Singapore Grand Prix *** spoiler inside***

[Neilk]

Great win for Alonso, but overall it wasn't too exciting outside of the safety car issues. Kubica's last laps after his tire change were great.

I have to say, for all the talk that Vettel is immature and can't handle the pressure, I think Hamilton is really the biggest choke artist. In his first season, he gave up 17 points in the last two races of the season by DNFing and subsequently losing the championshis. This year he has crashed out of the last two races by being too impatient. Weber was partially at fault for today's crash, but Hamilton should have given him more room with so much at stake in the championship battle.

On to the next race.

Neil

[Oh Haha]

Great race....at the end anyway.



I was wondering if Hammy would remember to re-attach his steering device after he whipped it across the track after the incident with Webber.



Nice job by Kubica.

Do we think he'll be the next F1 "star"?

[legion]

Hamilton passed cleanly and was in front when Webber drove in to him. Webber should have ensured he could take the corner without hitting the car in front.

[Oh Haha]

Now that the incident was deemed accidental, can Hamilton appeal the decision?

[Noah930]

Nice win by Alonso. Great drive by Kubica at the end. Cool-headed driving by Kovalainen at the end with his flaming Lotus.

I think that was Hamilton's corner. He was ahead and Webber ran into him. Maybe not enough to warrant a penalty, but if there's fault to be handed out, more rides on Webber's actions than Hamiton's. Though I agree that it was a racing incident. Out of self-preservation, should Hamilton have left more room for Webber? There's little consolation in being "right" when it's you who winds up taking the long walk back to the garage.

Given how Webber was "out of sequence" early on, even though the race wasn't exciting from an on-track passing perspective, I certainly thought it was exciting (from a strategy perspective) to see how the guys in front would race relative to him. What if you build up a 30 second lead on Webber? Do you then pit? What if you hold out...and then a safety car gets released? Your 30 second lead evaporates and you still have to pit for tires. Then you wind up behind him, albeit on fresher tires.

[nostatic]

+1 on Kovalainen. Have to give props to a guy who puts out his own engine fires

I'm in the "racing incident" camp with most things, and while the corner was Hamilton's he did turn in expecting Webber to get out of the throttle. Problem is that Webber was on his racing line and rarely gives up a position without a fight. In a perfect world Webber backs off and gives the corner to Hamilton. The reality is that Hamilton should have stayed further outside instead of trying to get to the apex. Flip of a coin on that one...racing incident or drive-through for Webber.

[herr_oberst]

I know Massa has signed a contract for 2011, but if Ferrari is really sniffing around Kubica, he (Massa) had best put his head down and attack inferior cars instead of riding around. Don't know if he had a problem with oil temp or not, but he had a great opportunity to get some quality points early on and the moment was lost.

He's being compared to Fernando now, and the comparison isn't favorable, at least in my eyes.

Hamilton/Webber? 30 years ago, the corner would have been HamBone's, but these days, it's a total crapshoot as to what the stewards are going to do.

[flatbutt]

+2 on Kovi, I'd prolly have run for the hills. But for Weber and Hammy I'd chalk it up to racing...both could have given more room but both were fighting for position. Though if pushed I'd give the edge to Hammy as he was ahead and Weber was in Hammys blind spot while he has the full line of sight.

[Cornpanzer]

Originally Posted by Neilk

I have to say, for all the talk that Vettel is immature and can't handle the pressure, I think Hamilton is really the biggest choke artist. In his first season, he gave up 17 points in the last two races of the season by DNFing and subsequently losing the championshis. This year he has crashed out of the last two races by being too impatient. Weber was partially at fault for today's crash, but Hamilton should have given him more room with so much at stake in the championship battle.

Neil

Neil, you gotta make up your mind!

If Lewis was at fault in Monza, then he cannot be at fault when the roles were reversed in Singapore. At Monza, Lewis stuck his nose in trying intimidate his way past...and paid a dear price for it. Today, Lewis was on the outside, had cleared Weber until Weber late-braked the corner and made the exact same mistake as Hamilton at Monza...he was just more lucky! Yes, Hamilton could have given more room, but it was his line and he shouldnt have had to. The responsibility was on Weber to back off to avoid contact. Even if Lewis had given more room, I suspect that Weber was going fast enough that the front end would have washed out til he found a back-stop.

[bell]

either way.....it was a racing incident......
webber will be champion this year, if he can beat the rejuvenated alonso/ferrari......i called it long ago

[URY914]

If I was fighting the guy that just passed me and there are 5 races to go in the WDC, I wouldn't have given up my line or backed off. Go Mark! The next WDC.

[Turbo_pro]

Poll on the F1 web site.
Who do you feel was most to blame for Hamilton and Webber's collision in Singapore?

Lewis Hamilton
34.01%
Mark Webber
33.50%
Fifty-fifty
32.49%

It appears that F1 fans see the incident the same way the stewards saw it.

[javadog]

Since Hambone was half a car length in front when they made contact, and he would have made the corner, I have to blame Weber.




JR

[legion]

Originally Posted by javadog

Since Weber was half a car length in front when they made contact, and he easily made the corner, I have to blame Hambone. He's raced Weber enough to know that if Weber's in front, it's Weber's corner.

JR

What race were you watching? Weber hit Hamilton's side pod with his front wing. Weber was half a car length behind at best during the corner. Weber intentionally hit Hamilton and should have been black flagged. Having been the car further behind, it was Webber's responsibility to back off and take the corner cleanly.

I'm getting sick of watching Weber and Alonso play bumper cars instead of race.

[jyl]

4 races left and 10 points between 1 and 2, 10 points between 2 and 3.

I think the championship likely goes to whoever can finish top three consistently with no DNF.

Alonso seems to avoid dumb mistakes - positive for him. Webber has erratic Vettel as a teammate - negative for him. Hamilton is erratic himself - negative for him. Then again, Webber is leading.

I think even money on Alonso and Webber. Which is a remarkable achievement for Alonso and Ferrari, considering how weak they were at the start of the season. If I had to choose, I bet Webber but that may just be wishes talking.

[javadog]

I guess I was watching the same race as you but, given my advancing age and bad memory, I was remembering it wrong. In my mind, the car on the right was Weber, which is not the case since I went and watched a replay of the incident.

So, now I blame Weber...

Cheers,
JR

[Henry Schmidt]

Webber easily negotiated the turn, Lewis knew (or should have known) Webber was there. Give enough room to take the turn safely and if you're faster, prove it at the next corner.


Fred is down to his last engine. Webber has two to use. The Red Bulls will run hard for the remainder of the season and win easily. My long shot bet is still Vettel.
There are 8 points available between 1nd and 2nd. Last year Vettel won at two of the last three tracks and no one has raced at the Korean track. Still allot racing to do. I predict a last race shoot out with team orders in the drawer because Vettel will be racing Webber for the WDC.

[nostatic]

one can make the argument that since Hamilton was not completely clear of Webber, it is the responsibility of Hamilton to stay outside until the pass is completed. It didn't look like Webber ran Hamilton to the wall - he stayed right on the inside apex. Hamilton turned in assuming that Webber would give up the position.

[emcon5]

Keep in mind that there was another corner coming up fast, which by holding his line, Weber was in a good place to get his position back.

If anyone should have been penalized, it should have been the 2-lap-down-assclown-backmarker in the Virgin who didn't get out of the damn way.

Hamilton should have known he was there, and gave him room, but even so, it is just a racing incident.

[Don Plumley]

The track at night is neat - almost like watching a video game. Singapore is a nice place too - great food. Would have loved to been there...