting it started again.

    When the lights went out, it was not Rosberg who ended up with problems starting the race though. Instead it was young rookie, Max Verstappen, who stalled on the grid with mechanical issues. The team quickly got his car into the pits and were able to fix the issue and send him out to start the race, however, by that time, he was 1 lap behind.

    A bit in to the race, there was a collision between Felipe Massa & Nico Hulkenberg. Massa had been coming out of Pit-Lane and Hulkenberg was taking the same turn. Massa then collided and launched the Force India into the air. Hulkenberg was found guilty for the accident and was handed 2 Penalty Points to his license and also given a 3-Place-Grid-Penalty for the Japanese GP. His race was also over. Felipe Massa later retired the race with a gearbox problem.

    Before lap 40, the safety car was called out - However, this was not due to a collision of any sort. Instead, there was man walking along the side of the track. The 27-year-old male, who was later arrested, had been able to get on track, take a photo and then hop through a hole in the fence. It's not the first time something like that has happened this year. Earlier at the Chinese GP, a man ran across the track during a Practice Session.

    It was another day to forget for McLaren-Honda. Both of them had been in the running for a handful of points, but both drivers ended up retiring due to gearbox problems. Lotus driver, Romain Grosjean retired with a couple of laps left, but was qualified as finished. One of the most shocking retirements of the race though, was Championship leader, Lewis Hamilton, due to a problem with the 'Boost Pressure'

    With Hulkenberg out of the race, it was up to Sergio Perez to get the best result possible for Force India. He held off both Toro Rosso drivers in the final laps and was able to bring the car home in 7th. There was some commotion between the Toro Rosso team and Max  Verstappen, as they asked him to change positions with his team-mate, Carlos Sainz. However, Verstappen replied with a simple "No!" and kept trying to pass Perez.

    Sebastian Vettel brought home the win for the Scuderia Ferrari team and Raikkonen finished in 3rd. Daniel Ricciardo took his Red Bull to 2nd place. A good result for the Austrian team after their recent struggles and an apparent 'Divorce' from Renault coming in 2016. While it was a great celebration for Ferrari, the team later got in a bit of trouble for going against Parc Ferme rules.

    But, indeed, no one had a better day than American driver, Alexander Rossi, who not only had to make his F1 debut at one of (if not THE) trickiest circuit on the calendar - But he also finished 14th and ahead of Will Stevens, who will be his team-mate for the other 4 races he will drive in this season.

Here are the results from the race & Next weekend is the Japanese GP. The teams will head to Suzuka Circuit and another race will be ticked off the calendar.

RACE RESULTS:

1. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany / + 25 Points
2. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-Renault / Australia / + 18 Points
3. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland / + 15 Points
4. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany / + 12 Points
5. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland / + 10 Points
6. Daniil Kvyat / Red Bull-Renault / Russia / + 8 Points
7. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico / + 6 Points
8. Max Verstappen / Toro Rosso-Renault / Netherlands / + 4 Points
9. Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Renault / Spain / + 2 Points
10. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil / + 1 Point
11. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden /
12. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus-Mercedes / Venezuela
13. Romain Grosjean / Lotus-Mercedes / France (Retired - Qualified as Finished)
14. Alexander Rossi / Manor-Ferrari / America
15. Will Stevens / Manor-Ferrari / Great Britain

RETIRED - Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain / Gearbox
RETIRED - Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain / Gearbox
RETIRED - Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain / Boost Pressure
RETIRED - Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil / Gearbox
RETIRED - Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany / Collision Damage

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Singapore GP: Qualifying - Results

    Sebastian Vettel takes Pole Position for today's Singapore GP with team-mate, Kimi Raikkonen, in 3rd. Daniel Ricciardo will start from second on the grid, while Mercedes will be starting from the 5th and 6th positions, something most people didn't expect.

    Force India had a tought qualifying as both cars were on their hot laps when Carlos Sainz crashed in Q2, leaving Perez and Hulkenberg out of Q3. McLaren can be pretty content with their results with Alonso starting in 12th and Button in 15th, one of their best Qualifying results all season (So far).

Here is how the grid lines up for the race

STARTING GRID:

1. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany

2. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-Renault / Australia

3. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland

4. Daniil Kvyat / Red Bull-Renault / Russia

5. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain

6. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany

7. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland

8. Max Verstappen / Toro Rosso-Renault / Netherlands

9. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil

10. Romain Grosjean / Lotus-Mercedes / France

11. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany

12. Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain

13. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico

14. Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Renault / Spain

15. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain

16. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil

17. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden

18. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus-Mercedes / Venezuela

19. Will Stevens / Manor-Ferrari / Great Britain

20. Alexander Rossi / Manor-Ferrari / America

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Singapore GP: Free Practice 3 - Re-Cap & Results

    The last practice session of the Singapore GP weekend gave teams an hour to gather more data, set more times and think about their plans for the race. An overall relaxed session with no Red Flags this time around.

    This time around it wasn't a Mercedes 1-2. Instead it was Ferrari, with Sebastian Vettel on top and Kimi Raikkonen in 2nd. Daniil Kvyat rounded up the top 3 with an impressive couple of lap times.

Here are the times from the session.

TIMES:

1. Sebastian Vettel - 1:45.682 / Ferrari-Ferrari
2. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:46.132 / Ferrari-Ferrari
3. Daniil Kvyat - 1:46.167 / Red Bull-Renault
4. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:46.359 / Red Bull-Renault
5. Lewis Hamilton - 1:46.802 / Mercedes-Mercedes
6. Nico Rosberg - 1:47.223 / Mercedes-Mercedes
7. Fernando Alonso - 1:47.237 / McLaren-Honda
8. Carlos Sainz - 1:47.301 / Toro Rosso-Renault
9. Max Verstappen - 1:47.464 / Toro Rosso-Renault
10. Marcus Ericsson - 1:47.568 / Sauber-Ferrari
11. Valtteri Bottas - 1:47.587 / Williams-Mercedes
12. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:47.640 / Force India-Mercedes
13. Jenson Button - 1:47.715 / McLaren-Honda
14. Felipe Massa - 1:47.733 / Williams-Mercedes
15. Pastor Maldonado - 1:47.817 / Lotus-Mercedes
16. Sergio Perez - 1:48.002 / Force India-Mercedes
17. Romain Grosjean - 1:48.116 / Lotus-Mercedes
18. Felipe Nasr - 1:48.932 / Sauber-Ferrari
19. Alexander Rossi - 1:52.588 / Manor-Ferrari
20. Will Stevens - 1:55.293 / Manor-Ferrari

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Singapore GP: Free Practice 2 - Re-Cap & Results

    In the second free practice session of the Singapore GP weekend, Manor ended up with extra work to do. After Alexander Rossi crashed in the earlier session, the mechanics worked hard to get his car ready for the second one. But 6 minutes into the session, Will Stevens crashed his car, giving the team a new set of mechanical woes.

    Not a Mercedes 1-2 this time around, with both Hamilton and Rosberg out of the top 3. It was Red Bull's time to shine with Kvyat fastest in the session and Ricciardo 3rd. Second place belonged to Kimi Raikkonen.

    Force India also having a good start to the weekend with both drivers in the top 10 in this session & not too bad of results in FP1 either. The team has more upgrades for the car in this round of the season & Sauber do as well, as they are running a new & shorter nose.

Here are the times from the session

TIMES:

1. Daniil Kvyat - 1:46.142 / Red Bull-Renault
2. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:46.181 / Ferrari-Ferrari
3. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:46.256 / Red Bull-Renault
4. Lewis Hamilton - 1:46.479 / Mercedes-Mercedes
5. Sebastian Vettel - 1:46.487 / Ferrari-Ferrari
6. Sergio Perez - 1:46.659 / Force India-Mercedes
7. Nico Rosberg - 1:46.781 / Mercedes-Mercedes
8. Fernando Alonso - 1:46.959 / McLaren-Honda
9. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:47.294 / Force India-Mercedes
10. Max Verstappen - 1:47.427 / Toro Rosso-Renault
11. Felipe Massa - 1:47.684 / Williams-Mercedes
12. Felipe Nasr - 1:47.755 / Sauber-Ferrari
13. Marcus Ericsson - 1:47.795 / Sauber-Ferrari
14. Jenson Button - 1:47.888 / McLaren-Honda
15. Carlos Sainz - 1:48.012 / Toro Rosso-Renault
16. Romain Grosjean - 1:48.096 / Lotus-Mercedes
17. Valtteri Bottas - 1:48.118 / Williams-Mercedes
18. Pastor Maldonado - 1:50.094 / Lotus-Mercedes
19. Alexander Rossi - 1:56.739 / Manor-Ferrari
20. Will Stevens - 1:59.932 / Manor-Ferrari

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Singapore GP: Free Practice 1 - Re-Cap & Results

    The Singapore GP weekend is officially a go! Free Practice 1 was quite hot and humid, but as always, the cars looked stunning under the circuit lights of Marina Bay. Earlier this week, the news broke that Manor-Marussia had signed Alexander Rossi for 5 of the 7 remaining races, in place of Spaniard, Roberto Merhi. However, it was a bad start to his debut as Rossi ended the session with a crash into the wall at turn 18, which caused Red Flags. Rossi is OK but the mechanics at Manor-Marussia have quite a lot to do before the second practice session.

    Sebastian Vettel & Valtteri Bottas both had significant lock-ups. Vettel's even caused brief Yellow Flags. Jenson Button reported problems with his radio, while Rosberg told his team he was having a problem with his drinks tube.

    Another Mercedes 1-2, with Ferrari close behind, as well as Daniel Ricciardo in the Red Bull. Williams seemed to be having problems with Massa's car, while team-mate, Valtteri Bottas, was shining in the session and finished in the top 10.

Here are the times from the session

TIMES:

1. Nico Rosberg - 1:47.995 / Mercedes-Mercedes
2. Lewis Hamilton - 1:48.314 / Mercedes-Mercedes
3. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:48.331 / Red Bull-Renault
4. Sebastian Vettel - 1:48.494 / Ferrari-Ferrari
5. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:48.785 / Ferrari-Ferrari
6. Valtteri Bottas - 1:49.380 / Williams-Mercedes
7. Max Verstappen - 1:49.466 / Toro Rosso-Renault
8. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:49.854 / Force India-Mercedes
9. Carlos Sainz - 1:50.019 / Toro Rosso-Renault
10. Pastor Maldonado - 1:50.068 / Lotus-Renault
11. Fernando Alonso - 1:50.123 / McLaren-Honda
12. Sergio Perez - 1:50.125 / Force India-Mercedes
13. Felipe Nasr - 1:50.158 / Sauber-Ferrari
14. Romain Grosjean - 1:50.341 / Lotus-Mercedes
15. Jenson Button - 1:50.455 / McLaren-Honda
16. Marcus Ericsson - 1:50.883 / Sauber-Ferrari
17. Felipe Massa - 1:51.035 / Williams-Mercedes
18. Daniil Kvyat - 1:51.188 / Red Bull-Renault
19. Will Stevens - 1:53.903 / Manor-Ferrari
20. Alexander Rossi - 1:53.918 / Manor-Ferrari

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Manor signs Alexander Rossi for 5 Races

   
    As of the Singapore GP weekend, American GP2 driver, Alexander Rossi, will be replacing Roberto Merhi at Manor Marussia. However, it will only be for 5 of the 7 remaining races. Rossi will drive with the number 53.

    Rossi said earlier, "I'm very thankful to race for the Manor Marussia F1 team and for their continued belief in me. I've been prepared for this opportunity for quite a while now. Many will know from 2014 that the team and I already have a strong relationship and there's a bit of unfinished business for me here."

    Rossi will become the first American racing driver to race in F1 since 2007 when Scott Speed drove for Toro Rosso. Rossi will race in Singapore, Japan, USA, Mexico and Brazil. It is said that Merhi will be racing in both Russia and the finale in Abu Dhabi later this year.

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Singapore GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Williams

Preview Quotes - Williams

Felipe Massa - “It’s a fantastic race and I love to visit Singapore; the city is incredible and the people are really friendly. There are a lot of passionate fans so I hope we can deliver a good performance. It’s not easy to get the set-up perfect and the tyres working in the ideal operating window, and these are challenges we will face from the start of the first session. Of the last remaining races this season this is probably the hardest track for our car, but that doesn’t mean we can’t deliver a good haul of points.”

Valtteri Bottas - “Singapore is a very cool place and quite unique in that it’s a night race. Being in the middle of the city I can walk to the circuit from my hotel which is convenient and adds to the sense of atmosphere. For the fans there is nothing more you would want really - you can see the city and racing all in close proximity. For the team it’s a challenging track as there are so many corners with different characteristics which makes it hard to get the balance perfect. The heat, humidity and intensity of the track also makes it very physically demanding. There have been a few changes to the track layout this year so it will be interesting to see the effects these have.”

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Singapore GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

Max Verstappen - “Racing in Singapore is going to be something really special. I’m really looking forward to the challenge. It’s true that we’ve already experienced a bit of night racing in Bahrain this year, but that was a permanent track and now we will be racing on a street circuit, which is always more tricky… It reminds me of Monaco, as we will be driving close to the walls and it won’t be easy to overtake, but I’m sure we will have some good fun out there!”

Carlos Sainz - “The race programme is so weird! Not the usual driver routine at all… Breakfast at 15:00, lunch at 19:00! We go to sleep very late, wake up late… To drive at night is always different, our night vision needs to be perfect! However, I’ve been told that the lights are really strong and you can’t really tell it’s night-time. It seems like a pretty interesting track: long, with a lot of corners, braking, bumpy… And it will suit our car quite well! I’m very happy to have finished the race in Monza after four retirements in a row, and hopefully we can now make the most out of this weekend - Singapore is a very good opportunity for us to score points!”

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Singapore GP: Driver Preview Quotes - McLaren

Preview Quotes - McLaren


Fernando Alonso - “Singapore is an incredible place for a race. It’s really unique in every way, and as a driver it’s a privilege to be part of such an amazing night show under the spotlights. It’s a Grand Prix that many people look forward to and I’m really excited to go back there.

The heat and humidity make it tough for the drivers and everyone in the garage. It’s a very challenging race physically, so it’s important that we train properly and prepare effectively to keep ourselves on top form all weekend. It’s a really fun circuit to drive, so I’m looking forward to getting to Marina Bay and soaking up the amazing atmosphere.

I’ve won twice in Singapore and I love racing there, so with my engineers we’ll be focussing on setting up the car as best we can for this circuit as soon as we arrive. It’ll be interesting to see how our car responds to the high-downforce setup there and I hope we can have a more positive weekend.”

Jenson Button - “Singapore is always such a special race. It’s quickly become one of the most famous races on the calendar and it’s easy to see why. The whole setup is really special and racing under lights creates an amazing atmosphere that’s totally different from any other Grand Prix. There’s a real buzz about the place from the moment you step off the plane.

There’s always a lot of anticipation in the build-up to this race, and for us it’s no different. We’ve had a couple of really challenging races, but we’ve said for a while that some of the circuits we go to towards the end of the season should be a bit better-suited to the stronger elements of our package.

There’s no denying it’ll be hard work, and we aren’t expecting miracles overnight. But, Singapore is a fantastic circuit, it’s one of the longest races of the season in terms of time, and we quite often we see a safety car there. So, anything can happen; we’re hoping to learn a lot about how our car works in this configuration, and take as many positives from the weekend as we can.”

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Singapore GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Force India

Preview Quotes - Force India


Sergio Perez - “I’m heading to Singapore feeling very positive. We’ve shown in the last two races just how competitive we can be and I’m confident we can have a similar level of performance in Singapore. The team is pushing hard to bring performance to the car and we’ve still got developments coming through which will help us a bit more this weekend.

The Marina Bay track is one of my favourites and I’ve scored points every time I’ve raced there. I always enjoy driving on street circuits because you have to be aggressive and precise, and that suits my driving style. It’s quite bumpy, too, so you need a car with good stability to ride the bumps. It’s also one of the most demanding races of the year because of the heat and humidity.
I’m now feeling more comfortable with the updated car. I made a big breakthrough in Spa and since then I’ve had the confidence to push and get the most from our package. It’s a good sign for the rest of the year.”

Nico Hulkenberg - “I’ve always enjoyed racing in Singapore and I think it’s one of the best events of the year. The city is buzzing and there’s a great atmosphere wherever you go. When it’s all lit up at night it looks stunning. I often wonder how much work is required to transform such a busy city into a racetrack. It’s clearly a huge logistical operation, but it’s definitely worth all the effort.

The track layout has some nice features, but the first sector stands out for me - especially the fast right-hand kink of turn six and the braking zone of turn seven. You need a car that’s able to ride the bumps, can use the kerbs and gives you confidence through the low and medium-speed corners.

I think the Singapore Grand Prix ranks as the toughest race of the year because of the heat. It’s physically draining and you’ve also got the mental challenge of racing so close to the walls with a small margin of error. We go there knowing we’ve made some good steps with the car over the last few races and aiming for more good points.”

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Singapore GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Mercedes

Preview Quotes - Mercedes


Lewis Hamilton - “Monza was an awesome weekend for me - one of the best I’ve had in Formula One. The car this team has built is just incredible and I can’t thank them enough for all their hard work. Of course, it was a shame for Nico and the crew to have the retirement - but I know he’ll bounce back and I’m looking forward to another battle in Singapore. This race is always a highlight of the season - a great city which looks really spectacular under the lights with the tricky street circuit below - my favourite kind of track to drive. You’ve got to stay 100 percent focused for a full two hours, which is tougher than it sounds with the crazy humidity. Any small slip and you’re in the barrier, so maintaining that total concentration is crucial. I’ve won there twice now - both times from pole, which shows you how important qualifying is too. It won’t be easy to make it three - far from it. But I’m riding high right now and I’ll be pushing for that hat-trick.”

Nico Rosberg - “Obviously, Monza didn’t go to plan. It was gutting to miss out on a good result so close to the end but now I approach the final seven races with the attitude that there’s nothing to lose. It’s maximum attack and I won’t be giving up the fight, no way. Singapore is one of my favourite races, so that’s a good place to start. It’s so tough on everyone - physically and mentally - and I love that challenge. I was only a few thousandths off pole last year and feeling good for the race until a problem with the steering wheel ended my weekend. I know I’ve got the pace to win there, so I’m hoping for a clean weekend and a chance to unleash this silver beast under the lights.”

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Singapore GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Sauber

Preview Quotes - Sauber

Marcus Ericsson - “The Singapore Grand Prix offers spectators a great backdrop. It is always a very special race that I like a lot. I can hardly wait to get to Singapore, as this street circuit is one of my favourite tracks. The fact that the race is held at night brings a unique atmosphere with the city being under floodlights. For me it is definitely one of the highlights of the season. I am also looking forward to the Singapore Grand Prix because of our aero-update. Our goal is to get the maximum out of this innovation.”

Felipe Nasr - “Singapore is one of the nicest venues on the current Formula One calendar. I really enjoy driving on this fascinating street circuit. Racing there is a physical challenge, because of the high temperature as well as the high humidity. Managing to put in the perfect laps during the night race will also be challenging. You need to drive very precisely through every one of the 23 corners on each lap, especially the tight ones. We also have our aero-update there, which is important and encourages everyone in the team.”

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Singapore GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Lotus

Preview Quotes - Lotus


Romain Grosjean - “The track is really impressive with some technical parts and some classic street circuit ‘ninety degree’ turns. There are a few decent straights but it is mainly busy, busy, busy for us, with corner after corner. Going over landmarks like the (Anderson) Bridge and down the Raffles Boulevard make for a fantastic sight from both the cockpit and also for the TV viewers. This year will be interesting with the E23 as it is a car that does inspire confidence, and confidence is king when you’re on a street course. The biggest challenge will be if it’s wet at any time - then we really have to work hard!

The key elements (of physical preparation) are sleep and hydration. It’s a humid heat so you sweat a lot - even walking into the track. Keeping hydrated is very important. It’s a race where we run unusual timings relative to the local day. Once you get used to waking up in the afternoon and then going to bed early morning, then it gets to be just routine. It’s no secret that I love my sleep so one of the most important aspects of preparation for me is ensuring that my room stays dark in the morning when we’re still sleeping due to the timings we run. I hope the hotel has good blackout curtains! If it doesn’t then it’s not unknown for me to tape black rubbish bags to the windows to keep the light out and guarantee my sleep!

I really love racing at this track and in fact I love the country as a whole. The Singapore people are very friendly and it is nice to see so many coming downtown to the race. It has a completely unique vibe for the Grand Prix weekend and it takes on an ambience like nowhere else we go to. I love the mix of cuisine you find in Singapore. For what is a relatively small place there is such an amazing fusion of cultures and this means there’s a really diverse mix of foods. You can get some really interesting dishes from the street vendors and there are some world class restaurants in town too.”

Pastor Maldonado - “I’m positive. Singapore’s a fantastic event, it’s a fun circuit and we’ve got a great car. We’ve shown at many different circuits that we can perform well this year so it’s another race where we want to get out there and put in a strong performance. Traction is fundamental in Singapore, it’s a really big factor. This is because the corners are generally slow and tight, so it means the way we exit them will be critical to ensure a good lap time. It will be tough to regulate the torque and the traction out of the slow speed corners. Then you look at all the normal things for a fast lap. It’s a track where you can’t make mistakes because the walls are so close.

Overall it is a very demanding track [physically] where you get no rest at all really. You are constantly turning or braking and there are only two short straights, not enough to really have a proper rest. But I like it this way because you get a rhythm going quickly. Physically it is tough because the humidity is so high and the race so long, much longer than Monza for instance.

To be honest it is not too different to racing in the day or at night. The main reason is quite simple - when we drive we do not look upwards, we are always focusing on what is straight ahead. The big change is the temperature of the Tarmac which is slightly cooler at night. So we have a slightly different approach because of this. We have to adapt our styles a little and make sure we create heat in the tyres as much as we can.”

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Singapore GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Red Bull

Preview Quotes - Red Bull


Daniel Ricciardo - “Well it is hot! And very humid! I think it’s all those tall buildings downtown - the heat doesn’t have anywhere to go. It’s the most physical challenge of the year. It’s the only race of the season where you crack open your visor to let in some cool air and instantly wish you hadn’t because it’s hotter outside. By the warm-up lap your chilled drinks bottle is the temperature of a freshly-poured cup of tea. It’s a tough place to race - but I love the challenge. I think most of the drivers do. I like the track. Street circuits are fun: you’re bouncing off the kerbs, kissing the walls, it’s cool. And the city’s great. Good restaurants, good atmosphere, great nightlife. Yeah, my kind of place...”

Daniil Kvyat - “It’s definitely one of the most challenging races of the championship. It’s the longest, one of the hottest, one of the most physically demanding races we face but having said that I do like the track, because although it’s a street circuit, it’s quite a bit quicker than Monaco. As Grands Prix go, it tends to have more atmosphere than the average...

Last year it was extremely tough because my water bottle didn’t work, so it was a very difficult race. But this year I think I’m much better prepared from a physical point of view, so it should be fine. For example, Malaysia this year felt a lot more comfortable than last year and it’s similar, so I think I will be okay.”

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Singapore GP: Circuit Preview

(Image belongs to www.brigatti.co.uk - All rights belong to the owner)

With the 2015 season half over, it's time for the racers to leave Europe and head over to Asia for the Singapore GP. This is always a special race even with it being one of the youngest circuits on the calendar. The Singapore GP has a combination of it being a street circuit along with the race being held at night. 

The "Marina Bay Street Circuit" is located in Marina Bay, Singapore and first opened in August of 2008. Unlike most F1 circuits, this one runs counter-clockwise. It also has a wopping total of 23 turns. The current version is 3.147 miles in length and the race will go for 61 laps. It also a capacity of 90,000

The 2014 Singapore GP saw Lewis Hamilton take Pole Position and also go on to win the race, despite Vettel leading a few of the last laps. Vettel finished Second with then-team-mate, Daniel Ricciardo, finishing 3rd.

Retirements included: Kamui Kobayashi (DNS - Power Unit), Nico Rosberg (Wiring Loom), Esteban Gutierrez (Electrical), Adrian Sutil (Water Leak) & Jenson Button (Power Box)

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Singapore GP: Schedule

As we head towards another F1 weekend, the teams head back to Asia for the first time since the Chinese GP earlier this year. This time around, they'll be heading to the Marina Bay Street Circuit in the beautiful country of Singapore for a night race.

SCHEDULE:

September 17th / Thursday

18:00 - Drivers Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)

September 18th / Friday

18:00 - 19:30 - Free Practice #1
20:30 - 21:15 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
21:30 - 23:00 - Free Practice #2
23:15 - 00:15 - Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)

September 19th / Saturday

15:00 - Team Pit-Stop Practice
19:20 - 20:45 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
18:00 - 19:00 - Free Practice #3
21:00 - 22:00 - Qualifying

September 20th / Sunday

18:05 - 19:15 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
18:30 - Drivers Track Parade
18:45 - 19:15 - Starting Grid Presentation
19:46 - National Anthem
20:00 - Race

(Times subject to change)

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Feature: Star Drivers Of The Italian GP

Amy Hawk (Lead Writer & Editor) - "My driver of the weekend is Sebastian Vettel. It doesn't need too much of an explanation, really.. With it being his first year at Ferrari, to get a podium at Monza is a pretty big deal and you could see how excited the crowd was. Vettel is definitely in a new chapter of his F1 career since leaving Red Bull. I believe we will see him winning more races in the future with the Italian team. Who knows? Maybe he'll win in Singapore - We'll see."

Frances Fry (Assistant Writer) - Quote not yet released

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Feature: Italian GP - Our Post-Race Quotes

Amy Hawk (Lead Writer & Editor) - "What an incredible race. I love Monza, I have ever since I started watching Formula 1. The events in the last few weeks have been hard and we've lost another talented driver and amazing person. My thoughts and prayers are with Justin's family & friends during this difficult time.

Congratulations to Hamilton, Vettel & Massa. All three drove an incredible race and it was great to see a Ferrari driver up on the podium as it is Italy and the Tifosi were really cheering them on. I think if Raikkonen had had a better start, he might've very well been on the podium. I'd also like to acknowledge Force India. It's great to see both cars finishing high up in the points and moving up in both the drivers and constructors standings. I'm sure they'll produce more good results in the next race.

Speaking of... The next race is Singapore and that is my favorite race on the current calendar. Not only is it a street circuit but it's also a night race and when mixed together, it's always an incredible result. I can't wait. Cheers!"

Frances Fry (Assistant Writer) - Quote not yet released.

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Italian GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

    It was a full house for the Italian GP, with most of the crowds wearing red &/or Ferrari gear. The Tifosi were definitely showing their support and not just on race day, but all weekend - as they eagerly wanted to see how Vettel and Raikkonen would perform around Monza & also hoped they could produce podium results.

        Before the race, there was a touching moment of silence for Justin Wilson, IndyCar & Ex-F1 driver. Wilson passed away recently due to injuries sustained during the Indy race at Pocono. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues during this time.

        When the lights went out, most were expecting Raikkonen to jump right past Lewis Hamilton, as the Ferrari driver was starting from 2nd on the grid. However, instead, Raikkonen stalled and nearly the whole rest of the grid swerved to avoid him as they passed his slow-rolling car. He managed to get it going but it was going to be a game of catch-up for the rest of the race.

        During laps 1-2, Lotus ended up with a double retirement with both cars out due to accident damage. While neither collided with other cars, it's being said that Maldonado hit a kerb on the escape path, causing damage to his car while Grosjean possibly had contact with a Sauber - However, there was no investigation regarding a collision.

        Force India got an impressive start with Perez easily making his way up to P5 with his team-mate, Hulkenberg, close behing in P7. Williams were also enjoying an easy start. Massa was able to get up to P3 after Raikkonen's faulted start. Bottas was right behind him in P4.

         As for Mercedes, while Hamilton was leading the race, Rosberg was being warned about his brakes. The team went over the radio to tell him that the temperatures were high and he needed to be cautious. They later told him the situation had improved, but that didn't mean there wasn't another issue. Rosberg was using components from the race in Spa and it was unknown whether or not the engine would be reliable for the whole race.

        While there wasn't any unsafe releases this time around, there was plenty of lock-ups from cars as they headed into Pit-Lane, one where Merhi almost ran into the back of Hamilton's car as they both pitted. Luckily, no damage to either car.

        By lap 48, it was clear that something had gone wrong as Hamilton got a radio message, telling him to "Execute" and "Don't ask questions" - They also said it would be explained later after the race. Fans were left wondering if there was an engine or brake problem that wasn't being talked about. To make matters worse for Mercedes, Rosberg retired on Lap 51 with the back of his car on fire due to an engine failure.

        Fernando Alonso had retired just a few laps before Rosberg, also because of an engine problem and it was just after he and Button had been trying to pass each other.. Suddenly Alonso was not on track, but instead in the pits, his race over and another disappointing day for McLaren-Honda.

        Hamilton brought home the win & while the Tifosi were hoping to see Vettel in 1st - The German still finished second and held the trophy high & also held up a huge Ferrari flag on the Podium, thanking the fans in Italian. Felipe Massa finished in 3rd and was also greeted with cheers from the crowds below.

        However, it was the drama that happened after the race that caused quite a stir among the spectators. Mercedes were under investigation for a "Tyre breach" - Both drivers left-rear tyres were found to be under the legal minimum pressure. Hamilton's was 0.3 below and Rosberg's was 1.1 below. It was talked about that Hamilton could possibly be disqualified from the race all together and lose his win. However, the FIA stated that no further action would be taken and the race results stand as they were at the end of the race.

    Here are the results - The next race will see the teams leave Europe and head to Asia for the Singapore GP. It's a stunning night race on a street circuit & definitely a favourite.

RACE RESULTS:

1. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain / + 25 Points
2. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany / + 18 Points
3. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil / + 15 Points
4. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland / + 12 Points
5. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland / + 10 Points
6. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico / + 8 Points
7. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany / + 6 Points
8. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-Renault / Australia / + 4 Points
9. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden / + 2 Points
10. Daniil Kvyat / Red Bull-Renault / Russia / + 1 Point
11. Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Renault / Spain / 
12. Max Verstappen / Toro Rosso-Renault / Netherlands /
13. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil / 
14. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain / 
15. Will Stevens / Manor-Ferrari / Great Britain / 
16. Roberto Merhi / Manor-Ferrari / Spain /

RETIRED - Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany / Engine
RETIRED - Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain / Engine
RETIRED - Romain Grosjean / Lotus-Mercedes / France / Damage
RETIRED - Pastor Maldonado / Lotus-Mercedes / Venezuela / Damage

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk
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