Related News
Home » Sports » Motor Racing
Singapore key for F1 hopefuls
Source: Agencies |
September 23, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE race for the Formula One world championship shifts from Europe to Asia this week, with five drivers still holding title ambitions as the 2010 season moves toward its crescendo.
The contrasts between the previous round of the championship in Italy and this Sunday's race in Singapore are striking: from the rich traditions of Monza to the sport's new frontiers in Singapore; from F1's highest-speed circuit to the tight and twisty confines of Marina Bay; and most notably the switch from day racing to night racing. What hasn't changed is the unpredictable nature of the 2010 title contest.
Red Bull's Mark Webber leads the drivers' championship on 187 points, but struggled as he finished sixth in Italy. He took over the lead in the championship standings from McLaren's Lewis Hamilton (182), after the British driver crashed out on the first lap at Monza.
Webber anticipates the cramped confines of the Singapore circuit to play to Red Bull's strengths, unlike the flowing layouts of Spa and Monza in the previous two rounds.
"I'm hoping to improve on last year's result, as it's a high downforce street circuit that should suit our car," Webber said. "Its got some similarities to Monaco and Budapest and we did well at both those circuits, so I'm hoping for a strong result."
Hamilton goes to Singapore with mixed feelings: latent anger from the mistake which ended his race barely after it had begun in Italy, but buoyed by his memory of victory at Marina Bay last year.
"I've already drawn a line under Monza," Hamilton said. "I've learnt from the experience and, while it was extremely disappointing, those things are sometimes what you need to sharpen your mind and raise your game and motivation at an extremely crucial time in the season."
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso (166 points) enters this weekend's race with momentum, having delighted Italian fans with his victory there two weeks ago. He is a point ahead of McLaren's Jenson Button, who hasn't won in 10 races but still retains a chance of retaining his world champion status thanks to his consistent points gathering.
Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel is only two points further back, but has won only one of the past 11 races and is 24 points behind his more experienced teammate Webber with five races remaining.
Going by this season's relative performance at high downforce tracks, the McLarens would be expected to struggle in Singapore as they did in Monaco and Hungary, but Button found cause for optimism.
"A lot has changed since that race in Budapest," Button said. "Not least, some quite hefty revisions to the rule book regarding bodywork flexibility and, additionally, a lot of work by the engineers to ensure our car is now better suited to slower circuits.
"Singapore will be interesting for all of us. We'll not only get an idea of the speed of the Ferrari and Red Bull, but we'll get to see for the first time whether all our efforts over the past two months have helped put us back in the ballpark at high-downforce tracks."
This is the third Singapore Grand Prix, and teams have by now got to grips with the unique challenge of racing under lights.
The contrasts between the previous round of the championship in Italy and this Sunday's race in Singapore are striking: from the rich traditions of Monza to the sport's new frontiers in Singapore; from F1's highest-speed circuit to the tight and twisty confines of Marina Bay; and most notably the switch from day racing to night racing. What hasn't changed is the unpredictable nature of the 2010 title contest.
Red Bull's Mark Webber leads the drivers' championship on 187 points, but struggled as he finished sixth in Italy. He took over the lead in the championship standings from McLaren's Lewis Hamilton (182), after the British driver crashed out on the first lap at Monza.
Webber anticipates the cramped confines of the Singapore circuit to play to Red Bull's strengths, unlike the flowing layouts of Spa and Monza in the previous two rounds.
"I'm hoping to improve on last year's result, as it's a high downforce street circuit that should suit our car," Webber said. "Its got some similarities to Monaco and Budapest and we did well at both those circuits, so I'm hoping for a strong result."
Hamilton goes to Singapore with mixed feelings: latent anger from the mistake which ended his race barely after it had begun in Italy, but buoyed by his memory of victory at Marina Bay last year.
"I've already drawn a line under Monza," Hamilton said. "I've learnt from the experience and, while it was extremely disappointing, those things are sometimes what you need to sharpen your mind and raise your game and motivation at an extremely crucial time in the season."
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso (166 points) enters this weekend's race with momentum, having delighted Italian fans with his victory there two weeks ago. He is a point ahead of McLaren's Jenson Button, who hasn't won in 10 races but still retains a chance of retaining his world champion status thanks to his consistent points gathering.
Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel is only two points further back, but has won only one of the past 11 races and is 24 points behind his more experienced teammate Webber with five races remaining.
Going by this season's relative performance at high downforce tracks, the McLarens would be expected to struggle in Singapore as they did in Monaco and Hungary, but Button found cause for optimism.
"A lot has changed since that race in Budapest," Button said. "Not least, some quite hefty revisions to the rule book regarding bodywork flexibility and, additionally, a lot of work by the engineers to ensure our car is now better suited to slower circuits.
"Singapore will be interesting for all of us. We'll not only get an idea of the speed of the Ferrari and Red Bull, but we'll get to see for the first time whether all our efforts over the past two months have helped put us back in the ballpark at high-downforce tracks."
This is the third Singapore Grand Prix, and teams have by now got to grips with the unique challenge of racing under lights.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
