By Nick Bron
October 8th 2008 @ 1:46am
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Loading ...The Singapore Grand Prix was a real snooze
I’ve been waiting and waiting for Roar regulars to fire up about the Singapore Grand Prix. Why? Because it was the most frustrating race of a so far spectacular season.
You’d have good cause to doubt my proposition: during the race the commentators were fawning all over the circuit, the lights, the city, the people. Post-race, most reports declared it all a triumph.
Meanwhile, my eyes didn’t deceive me.
Whilst we all accept that most street circuits offer few overtaking opportunities, unfortunately Singapore only excelled in this one regard.
Far superior drivers and cars were held up by slower ones to an excruciating degree. I’m not a trainspotter, so I didn’t enjoy the procession of cars being ‘towed’ around a track by an old shunter.
When the safety car bunched the field for a second time, making the race potentially interesting towards the end, I quickly realised that even the high risk-taking Hamilton wouldn’t chance his arm for second at this circuit, yet alone first.
Other factors had already altered the fortunes of the race: the latest set of Stupid Formula 1 Rules created a lottery based on how much fuel was in your car when a major accident occurred; worse, a stuck refuelling hose ended both Massa and Coultard’s chances.
Barrichello simply ran out of fuel.
The clearly superior cars of Ferrari (and I’m not a fan of the prancing horse) suffered. Massa to the pit error, Raikonnen - for having the temerity to actually try to overtake Glock - ended up in a wall.
On the other hand, Rosberg’s Williams was given a huge leg up by the race stewards after his ten-second penalty was delayed for so long that he was able to pull away from the chasing pack - surprise, surprise - because it was held up by a slower car.
By the time he served his penalty, he was able to re-enter the race without dropping a place.
All in all, if you wanted to overtake, you hoped the car in front would hit a barrier - and several did just that.
Dramatic though this might have been, I can watch a demolition derby at the local raceway. It’s not what Formula 1 should be about.
Singapore was all froth, no sling.
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Trev Chance said | October 8th 2008 @ 12:59pm | Report comment
Nice one, Nick. I was thinking the same thing. I’m used to the old days when Murray Walker described cars as “mobile chicanes” - Singapore made the slower cars into mobile barriers!
It needed to be said. I hope the money-lure of the push into Asia doesn’t blind us into accepting bland Formula 1 races.
Note that I just read that F1 chiefs are changing some of the rules to allow for more overtaking next year. Maybe, despite the hype, they did take note of this problem… and let’s hope they change the silly rules about not getting into the pits after the safety car comes out - as you said, it makes it a lottery.
Luke Broadbent said | October 15th 2008 @ 6:53am | Report comment
While I agrre with a lot of what you say here Nick, I have to disagree about the lack of overtaking opportunities. For me, these are the best races. Street circuits are notoriously bumpy making it an even more difficult ride for the drivers, and yes, overtaking is made evn more difficult.
However, why should overtaking be easy? This is professional sport, nothing is easy. I can’t remember off the top of my head who Lewis Hamilton passed up the inside of one of the corners in this race but it was a brilliant move. He was decisive, skillful and brave. The very assets that should be rewarded when overtaking.
Neverthless you are definetely right about the pitstops when the saftey car is out. That needs to be sorted out, you shouldn’t be punished for pure chance on when your fuel levels and the safety car being deployed coincide with each other.
Nick Bron said | October 30th 2008 @ 11:33am (4 weeks ago) | Report comment
Thanks for the comment Luke (and Trev).
I also love street circuits, and wouldn’t want it to be too easy, but I think you’ll find Hamilton’s only overtaking was against someone who wouldn’t normally be a problem and, as you said, he had to pull out a brave move - one that he would usually have to use on a far better driver.
Compare it to Monaco: it’s tight there too, but at least there is enough overtaking opportunities to keep the race interesting. I felt Singapore held back the quicker drivers too much and benefitted people on a one stop strategy because they were able to hold the race up. And don’t get me started on how Rosberg was allowed to get away before he served his penalty!
I just hope they try to learn from this race and adapt the course for next year. Then we can all cheer it on, because it was a ’spectacle’ under lights.