The Official 2009 Singapore Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

OK, nice and early this time!



With the controversy over last year's race having only just played out, an uncertain weather forecast for race weekend and uncertainty over who will have the fastest car in any case, there'll be plenty to talk about regarding the 2nd Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay.

So let's discuss!

---

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/29/2009 10:00AM by mortal.

Romain Grosjean will crash on lap 2 as Alonso leapfrogs 8 places due to the retirement of the drivers collected by Grosjean. And that is without team orders .

Well for Monza my prediction of a Lewis domination was wrong...

BUT here, rain or light shine, Lewis will dominate !

I reckon for the first time since Turkey/Hungary Jenson will the better Brawn.

In theory should be a Mclaren, sorry Lewis v's Brawn fight at the front with the rest very tightly behind. Kimi and Nico imo ones who could supprise.

They've resurfaced the track, but I hope they've done a shite job of it and its lumpy and bumpy like before. Made for an awesome spectacle at night!!!

---

"Trulli was slowing down like he wanted to have a picnic" LOL

If it does rain, of course, we'll get the unique situation of the weather not affecting the lighting!

And yeah, I hope the resurfaced track is still nice and bumpy too.

---

How about this... according to Formula1.com, there have been a few modifications to the track:

- Track resurfaced between turns 5 and 7 (less bumps).
- Turns 13 and 14 have been tightened slightly.
- Chicane at turn 10 is now slower, with less risk of damage on kerbs.
- The pit now exits after the first corner, the pit entry now starts before turn 22.
- Walls have been moved closer to the track at turns 22 and 23.

Not often you hear walls being moved closer to the track now and it's a bit sad to see the bumps that caused so many sparks last year go... But maybe the new diffusers will create new sparks in different places anyway?

EDIT: Just looked at the BBC weather forecast... scroll down and have a look at the interactive map, there is a LOT of rain around Singapore, so maybe it might just stay throughout the weekend like you said! Especially have a look at sunday night.

[news.bbc.co.uk]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You know you want to. [judgegrudge.mybrute.com]




Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 09/22/2009 08:04PM by flat tyre.

flat tyre Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not often you hear walls being moved closer to the
> track now and it's a bit sad to see the bumps
> that caused so many sparks last year go...

Excellent news on the walls. A couple of decent corners they are.

Bumps... well it was a bit too bumpy. So long as they've not made it smooth, I'm fine with that.

After last year, it can only be a anticlimax. Still massively looking forward to it.

Positive changes aside from the bumps. Looks like they've listened to the suggestions. Turn 7 could have been done with tightening too I reckon... and last year the drivers were running off the exit curb and onto the run-off like they tend to do. Need to try and stop that this year.

As for that little chicane it was pretty tight before, if they could I would have prefered them to remove it, and move the exit wall further back, making it quite a fast left hander, would have made braking for 11 quite difficult and maybe force some mistakes.

edit - thanks for the link flat. Hope we dont get a malaysia situation! but looking at that map, wow!

---

"Trulli was slowing down like he wanted to have a picnic" LOL



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/22/2009 08:17PM by chet.

Jeez, that forecast predicts some heavy rain on Sunday night! If it's anywhere near as heavy as that the race will be an insane one.

Great news on the circuit modifications, they sound just about spot on.

---

They've also applied a new sponsor board at the point where Piquet "crashed" saying "If cheating, crash here"

chet Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> As for that little chicane it was pretty tight
> before, if they could I would have prefered them
> to remove it, and move the exit wall further back,
> making it quite a fast left hander, would have
> made braking for 11 quite difficult and maybe
> force some mistakes.


IIRC, they originally wanted to have that as one corner and not a chicane, but local government wouldnt allow it as theres some sort of historic building on the exit of the corner and they wanted to keep speeds down

---

Circuit Thermalito

Liverpool Waterfront Circuit (WIP)

Monza972 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They've also applied a new sponsor board at the
> point where Piquet "crashed" saying "If cheating,
> crash here"

lol, either an ad for car insurance, or an ad for the TV show "Cheaters" will work quite well there.

Team CLR Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Monza972 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > They've also applied a new sponsor board at the
> > point where Piquet "crashed" saying "If
> cheating,
> > crash here"
>
> lol, either an ad for car insurance, or an ad for
> the TV show "Cheaters" will work quite well there.


Like Comparethemeerkat!

Fincent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> chet Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > As for that little chicane it was pretty tight
> > before, if they could I would have prefered
> them
> > to remove it, and move the exit wall further
> back,
> > making it quite a fast left hander, would have
> > made braking for 11 quite difficult and maybe
> > force some mistakes.
>
>
> IIRC, they originally wanted to have that as one
> corner and not a chicane, but local government
> wouldnt allow it as theres some sort of historic
> building on the exit of the corner and they wanted
> to keep speeds down

Ah, at least theres an explanation, thanks!

---

"Trulli was slowing down like he wanted to have a picnic" LOL

I like bumpy..anyways, i have a feeling that brawn may have come up to one-two or two-three with lewis hamilton on pole position. As mclaren never lets its driver get disappointed. And as for heikki.. hope they could give him at least once with the same fuel load as hamilton and not for being heavy again, he should tell the team volunatry anyways! so we can see if he is really a worthy driver or just his ability can't play to the hands of mclaren car

I felt a little let-down when they announced those changes... the drivers complained of bumps (it's a frickin' street circuit!) so they resurfaced, and also made the chicane easier so that drivers won't damage their cars if they make mistakes. "Don't make mistakes then..."

---

K*bots UK, specialist providers of 'fun science' Curriculum Enhancement days for Primary and Secondary schools in Britain.
Please find us on [en.wikipedia.org] for more information.

Locke Cole Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I felt a little let-down when they announced those
> changes... the drivers complained of bumps (it's a
> frickin' street circuit!) so they resurfaced

That straight was too bumpy though. So long as it's still bumpy I'll be happy, but that was bordering on insane. That amount of dust from the plank you don't see at Eau Rouge!

Insanity is a good thing :D

Liuzzi will suffer an elbow sprain and Albers will replace him and finish in 5th!

Whats all this biz about staying in European time when next weekend they are off to Japan?!!

I dont understand! The race in Singapore isnt exactly late in Singapore anyway!

---

"Trulli was slowing down like he wanted to have a picnic" LOL

ROFL! Too true!