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20:03 Only Sutil is on medium tyres at the start of this race. Here we go... 20:00 The cars head off on there formation lap. All 22 cars get away from the grid okay. 19:59 But I expect most drivers will opt to start on super-softs because those tyres are holding up pretty well. However, if you are confident on the mediums then they can run a long, long way into this race. 19:56 Esteban Gutierrez is the only drive in the top ten with a choice of tyres for the start. His Q2 time was so good it would actually have secured him eighth place in Q3, but he opted not to set a time instead. He has team-mate Hulkenberg just one place behind him. 19:53 The other part of strategy is fuel. This race requires one of the heaviest fuel loads of the year and many teams underfuel in anticipation of a safety car (there's no point in having five laps of fuel in the car at the end of the race). If it doesn't come they have to run at a reduced speed to keep an eye on consumption, but that's not such a bad thing here as overtaking is tricky. 19:51 In terms of strategy it's a balance between two and three stops. Degradation hasn't been too bad on the super-soft tyres this weekend while several teams have struggled to get the most out of the mediums. I suspect most pit walls will react to events on the track and their rivals, finding clear space on this track is crucial to going quick. 19:50 And one final car to keep an eye on this evening is the safety car. It's made an appearance at all five races here in Singapore so the odds are on that we'll see it this evening. 19:48 Another man to keep an eye on today is Kimi Raikkonen starting from 13th. He's suffering from a bad back this weekend but has been on pain killers to help him through the sessions. 19:45 The big question at the start is whether Nico Rosberg can get ahead of Vettel away from the grid. He qualified just 0.091s off Vettel after the Red Bull driver opted not to do two runs in Q3. He's confident of good race pace, but Vettel has a fresh set of super-softs waiting in his garage after his gamble yesterday and it's really his race to lose. 19:43 Sebastian Vettel as confident as ever after arriving his pole position. Apparently his drinks tube wasn't working, but the bottle wasn't in place, so no major concerns. Drinks are important here as it can run to two hours here, although it'll be more like tea than the cool water they'll be hankering for. 19:42 David Beckham is among the celebrities on the grid. Bernie Ecclestone is giving him the guided tour. I'd love to listen in on the small talk. 19:38 Welcome to ESPN's live coverage of the Singapore Grand Prix. The cars are on their way to the grid as I type ahead of what is always a fascinating, and long, race. |
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Lap 1 |
Rosberg gets a great start but goes too deep into Turn 1 and allows Vettel to get back ahead. Alonso makes an immense start to take third. Hamilton battling with Massa for sixth. So Vettel leads after keeping a cool head in the opening corners. Alonso is looking very racey in third place and will attack the Mercedes of the next few laps. Webber is fourth ahead of Grosjean and Hamilton. |
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Lap 2 |
Hamilton managed to get past Massa at Turn 7 on the last lap but will have to give the place back as he ran wide on the exit of the corner. He gives it back but is immediately back on the attack. Massa manages to keep him at bay this time into Turn 7 but the Mercedes will have the DRS on the next lap. Meanwhile, Vettel leads by 1.9s at the front. Alonso is 1.1s off the Mercedes at the start of this lap. |
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Lap 3 |
Vettel is streets ahead here and extends his gap to 4.1s. This is looking very one-sided. Rosberg takes some consolation from taking an extra tenth of a second over Alonso. Raikkonen is looking very racey behind Gutierrez as they battle over 11th place. That Lotus is quick and Raikkonen currently has enough adrenaline to block out the pain from his back. |
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Lap 4 |
Vettel extends his lead again to 5.6s. Rosberg has a 1.7s lead over Alonso. Webber told to look after his tyres and manage his 1.3s gap to Alonso. Grosjean was only 0.6s off Webber across the line and could have an advantage by looking after his tyres on the Lotus. |
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Lap 5 |
A replay of Alonso's start shows he just braved it out around the outside in Turn 1 at the start and took several stabs at the corner to induce the front end of his Ferrari into the corner. Raikkonen has passed Gutierrez for 11th. Vettel reminded that there is the potential for safety car and to save his tyres. That will be in case he can switch from a three-stop to a two-stopper. |
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Lap 6 |
Vettel leads by 6.2s from Rosberg. Webber is told to keep a two second gap to Alonso in third to look after his tyres. Plenty of radio chatter from Red Bull about the tyres at this early stage, which suggests they are keeping their strategy options open. Raikkonen is the man to watch, though, as he cruises up behind Perez in 10th. The McLaren is being bottled up behind Hulkenberg but doesn't look like he has the pace to attempt a pass. |
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Lap 7 |
Vettel levels out his advantage at 6.6s now. He can afford to save fuel and tyres now, such is his advantage in pace. Grosjean is keeping within a second of Webber, but judging by the Red Bull radio Webber has pace in hand and is minding his tyres. |
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Lap 8 |
Michael says: "Alonso overtook grojean off track at turn 1 at start did not give back place, Hamilton had to give back place to massa." I don't think he did. It looked like he kept all four wheels on the track at all times - that is the key. If you mean on the start straight, then the rules tend to be bent a bit to avoid accidents. The corners are where the stewards take action. The best battle we have at the moment is between Raikkonen and Perez for tenth, but the McLaren is keeping the Lotus at bay so far. Vettel now leads by 7.0s. This is rather embarrassing for the rest of the field. |
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Lap 9 |
Rosberg takes a couple of tenths out of Vettel but don't read too much into it. |
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Lap 10 |
Vettel regains his 7.1s lead over Rosberg, so that was just a minor blip on the previous lap. Grosjean is still 0.9s off Webber as the Red Bull drops to over 2.0s off Alonso, which is where he was told to station his car. Hamilton, meanwhile, is 1.1s adrift of Massa and not looking likely to challenge. |
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Lap 11 |
Vettel allows the gap to slip to 7.1s but there is definitely some fuel and tyre management going on out there. After several laps stuck behind Perez, Raikkonen has opted to stop early and take on another set of super-softs. Expect some quick laps from him now he has some clear track. I'm going to be cheeky and suggest it looks a little like Alonso's 2008 strategy for Renault (JOKE!). |
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Lap 12 |
Back at the front, Vettel is maintaining his 7.1s lead as Alonso sets the fastest lap so far to pull in Rosberg by 0.1s. Gutierrez and Vergne pit in a reaction to Raikkonen's move. Hamilton misses the apex for Turn 2 after a lock-up at Turn 1. No advantage gained, but a sign that Hamilton is pushing and still stuck down in seventh. |
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Lap 13 |
Massa pits now. A reasonably clean stop and he takes on medium tyres. Raikkonen is making use of his fresh tyres to pass Bottas as he picks his way back through the backmarkers. |
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Lap 14 |
Webber complaining with trouble with his rears and he pits. Meanwhile, his team-mate has just set the fastest lap of the race. Button and Hulkenberg also pit. Gutierrez is now the fastest man on the track after his pit stop. He's 3.8s behind Raikkonen who he is fighting for position. |
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Lap 15 |
Hamilton told his pace is good and to keep doing what he is doing. Alonso now pits and takes on the medium tyres as Massa did two laps earlier. Alonso comes out behind di Resta, but should fins a way past quickly. Perez has also pitted. It will be interesting to see where he comes out in relation to Raikkonen, who was behind him on track when he pitted. |
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Lap 16 |
Rosberg pits and medium tyres are waiting for him. Vettel continues on his merry way. Hamilton is also pitting. Webber is now 1.4s behind Alonso who remains stuck behind di Resta. Grosjean pits too. Raikkonen did get ahead of Perez, who is now in a big battle with Hulkenberg behind Maldonado, who hasn't pitted. |
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Lap 17 |
Hamilton has managed to leap-frog Massa in those pit stops, that's a big position for him after having to give it back on the first lap. Alonso is still stuck behind di Resta, this is costing him a lot of time. Vettel will pit this lap. |
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Lap 18 |
In comes Vettel. He has plenty of time in hand over Rosberg, takes on a fresh set of mediums and Rosberg is the whole length of the pit straight behind him now. Hamilton told he will go four laps longer on this tyres - so that will be about 19-20 laps. He's told to pressure Grosjean in front of him in 10 laps time. Alonso's chances of beating Rosberg are going out the window as he continues to be bottled behind di Resta. Good effort by the Force India driver who has now done 18 laps on his set of super-softs. |
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Lap 19 |
Hulkenberg was told to give a place back to Perez after leaving the track at Turn 7 during their earlier battle. That seems incredibly harsh as he was ahead at the time and had nowhere else to go. Staying on the track would have caused a collision. Either way, Perez is up to 11th now. |
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Lap 20 |
Vettel's lead is now 8.5s over Rosberg, who is 5.5s clear of the di Resta/Alonso battle. Hamilton complains that his tyres feel horrible. Mercedes respond saying the pace feels good, but Grosjean is 2.4s ahead. Grosjean is now being held up behind Webber. and losing time as a result. |
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Lap 21 |
Di Resta eventually pits. Great stint on those super-softs but Alonso is now free to attempt to close the gap to Rosberg. It now stands at 7.5s. He is 1.4s ahead of Webber who has Grosjean on his tail. Right now the super-softs seem like the better tyre. Grosjean is on those so needs to make the most of this period of speed, because Webber ahead and Hamilton behind are on mediums and will use the super-softs to finish the race. |
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Lap 22 |
Anton says:" I think the Hulkenberg decision was incredibly stupid. Why does he have to give back a position to a guy who he was never behind? I don't think there was a single point where Sergio Perez could have said he was even marginally ahead of the Sauber." I agree. Vettel is now 9.0s ahead of Rosberg, who has extended his lead over Alonso to 8.1s. Raikkonen has reported a problem with his car, but Lotus say they cannot see the issue on the telemetry. |
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Lap 23 |
Vettel is cruising again. He has no issues with the medium compound tyres and is making the most of them with a 9.5s lead. Grosjean is faster than Webber in sector 1 but loses time in sector 2. That may be down to the DRS. He's not close enough to attempt a move though. |
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Lap 24 |
Hamilton is also biding his time, 1.2s off Grosjean. It might be dull on track but Tom Jones is entertaining the Lotus garage by taking a seat among the pit crew. I hope they don't put him on the radio to Raikkonen. |
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Lap 25 |
Vettel's lead is now 10.9s over Rosberg. He looks so comfortable that only a problem or a safety car can dent his lead now.
This is about to get a lottle bit more interesting. Ricciardo just didn't get the turn in he was after and then when he realised he locked his brakes and hit the wall. Pure driver error. |
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Lap 26 |
Alonso and Grosjean pit. Massa also pits as do a whole load of the midfield including both McLarens and Raikkonen. Vettel Rosberg, Webber and Hamilton did not pit. Raikkonen loses time waiting for cars to pass in the pit lane. All the cars that didn't pit are on mediums so this should be interesting as Alonso and Grosjean take on super-softs. The vanity panel of Ricciardo's Toro Rosso is swinging from the crash barrier. It will take a little while for the marshals to set the barrier straight. |
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Lap 27 |
Vettel is now behind the safety car with Rosberg right on his tail. There's a Marussia between Rosberg and Webber but he should be allowed to unlap himself. Hulkenberg is still complaining about having to let Perez pass. I can see why he's aggrieved and that message is going out across the airwaves as direct criticism towards the stewards. |
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Lap 28 |
Alonso rejoined fourth so that stop worked well for him. Grosjean is behind and di Resta, who made a late first stop and has leapfrogged through the field to seventh. Raikkonen held position in tenth despite his slow stop. The unlapped cars have been sent on their way. So Webber will be directly behind Rosberg when we restart, probably at the end of the next lap. |
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Lap 29 |
It was only the two Marussias who had been lapped. But it's important for their battle with Caterham for them to catch up with the back of the pack again. There is a chance this race might be cut short as it approaches the two hour mark, that's another spanner in the works for strategy. |
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Lap 30 |
The safety car is staying out for another laps while the Marussias catch up to the back of the pack. This is not a great spectacle. The passing rule is pretty flawed on a long circuit like this. Safety car in this lap. Vettel backs up the pack and starts to warm up his tyres. |
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Lap 31 |
Di Resta is also under pressure from Massa, Di Resta's tyres are much older than Massa's. DRS won't be activated for another lap. |
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Lap 32 |
Vettel is straight back to business as usual with a 3.2s lead over Rosberg. Webber is 0.8s off the Mercedes. It's very tight from Hamilton back with all the cars separated by less than a second. Vettel told to push on his tyres, even though they are older than those on two stops behind him. Hamilton says he feels like his front right is losing pressure after hitting debris. Mercedes say the tyre pressures are normal. |
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Lap 33 |
Vettel sets another fastest lap to go 5.5s clear. DRS is activated for cars within a second of the cars in front. But still no one is close enough to attempt a pass, even Massa behind di Resta, who is looking in a very strong position now. It seems as though those who stopped under the safety car has done themselves no favours. |
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Lap 34 |
Grosjean pits with a problem with air pressure. This has ruined his race as a Renault engineer fills a hatch on the side of the car. What a shame for him. |
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Lap 35 |
Vettel already has the lead back up to 9.9s. Rosberg is 1.3s clear of Webber who has Hamilton 0.9s back. |
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Lap 36 |
It looks like Rosberg is managing his tyres at the moment. We're expecting another stop from him, but just does not have the pace at the moment and is backing up the cars behind him. A good point made over the Ferrari radio to Alonso that di Resta has to make another stop as he;s gone super-soft/super-soft so far and needs to use the medium. We were expecting him to make another stop anyway, but he is essentially out of position at the moment. |
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Lap 37 |
Vettel now has a lead of 14.3s over Rosberg and still going faster. Webber remains 1.2s off Rosberg, who has Hamilton 1.1s behind. Then Alonso is the first driver in the DRS zone behind Hamilton. As are all the cars back to Hulkenberg behind him. |
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Lap 38 |
Rosberg told he has rubber lodged in his front wing, which is losing him downforce. That explains why he is losing over two seconds a lap to Vettel and has Webber on his tail. Marc says: "Is it possible that this race is so incredibly boring? Apart from Alonso's start... what else is there?Safety car and 5 laps later Vet has 10" on Ros. No fun." Grosjean is about to retire due to that air consumption issue. The team tried to do some running repairs but the problem is terminal. |
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Lap 39 |
Vettel sets another fastest lap to go 18.7s clear. Webber is 1.2s behind. For those asking, F1 cars run pneumatic valves, so that is most likely the reason why the air top up was needed on Grosjean's car. The problem proved terminal. |
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Lap 40 |
Rosberg is setting personal best times but is still 1.6s off Vettel's pace. Webber has steadied himself 1.5s off the back of Rosberg and is not looking like he will attempt a move anytime soon. |
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Lap 41 |
Vettel's lead is now 22.1s over Rosberg as Webber pits. Clean stop for Webber and Sutil is also coming in. Hamilton told to push to see if he can leapfrog Webber in the stops. Webber has some clean air and fresh tyres so that will be tough. |
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Lap 42 |
Rosberg told to pit to cover off Webber. In he comes. Nice clean stop for Rosberg but he comes out just behind Webber. Sorry, reports from the pit lane that Rosberg had a bit of a slow stop there, so that helps to explain why he lost the position. |
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Lap 43 |
Di Resta pits and comes out ahead of Massa, great work by the Force India pit crew. They have really made use of the safety car this evening. |
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Lap 44 |
Hamilton pits now. A bit of a slow stop for him too and he comes out behind Rosberg and just ahead of di Resta. Alonso is now up to second, will he pit soon or try to eke his tyres out to the end? |
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Lap 45 |
Vettel pits. That was a much better stop at 2.8s. He returns comfortably in the lead from Alonso. Vettel is now on fresh super-softs so should be able to race off into the distance. Alonso's times are good at the moment, he's faster than Webber and Rosberg, further down the road. He may not be going to the end but this is still working to his advantage. |
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Lap 46 |
As I type Alonso's pace drops quite dramatically on that lap. Maybe now is the time. Of course we can't see exactly what traffic they are hitting on these laps. The McLarens may also be aiming to go to the end here. All of a sudden we have a race as Webber, Rosberg and Hamilton all need to pick their way through the field on their new tyres. |
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Lap 47 |
Raikkonen is also looking good on his mediums behind Button in third place. These two are racing for position and possibly a podium if they can race until the end. |
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Lap 48 |
Vettel leads by 9.3s but all the focus is now on Alonso who is still setting competitive times and may not need to pit again. Webber and Rosberg are now picking up their pace and about to arrive on the back of the Saubers who want to try to make the end of the race. Webber is on the back of Gutierrez now but the Sauber is not going to make it easy. In reference to Grosjean's issue, Steven says: "You perhaps need to clarify: pneumatic valve springs, not pneumatic valves" No, the spring has been done away with by the pneumatic system. |
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Lap 49 |
Webber gets the move done on Gutierrez into Turn 7. Rosberg follows him through at Turn 9. Hamilton gets the move done coming out of Turn 13. That was relatively easy but the cars in front are going to get more and more difficult to pass. Hulkenberg up next. |
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Lap 50 |
Alonso is still lapping in the 1:51.2s he looks comfortable at the moment and should be locked on for second place. Button is 8.4s behind the Ferrari but has Raikkonen right on his tail. |
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Lap 51 |
Raikkonen is agonisingly close to Button's gearbox and pushing hard as he locks up into Turn 1. Button will be so determined to hold off the Lotus and take McLaren's first podium of the season. Webber has a 6.0s gap to Hulkenbery but is 1.9s a lap faster with 10 laps remaining. Then he will target Perez another 1.6s down the road. |
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Lap 52 |
It may sound obvious, but Vettel's performance has been so impressive today. Now that they are not going to pit again, those that made their second stop under the safety car are on a much better strategy. Yet Vettel did not once lose the lead of the race. Stretching a big enough gap over Alonso after the safety car to come out in front again. Raikkonen still all over Button's gearbox. |
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Lap 53 |
Webber is all over the back of Hulkenberg now. But catching is one thing, passing is another. This is a great battle for the final podium position, with Button and Webber separated by just five seconds and four cars. |
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Lap 54 |
Hulkenberg isn't going to give up without a fight. But Webber uses the DRS to pass at Turn 7. Raikkonen is now taking a look at Button too for the final podium place. Raikkonen passes Button around the outside at Turn 14. What a brilliant overtaking move and it was needed now Webber is all over the back of Perez. |
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Lap 55 |
Hulkenberg still has the two Mercedes behind him. Perez defends well from Webber into Turn 7, 8 and 9.
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Lap 56 |
Webber has passed Perez and now passes Button at Turn One. Rosberg and Hamilton are all over Perez. They won't be able to overtake into Turn 7 as the Force India is still being recovered. Webber's next target is Raikkonen who is less than 6.0s ahead of him with five laps remaining. Alonso is another 15.8s down the road. The Mercedes are now scrapping between themselves behind Perez. |
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Lap 57 |
Di Resta's car is now cleared. Overtaking resuemes at Turn 7. But Rosberg has already got the job done on Perez at Turn 1. Webber told to short shift. More problems with the Red Bull gearbox. He's 5.9s off Raikkonen and may have to give up the chase. Rosberg passes Button into Turn 15. Good move as Hamilton gets the job done on Perez at Turn 18. |
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Lap 58 |
Webber told to shift even shorter. He's nursing that car now. Massa passes Perez for eighth now. Webber has now dropped to 6.2s off Raikkonen so the podium looks set. Massa passes Button into Turn 15. Good move again. The McLarens' tyres have fallen to pieces here. |
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Lap 59 |
Webber is losing masses of time. Rosberg is now gaining and has the gap at 4.3s but is 4.0s a lap quicker. With his gearbox issue Webber will become a sitting duck. |
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Lap 60 |
Vettel starts his penultimate lap and should make the full 61 laps now within the time limit. He's 30.5s ahead of Alonso, underlining his dominance. Rosberg is now 1.5s off Webber with Hamilton 2.0s behind. The battle for fourth is not over yet. Rosberg passes Webber with ease. Hamilton also gets by at Turn 13. That Red Bull is just cruising now. |
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Lap 61 |
Vettel wins in Singapore. He crosses the line 32.6s ahead of a great result for Alonso and a brilliant drive from Raikkonen from 13th to 3rd with a bad back. Fireworks over the Marina Bay circuit but there also fireworks from the back of Webber's car as he retired. Rosberg took fourth, Hamilton fifth, Massa sixth, Button seventh, Perez eighth, Hulkenberg ninth and Sutil tenth. Webber hitches a ride back to the pits on Alonso's sidepod. That's great to see but a shame for Webber after such a hard fought race. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vettel starts his final lap as smoke comes from the rear of Webber's Red Bull. He may lose more positions still. Massa passes Webber for sixth, the McLarens are up next. Vettel is taking it easy too as flames comes from the back of Webber's car. |
And we might just get one, because Ricciardo is in the wall at T18.
The safety car is out on track.
Vettel leads comfortably at the restart from Rosberg, Webber and Hamilton, who has Alonso on fresh tyres behind him. That's the battle to keep an eye on.
