F1 2019 - Round 15 Singapore

Charlie-Bravo · 18-09-2019 7:54pm #1

Two weeks have gone since Charles won his first two grand prix. Will the Ferrari have the better aero package for Signapore.

We've got 61 laps of a 5km circuit with a fastest lap of 1:41.905. I'm thinking Mercedes will be back on form, but Red Bull may have other ideas. Expect the Ferrari to monster the straights with the Mercs nippy around the corners.

Tyres for this week:

Key times are Qualy for 2pm on Sat and Race at 1.10pm

Schedule if you're lucky enough to be there in the balmy weather.

THURSDAY 19th SEPTEMBER
Formula 1 Press Conference 13:30 - 14:30

FRIDAY 20th SEPTEMBER
Formula 1 Practice 1 09:30 - 11:00
Formula 1 Practice 2 13:30 - 15:00

SATURDAY 21st SEPTEMBER
Formula 1 Practice 3 11:00 - 12:00
Formula 1 Qualifying 14:00 - 15:00

SUNDAY 22nd SEPTEMBER
Formula 1 Grand Prix (61 Laps or 120 Mins) 13:10 - 15:10

flazio · 18-09-2019 9:48pm

I think Albon is a good outside shout for a podium if not an outright win here. I really think this is a Red Bull circuit.

Charlie-Bravo · 20-09-2019 10:39am

So far in FP1, Le Clerc has gear box problems (probably not the race engine/gearbox). Bottas stuck the car in the wall, red flag. 21 mins left in this session.

Inviere · 20-09-2019 3:50pm

astrofluff wrote: »

I'm thinking Mercedes will be back on form

This was never really a strong track for Merc, I think damage limitation from them this weekend is on the cards. Agreed re Red Bull, this will be a good chance for them to flex some muscle, but Ferrari go well here too...hopefully an interesting race ahead

Charlie-Bravo · 20-09-2019 4:11pm

Apologies if I'm missing something, but Hamilton won the last two grand prix at Singapore. I'd agree they're not miles ahead on this track, but they still won the last two. I do reckon Max has upped him game for this weekend. And after the practice sessions, I'd be wary of whether Ferrari know what they're doing (changing floors and wings - sound like they're not up to speed at all).

skipper_G · 20-09-2019 4:12pm

Inviere wrote: »

This was never really a strong track for Merc, I think damage limitation from them this weekend is on the cards. Agreed re Red Bull, this will be a good chance for them to flex some muscle, but Ferrari go well here too...hopefully an interesting race ahead

In the hybrid era Merc have won the race 4 times out of 5, and apart from 2 DNF's they've not finished outside the top 4. I certainly expect a more competitive fight for the podium but this is still a strong Merc track. Hamilton on pole position and an easy flag to flag win is more likely.

Inviere · 20-09-2019 4:15pm

astrofluff wrote: »

Apologies if I'm missing something, but Hamilton won the last two grand prix at Singapore. I'd agree they're not miles ahead on this track, but they still won the last two. I do reckon Max has upped him game for this weekend. And after the practice sessions, I'd be wary of whether Ferrari know what they're doing (changing floors and wings - sound like they're not up to speed at all).

He'd a little bit o' help in 2017 you might say (look where the Mercs are on the grid)

Yeah Hamilton nailed it in 2018 but generally speaking, Mercedes haven't been at their strongest at Singapore.

Inviere · 20-09-2019 4:18pm

skipper_G wrote: »

In the hybrid era Merc have won the race 4 times out of 5, and apart from 2 DNF's they've not finished outside the top 4. I certainly expect a more competitive fight for the podium but this is still a strong Merc track. Hamilton on pole position and an easy flag to flag win is more likely.

Agreed a pole for Lewis signals a win most likely, but I've always had in my head this was a track they never 'dominated' as they have at others. Mandella effect maybe

Inviere · 20-09-2019 4:30pm

skipper_G wrote: »

In the hybrid era Merc have won the race 4 times out of 5

astrofluff wrote: »

Apologies if I'm missing something

Apologies Astro, I'm clearly wrong here - bizarre though, could have sworn this wasn't a strong Merc track

skipper_G · 20-09-2019 5:44pm

Inviere wrote: »

Agreed a pole for Lewis signals a win most likely, but I've always had in my head this was a track they never 'dominated' as they have at others. Mandella effect maybe

I think it's more that we want it to be not a Merc track so the recent run of good races continues

Charlie-Bravo · 20-09-2019 7:39pm

Merc/Hamilton are overdue a DNF. If it happens, it wouldn't be because of reliability, it'd be because of another driver taking them out.

nf2k · 20-09-2019 8:04pm

Is Singapore a Monaco-lite in that overtaking is tough?

pjohnson · 20-09-2019 8:36pm

nf2k wrote: »

Is Singapore a Monaco-lite in that overtaking is tough?

It can be, Sergio Perez probably has vietnamesque flashbacks of his and Sirotkins battle last year.

AMKC · 20-09-2019 9:28pm

It's not Mercedes favorite track because of there long wheelbase car and that's why Ferrari had an advantage there in 2016 and 2017 which either Kimi or Vettel should have won but Vettel made a balls of it at the beginning of the race. The Ferrari car is now a lwb car as well think it was last year they decided to go that way too so I think unless there is a big crash or crash's which are almost guaranteed in Singapore whoever takes pole will win this.

chicorytip · 20-09-2019 11:45pm

Big crashes are the most exciting thing about Formula One these days.

Faugheen · 21-09-2019 1:47am

chicorytip wrote: »

Big crashes are the most exciting thing about Formula One these days.

You’ve clearly not watched the last 5 races if you think big crashes are the most exciting thing ‘these days’.

Give me great battles at the front over a few seconds of a big shunt any day of the week.

Inviere · 21-09-2019 6:46am

AMKC wrote: »

It's not Mercedes favorite track because of there long wheelbase car and that's why Ferrari had an advantage there in 2016 and 2017 which either Kimi or Vettel should have won but Vettel made a balls of it at the beginning of the race. The Ferrari car is now a lwb car as well think it was last year they decided to go that way too so I think unless there is a big crash or crash's which are almost guaranteed in Singapore whoever takes pole will win this.

That rings a bell all right, maybe that explains it. It explains the starting grid in 2017 anyway, I think the Mercs were 5th and 6th. This could be a Red Bull opportunity so....

seamusk84 · 21-09-2019 6:51am

The Red Bull looked like real handful to me out there yesterday. Seems to not be riding the bumps well. Still if they can sort that, I’m sure they can be relatively close to the Mercs today in quali.
Personally I think Ferrari will struggle.

Reckon Hamilton on poll and Bottas at a minimum 4th, but most likely a Merc front row lockout.

I really hope it’s an exciting race but Singapore tends to be a bit dull.

flazio · 21-09-2019 10:20am

chicorytip wrote: »

Big crashes are the most exciting thing about Formula One these days.

After the events in Belgium a month ago, even if it wasn't actually Formula 1, I would have to completely disagree.

Charlie-Bravo · 21-09-2019 11:33am

FP3: Checo hit the wall on second last corner, damage to rear right wheel. Red flag while they clean some debris.

skipper_G · 21-09-2019 11:37am

astrofluff wrote: »

FP3: Checo hit the wall on second last corner, damage to rear right wheel. Red flag while they clean some debris.

That's his race gearbox and it was a heavy hit on the right rear corner, fingers crossed it doesn't need to be changed

skipper_G · 21-09-2019 2:05pm

I like the idea of the camera shot looking at the driver's eyes but that particular one they're using is kind of ineffective because it's obscured every time the wheel is turned

Cool_CM · 21-09-2019 2:53pm

Ferrari looking great here - Come on Seb!*

*Please don't jinx it!

skipper_G · 21-09-2019 2:53pm

What a cracker of a lap from Vettel

Cool_CM · 21-09-2019 2:54pm

skipper_G wrote: »

What a cracker of a lap from Vettel

And he hit the wall

Jordan 199 · 21-09-2019 2:55pm

skipper_G wrote: »

What a cracker of a lap from Vettel

It was mighty!

skipper_G · 21-09-2019 3:02pm

Even better lap from Leclerc. He is on a roll, I'm delighted for him. Guy is a total superstar

Edit: to add now hopefully he brings it home tomorrow. Got him at 5-1 for the win early in the weekend

Cool_CM · 21-09-2019 3:04pm

LeClerc is the real deal - what a lap

Inviere · 21-09-2019 3:05pm

The emergence of a proper star here over the last three races. If Ferrari give him the car next year, he's in with a shout for the title driving like this. Amazing. Disappointed for Seb, would have loved him to nab pole considering the spell he's going through, but not to be. Albon nice result too, he's up there beside Max...impressive.

johnnysmack · 21-09-2019 3:14pm

Gutted for Sebastian, thought he had it.

Charlie-Bravo · 21-09-2019 3:22pm

Watching the Sky pad thingy with Anthony Davidson (don't usually watch it), brilliant analysis. It showed the sheer speed advantage of LeClerc's Ferrari, and also how much he was trying to drive the full limit of the car with a slower car through the corners.

F1 2019 - Round 15 Singapore

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