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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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
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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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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

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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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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
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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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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
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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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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
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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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Article Written By: Amy Hawk

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Photo belongs to: www.brigatti.co.uk

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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Article Written By: Amy Hawk
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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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