Finally, some actual on-track car action to distract from the ridiculousness that was the Renault Crashgate incident. We could do without any more ‘Gates’ from now on please, F1 people.
Although practice today was the most exciting we’ve had all season – thanks to the dusty, slidey track conditions – the irony of Renault’s new boy Romain Grosjean crashing at the exact same place where Nelson Piquet Jnr was ordered to crash last year wasn’t lost on anyone.
No one in the Top Gear office could quite believe it, wry smiles spreading across every face that was watching.
But generally it was an awesome couple of practice sessions, the slidey circuit causing many a tailout moment for a lot of the drivers, which the BBC’s super-slow-mo replays showed really well.
Too tailout for Mark Webber though, who binned it in the later session. But he still managed to post a time good enough for sixth.
His Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel topped the second outing, followed by Renault’s Fernando Alonso, who’s obviously quick here even without help…
Brawn GP’s two title challengers, Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, were fifth and 11th respectively, but we’ll have to wait until qualifying tomorrow – at 3pm GMT – to see where everyone’s really sitting.
If quali and the actual race are as dramatic as today’s practice sessions, we’re in for a treat this weekend.
Which we certainly deserve after all the scandal of the past few weeks.
Check BBC Sport’s site for full practice timings and positions, then let us know who you think will be on pole tomorrow.
Funny how the one car to crash in second practice was also Renault-powered.
Funny how in a previous post that was deleted, I commented that it would be amusing if a Renault crashed at the corner that caused last years controversy. Worried about history repeating itself are we.
That just had to happen, Grosjean crashing some point this weekend, but even I couldn’t see him hitting the exact same spot that Piquet did!! On other Renault news, the cars look a bit less ugly now with no garish ING logos sprawled everywhere.
Gunning for the Brawns to wrap up the constructors cup!
I am going to watch the qualifying session live on track tomorrow night (er.. afternoon if you live in UK). I hope that no one messes up, but at least some excitement would do.
I reckon RBR will go for low-fuel banzai lap for pole tomorrow to give the team a bit of a needed boost, and one final effort nothing-to-lose assault on the driver’s title, so wouldn’t be surprised with a vettel pole. otherwise the 2 brawns and hamilton’s mclaren could be the real winners of quali
It’s gotta be Rubens for the win on Sunday
i think buttons got the upperhand this weekend, it seems like he’s refound his form that he had earlier in the season after stepping back onto the podium again at monza.
Gotta be jenson for the win sunday !
And lets hope he can seal up the drivers title because he has truly deserved it after so many years of dissapointment.
I forget how the car-track advantages work (I mean like ‘Force India work best on medium-downforce tracks like Spa’, all that knida stuff), but, looking at the map, it looks like there are plenty of slow corners separated by long straights, so the downforce isn’t really going to be working very much in the corners. I’m guessing that makes it more about mechanical grip, which I think is Red Bull’s area of advantage.
So, I’m gonna say it’s likely to be a Red Bull race this weekend. Unless Grosjean loses it after Alonso makes a bad strategy call or something…
I HOPE DER IS NO CRASING HERE EVEN THOUGH THERE WILL BE BECAUSE IT IS A STREET CIRCUT
FUNNY …..
I think that a kers car is gonna win this weekend if a grosjean doestn crash to give alonso the victory. I HOPE KIMI WINS THIS RACE.
ICEMAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!
Not only did Grosjean crash at Turn 17, but does anyone remember Trulli’s spin at the exit of Turn 23 during practice last year? Quite similar to Webber… History is repeating itself here
Vettel or Raikkonen for pole but Barrichello should win. Not expecting Force India at the front anymore because it’s not a low-downforce circuit, is Singapore
Rubens is going to win. With BAR-Honda Rubens was usually competitive in Singapore.
yeah force india isnt going anywhere for this one, maybe the next few.
Vettel should be on pole. BTW im at turn 3 so look out for me
hmm..funny that he should crash at the same place..you know what’d be even funnier,if the piquets got runover by some old man in an old renault..now that would be something.
fgs!
A Red Bull on pole, please!
Get closer to Buttons and Brawns points.
Showdown at Abu Dhabi, equal points each.
Brawn found back its lost form – that´s good news.
Button is de facto world champion – he just needs to drive smart and make no mistakes. He is very good in that, even if he is not the best pilot out there.
Rubens needs to be aggressive in order to catchup with Button – that means he will make mistakes and drop out either tomorrow or at the next race.
Vettel is driving now without engine restrains again – they have nothing to loose, just have fun and be aggressive. They will get a penalty then for engine swapping next time.
think the story should say 3pm BST not GMT.
race tomorrow at usual 1pm BST slot.
i live in singapore.
just watched last 15 mins of final practice session. hamilton top, button 14th complaining about lack of grip.
Go to this game link
http://games.ing-renaultf 1.com/circuit15/Default.a sp
You can still be Piquet and with a little practice you can amaze your friends and embarrass your family with the corners you can crash at.
grosjean is an idiot.
but, not surprising when you remeber hes french!!!
Good move Rubens. Vettel would have taken pole. Although it probably would not make that much difference since Lewis has the magic Red Button.
f1’s cool bmw rule
f1’s getting stupid now all the changes and next year no refueling thats just dumb
Hello from Singapore!
Удачи вам! Я думаю у вас все получится
The things given are unanimous and needs to be appreciated by everyone.
=================
Ema
swingers
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