Published: Wednesday, September 23, 2009
F1: Renault returns to Singapore in shame
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AP Photo/ Mark Baker
Renault mechanics work on Spanish driver Fernando Alonso's car in their team garage as they prepare for Sunday's Singapore Formula One Grand Prix on the Marina Bay City Circuit in Singapore, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009.
SINGAPORE — Renault should have been returning to the site of a triumph at the Singapore Grand Prix. Instead, this weekend's race has become more like revisiting the scene of a crime.
Fernando Alonso won last year's inaugural Singapore GP against the odds, and thinks the team may be poised for another breakthrough on Sunday.
But recent revelations that Renault teammate Nelson Piquet Jr. deliberately crashed in last year's race to help engineer Alonso's victory means that win will forever be tainted.
Renault arrives in Singapore minus its colorful team principal Flavio Briatore — who has been banned indefinitely for his involvement in what has been dubbed "Crashgate" — and also without chief engineer Pat Symonds, serving a five-year ban.
Without those two to oversee operations, and without so much as a podium finish all season, a repeat win in 2009 would appear highly unlikely.
Alonso, however, believes the high downforce, tight and twisty Singapore street circuit just may provide an opportunity for some postrace champagne celebrations.
"The car is working well at most circuits so I believe we are competitive enough to get close to the podium, which has to be my target this weekend," Alonso said.
"I like (the Singapore circuit) because it's quite challenging and there are some interesting corners like the high-speed chicane at turn 10 where you have to carry a lot of speed and use the curbs.
"Overtaking isn't easy in Singapore, but there are some opportunities."
Singapore will provide a marked contrast to the previous two F1 stops, in Belgium and Italy. Those races favored outright speed and saw the Mercedes-powered teams Brawn GP, McLaren and even the previously point-shy Force India dominate at Monza, along with Ferrari.
However, those cars will not have many opportunities to get up to speed around the stop-start Marina Bay circuit, where being nimble and having grip are more important.
That may breathe some life back into the fading title challenge of Red Bull and its drivers Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel. With only three races remaining after Singapore, they must finish ahead of the Brawn pairing of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello if they are to force their way back into contention.
Another consideration in Singapore is the chance of rain. Before the 2008 race, there were many reservations expressed about the combination of a night race and rain, with light reflecting off the track, creating glare and reducing visibility. Rain held off in 2008, but scattered thunderstorms are forecast throughout the weekend.
Button leads the drivers' standings with 80 points, 14 ahead of Barrichello. However, he is winless in the past six races and is rapidly being hauled in by his veteran Brazilian teammate, who has won two of the past three.
Team principal Ross Brawn said the team has made a "significant aerodynamic upgrade" between Italy and Singapore in the hope of maintaining the large buffer its drivers have over the chasing pack.
Fernando Alonso won last year's inaugural Singapore GP against the odds, and thinks the team may be poised for another breakthrough on Sunday.
But recent revelations that Renault teammate Nelson Piquet Jr. deliberately crashed in last year's race to help engineer Alonso's victory means that win will forever be tainted.
Renault arrives in Singapore minus its colorful team principal Flavio Briatore — who has been banned indefinitely for his involvement in what has been dubbed "Crashgate" — and also without chief engineer Pat Symonds, serving a five-year ban.
Without those two to oversee operations, and without so much as a podium finish all season, a repeat win in 2009 would appear highly unlikely.
Alonso, however, believes the high downforce, tight and twisty Singapore street circuit just may provide an opportunity for some postrace champagne celebrations.
"The car is working well at most circuits so I believe we are competitive enough to get close to the podium, which has to be my target this weekend," Alonso said.
"I like (the Singapore circuit) because it's quite challenging and there are some interesting corners like the high-speed chicane at turn 10 where you have to carry a lot of speed and use the curbs.
"Overtaking isn't easy in Singapore, but there are some opportunities."
Singapore will provide a marked contrast to the previous two F1 stops, in Belgium and Italy. Those races favored outright speed and saw the Mercedes-powered teams Brawn GP, McLaren and even the previously point-shy Force India dominate at Monza, along with Ferrari.
However, those cars will not have many opportunities to get up to speed around the stop-start Marina Bay circuit, where being nimble and having grip are more important.
That may breathe some life back into the fading title challenge of Red Bull and its drivers Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel. With only three races remaining after Singapore, they must finish ahead of the Brawn pairing of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello if they are to force their way back into contention.
Another consideration in Singapore is the chance of rain. Before the 2008 race, there were many reservations expressed about the combination of a night race and rain, with light reflecting off the track, creating glare and reducing visibility. Rain held off in 2008, but scattered thunderstorms are forecast throughout the weekend.
Button leads the drivers' standings with 80 points, 14 ahead of Barrichello. However, he is winless in the past six races and is rapidly being hauled in by his veteran Brazilian teammate, who has won two of the past three.
Team principal Ross Brawn said the team has made a "significant aerodynamic upgrade" between Italy and Singapore in the hope of maintaining the large buffer its drivers have over the chasing pack.
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