22/09/2013
NEWS STORY
Mat Coch writes:
Overtaking during today's Singapore Grand Prix could prove nigh on impossible according to Felipe Massa.
Speaking after qualifying the Ferrari driver was less than impressed with the condition of the Marina Bay circuit with dust and build-up off the racing line posing an extra challenge, especially for those on the dirty side of the grid.
"The marbles are a joke to be honest, it's too much," he lamented. "The track is too dirty. I saw the GP2 race today, it was even a bit dangerous."
Circuits are typically swept overnight though following the opening day's practice that didn't appear to have happened, least not to a satisfactory level. That became evident when GP2 took to the track for the first event on Saturday when dust and debris showered fans standing trackside.
"Even before the GP2 race this morning when cars started out we could see already there was yesterday's marbles out there," Pirelli's Paul Hembery told Pitpass. "The quantity that you see is unfortunate because it's a combination of a multitude of races going on and not the level of cleaning that we normally see.
"In other races it'll go to the outside of a corner. Here they're probably going to bounce off a wall and come back on to the track," he added. "So we need to have a chat with the FIA and the circuit about that."
This morning (Sunday) the FIA confirmed the track was swept overnight, though marbles were still clearly visible off line in some parts of the circuit, particularly in the final sector.