Thereafter it is going to be all about tyre strategy, as it has been all year.
This is such a punishing race. If you decide to try to eke out an extra lap,
only to find your tyres drop off a cliff half way around, you are going to
lose masses of time with so many corners to negotiate. Timing your pit stops
right will be absolutely crucial.
Talking points
Singapore is a relatively new race but is firmly established as a must-keep.
The place has real energy and it looks spectacular.
As well as the old colonial buildings, which are so impressive when lit up at
night, there are new developments every year. Sponsors love it, drivers love
it, fans love partying until 5am.
The traffic gets a bit snarled up, but you can see how seriously they want the
race here. I was at a function yesterday with the president of Singapore.
You don’t get many heads of state turning up at grands prix.
Details
Saturday: Qualifying, 2pm
Sunday: Race, 1pm
Television:
Qualifying – Sky Sports F1, 1pm; BBC1, 1pm-3.30pm
Race – Sky Sports F1, 11.30am; BBC1, 12.10pm-3.15pm
Circuit
Marina Bay
Laps: 61
Circuit length: 5.073km
2011 winner: Sebastian Vettel.