Singapore Grand Prix Preview

Well, yet again, Formula One officials have to clean up yet another controversial matter. Renault team principal Flavio Briatore and engineering chief Pat Symonds have left the team with immediate affect for their actions in the Singapore crash scandal. Sacrificing their positions within the team has helped the FIA in only handing the Renault team a two year suspended ban. In my opinion, this is probably the right decision, however I believe Renault have been let off lightly having to fund the costs of the investigation and make a significant contribution to the FIA safety fund. This is in comparison to Mclaren and Ferrari in 2007 in which Mclaren were fined a much more significant amount than Renault. The FIA placed Nelson Piquet Jr. in the same position as Fernando Alonso in 2007, where they offered immunity in exchange for information. Even though I find this fair to discover the truth, the difference is that Piquet actually took action to “cheat”. He was the one to put his foot down and accelerated, even when the wheels were spinning. I understand that Piquet had a poor 2007 season and needed to make sure he had a contract for the following season but why did he not have the guts to say no and stand to his rights as a racing driver to race? I would have much more preferred him to back off and hold half of the field up for Alonso to catch up than to put lives in danger. I know that sounds a little over-exaggerated at a low speed circuit but marshals had to climb over the wall to help retrieve the car and driver and as a result putting themselves in danger. In addition, small pieces of debris could have hit anyone on the side of the track. To purposely do something like this seems foolish but that is the price of success in Formula One in my opinion. Teams like Audi (DTM) and SEAT (WTCC) have been accused of over-using team orders to get their drivers to the front but have never crashed on purpose to improve another car’s position.

Symonds is probably the only person to come out of this with any dignity. The way he did not accept immunity but still gave information shows that he is willing to take some responsibility for his actions. He has been banned from FIA-sanctioned motorsport for five years, which will take him away from a sport which he was highly respected in. I hope he can return after his ban because he is one of the best engineers in present Formula One and possibly its history.


Ironically, it is now time for the 2009 Singapore Grand Prix. Yet again, this will be a race under darkness. Brawn GP is expected to be strong as they were on the street circuits of Valencia and Monaco along with the Mclarens, especially Lewis Hamilton. Rubens Barrichello will have to take it easy as he already has a damaged gearbox and will not want to be forced into a five-place grid penalty. This was damaged when he had to force the car away from the grid in Spa. I feel Jenson Button will be in a great position to try and extend his 14 point championship lead. He bounced back from a series of poor races to claim a podium at Monza. Barrichello is the closest man to him in the championship and will need Jenson to suffer in the remaining races to take the title. They are both great mates and either driver will deserve the championship. Jenson has been strong for most of the year and won six of the first seven races. Rubens, on the other hand, has had to work hard in the first half of the season whilst watching Button win races, and has turned his season around with two victories in Valencia and Italy. My prediction is for Rubens to close the gap in the drivers’ championship but not by much.


Congratulations to new Formula Renault 3.5 champion Bertrand Baguette, who has clinched the title ahead of Toro Rosso star Jaime Alguersuari with a round to spare. Baguette and GP2 champion Nico Hulkenburg have both showed their class this season. With the extra spaces in Formula One next season, there must be room for these two drivers to be given their chance to shine. Another champion crown has been Andy Soucek, who is the first driver of the modern era to be crowned as the Formula 2 champion. In a season that will be remembered due to its return and the tragic death of rising star Henry Surtess, Soucek has kept his head and lead the field since round two to win the title.


And finally, BMW Sauber has announced an engine and gearbox supply deal with Ferrari. This is the first part of what I mentioned in a previous blog (see Italian Grand Prix). Now we have to wait and see if a Fisichella drive will be part of the deal to keep the Italian race sharp.