17/09/2017
NEWS STORY
The back cover of the 1993 Belgian Grand Prix race programme showed Ayrton Senna sitting in his McLaren-Ford, his eyes closed and hands together as if in prayer.
"Please, let it rain," were the words across the top of the advert which was for Marlboro.
Following yesterday's rout, one can imagine that Lewis, Valtteri, Toto and Niki adopted similar poses and uttered similar cries.
Their prayers - unlike Senna's - may well have been answered.
A number of heavy storms, ok, let's say 'of biblical proportions', have lashed the circuit today and it is almost certain that even if there are no further downpours the opening phase of the race will still be compromised.
That said, in the nine previous visits to Singapore F1 hasn't had so much as a wet session far less a wet race, so there is a chance that Mercedes prayers may have been in vain.
Then again, perhaps Ferrari headed off to mass and called on the powers that be to give it a break after the misery of Monza.
Assuming it's business as usual and normal conditions prevail, today represents a major opportunity for Ferrari to score a much needed win over Mercedes and for Sebastian Vettel to retake the title lead.
However, ignoring the threat from the Red Bull duo, this will require strong starts from both Ferrari drivers and Kimi Raikkonen keeping the Silver Arrows at bay. Never before, has the Finn had such an opportunity to show his team spirit than he will today by riding shotgun for his teammate.
Vettel's pole-grabbing lap was breath-taking and clearly took a lot out of the German. However, he will have to dig deep again today if he is to hold off a pair of Bulls who are positively ravenous for victory and have the means of achieving their goal.
What we don't want however, is for the race to be decided by a case of red mist on the first lap, so extreme caution is advised, the race won't be won on the first lap but it can be lost.
Having set the pace in every practice session, the Bulls had every right to assume pole would be theirs also, but the brilliance of Vettel, turning the Ferrari power unit up to 11 and sterling work in the sim back at Maranello meant the apple cart was well and truly upset.
Consequently, Vettel will have his hands full today.
As if all this wasn't enough, behind the Prancing Horses, Bulls and Silver Arrows, we have Nico Hulkenberg who has a revived McLaren duo hard on his heels, the Woking outfit looking good for its second double points finish of the season.
Much has been made of how tight the midfield is this season, and never has that become more apparent than this weekend, with the Pink Panthers, Toro Rossos and Renaults set for battle on a day when Williams could find its fifth place in the standings very much under threat.
Like Haas, Williams has had a difficult weekend, and Monza, where both drivers finished in the points, must seem a lifetime ago.
Assuming it remains dry - and there remain some ominous looking clouds - Pirelli believes that, like last year, a one-stopper is the best, with an opening stint of 19 laps on the ultrasofts and then on to the flag on supersofts. Alternatively, one could run an opening stint of 14 laps on ultrasofts and then switch to softs.
On the other hand, there's the two-stop option, with an opening 13-lap stint on ultrasofts, then two 24-laps stints on supersofts.
The pitlane opens and the cars begin to head out as Safety Car driver Bernd Maylander confirms that though the track was damp it is now completely dry.
No sooner have the words left the German's lips than very large drops of rain begin to fall. 15 minutes until start time... and moments later, Race Control confirms there is a 100% chance of rain.
Air temperature is 28 degrees C, while the track temperature is 32 degrees, which will soon dry any of those naughty rain drops. Humidity is 78%.
A real mixture of wets and Inters. Vettel, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Raikkonen, Hamilton, Bottas, Sainz, Kvyat, Grosjean and Stroll on Inters, the rest on full wets.
The field heads off on the warm-up laps, smoke billowing from one of the Toro Rossos. There are no signs of standing water, nonetheless, the cars leave a wall of spray behind them. "It's difficult to see," admits Raikkonen.
They're away and within moments it's carnage. Both Ferraris make great starts, as does Verstappen. However, the Red Bull is the meat in the sandwich and as we've seen before three into two rarely works. Vettel moves to the right and clouts Verstappen with Raikkonen, coming in from the left, also hitting the Red Bull but with far more force. The Finn loses the rear of his car and slams into the rear of his teammate.
The damage to Raikkonen and Verstappen's cars following the initial incident leaves them passengers, and as they career off into T1 they collide again, the Ferrari T-boning the Dutchman who in the melee spears the McLaren of Alonso sending the Spaniard spinning through the air.
Meanwhile, Vettel has spun, the German appearing to have lost it on fluid leaking from his own car following that clash with Raikkonen. He reverses, and finally turns around at which point the damage to his car is obvious and terminal
"I got damage, I got damage," warns Verstappen, just before he is clouted again. "What the **** did they do? Ridiculous!" says Raikkonen.
"I spun, and lost the car," says Vettel. "I think I have damage, sorry guys, sorry. I'm really sorry."
The Safety Car is deployed.
As the stewards announce they are investigating the incident, Hamilton leads from Ricciardo, Hulkenberg, Perez, Bottas, Palmer, Vandoorne, Ocon, Sainz and Magnussen. At the end of lap 1, the Safety Car leads the field through the pitlane.
Weather or no weather, Hamilton's payers have been answered, not only is he leading, his title rival is out.
Alonso, who clearly suffered damage in that first corner incident, is still running.
As Hamilton is warned that he merely needs to get the car home, the stewards announce that the Vettel, Verstappen and Raikkonen incident will be investigated after the race.
The Safety Car pulls off at the end of lap 4,
At the re-start, Palmer catches Bottas napping to take 5th from the Mercedes driver. Both Renaults in the top five.
"VER took Kimi out and then he went to Seb," tweets Ferrari.
Bottas is now under attack from Vandoorne, the Finn clearly struggling.
Out front, Hamilton posts a fastest lap (2:05.121) as he enjoys a 3.778s lead over Ricciardo.
Sainz is off at T2 but continues, as it is claimed that it has stopped raining in the pitlane.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Singapore, here.
As Stroll harries a defiant Alonso, Vettel arrive back in the paddock, helmet still firmly in place.
Clearly struggling, and why not considering the impact of that crash, Alonso is passed by the Williams duo. To make matters worse when the Spaniard asks what his chances are of continuing he is told that the team has lost data and that he effectively has to fend for himself.
Asked about tyres, Ricciardo is adamant that Inters remain the way to go.
As Sainz shadows Ocon, Bottas is making up ground on Palmer, the Finn on Inters while the Briton is on full wets.
"No power, I think we have to stop," says Alonso, the Spaniard subsequently told to return to the pits.
Great move sees Sainz take 8th from Ocon, the Spaniard on Inters, the Frenchman on wets.
As the Inters come into their own, Magnussen is about to be picked off by Kvyat and the Williams duo who are running together.
Out come the yellows as Kvyat goes into the barriers. As the Russian tells his team "I'm sorry", the Safety Car is deployed again.
Ricciardo, Perez and Ocon all pit, as does Magnussen. The Australian rejoins in third still on Inters. For reasons best known to themselves, Renault leave both their drivers out on the full wets.
Next time around, Hulkenberg pits as does Palmer and Vandoorne. The Renault pair rejoin in 5th and 7th, with Vandoorne 9th. However, the Belgian is immediately involved in a tussle with Massa which sees the two bangs wheels.
"Has everybody changes tyres except me," asks Hamilton. "Not sure that was such a good idea," he adds. He is told that whatever Mercedes did, the opposition would have reacted to it.
As the Safety Car withdraws at the end of lap 14, only the Mercedes duo has yet to pit.
No surprises at the re-start, though Ricciardo is a lot closer to Hamilton. Prior to this, the Australian was clearly unhappy at the amount of track the Mercedes driver was using as he generated heat into his tyres. At one point he passed the Briton.
In one lap, Hamilton builds a 1.996s lead.
"Definitely harder to drop him (Ricciardo) since he's on those fresh new tyres," he subsequently complains.
Grosjean is under intense pressure from Massa, Ocon and Magnussen. The Brazilian, on wets, does well to hold off an insistent Ocon.
Magnussen makes a great move on Ocon as the Frenchman focusses on Massa up ahead.
The scrap for 11th between Magnussen, Ocon and Massa continues, the Haas and Williams touch as the Force India keeps a watching eye.
At the end of lap 17, Massa pits to switch to Inters. He rejoins in 15th (of 15).
After 17 laps, we've still to see anyone break the 2m barrier.
While Ricciardo is making no impression on Hamilton but is pulling away from Bottas, fourth placed Sainz is under pressure from Hulkenberg.
"Some parts are drying, but the wet parts are still too wet," replies Ricciardo when asked about conditions.
As Stroll does well to keep it out of the wall, but loses position to Vandoorne, Hamilton posts a 2:00.985.
"Tyres are still good, but the track is drying... very slowly..." confirms Hamilton.
Massa picks off Wehrlein with ease to take 14th. The German subsequently pits switching from the wets to Inters.
"No more rain expected," Vandoorne is told at the end of lap 22.
At the end of lap 24, Magnussen is the first driver to pit for slicks, the Dane emerging on ultrasofts. Massa does likewise.
Moments earlier, there was interesting exchange between Hulkenberg and his team. "We think in the event of a safety car it would be dry tyres, please confirm," the German is asked. "Er, sceptical about that," he replies, "behind a safety car you'd lose too much temperature. There are still a lot of wet patches."
Hamilton posts 1:59.852 as he laps a slick-shod Massa.
After Massa confirms conditions are fine for slicks, Stroll pits to take on the purple-banded rubber.
A new fastest lap from Hamilton (59.350) as Magnussen looks set to go quicker.
"This track is still very greasy," warns Hamilton. "These tyres are still good."
Sainz and Vandoorne pit at the end of lap 27, as do Grosjean and Ocon. A poor stop for the Belgian.
Sainz and Ericsson also pit.
As he posts a new fastest lap (58.659), Magnussen is letting nothing get in his way, even his Haas teammate.
Ricciardo pits next time around, as do Bottas, Hulkenberg and Perez.
Despite still being on Inters, Hamilton posts 58.469.
"Box, box, box, box," Hamilton is told and at the end of lap 29 he obliges. He rejoins on ultras ahead of Ricciardo as Palmer pits.
A new fastest lap, this time for Vandoorne, who crosses the line at 54.376.
With everyone on slicks, after 30 laps, it's: Hamilton, Ricciardo, Bottas, Hulkenberg, Sainz, Perez, Palmer, Vandoorne, Stroll and Magnussen.
Vandoorne makes a great move on Palmer, but the Briton is having absolutely none of it and subsequently retakes the place. After all, he has a point to prove.
Now it's Hulkenberg who goes quickest, the German posting 53.649 as he pursues Bottas who is 1.151s ahead. 6.4s behind, Sainz is battling Perez. The Spaniard is the only driver on supers, though Ericsson is on softs.
Perez is trying every trick in the book, but Sainz appears to have him covered. Nonetheless, immense pressure for the Renault-bound Spaniard.
Elsewhere, Ocon storms past Magnussen to take 11th, the Frenchman setting off after the second Haas up the road. Offered some friendly advice by his crew, Magnussen replies: "Shut up!" It could have been worse.
25.315s down on his teammate, Bottas posts a new fastest lap (49.018).
Sainz clearly went to the same Charm School as Magnussen, for when told he might have an issue with his battery, he urges his team: "Shut up, shut up please!"
A spin for Ericsson on the bridge who then clouts the barriers. The Safety Car is deployed for the third time.
Massa takes the opportunity for a pit stop.
All OK Marcus?" he is asked. "No, it's over," he replies.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Singapore, here.
Hamilton queries the deployment of the Safety Car. "Why?" he asks. "Surely another VSC would work."
Hulkenberg and Ocon pit, but it is clearly something a little more serious for the German. Magnussen also pits.
Hulkenberg rejoins in 10th. Bad news for the German but it promotes his teammate to 6th.
Despite the deployment of the Safety Car, there is no sign of Ericsson's car being removed.
Hamilton is now concerned at the speed of the Safety Car, worried about his tyre temperatures.
For the third time this afternoon, Ricciardo gets a bite at the cherry, can he actually capitalise on it this time around.
At the end of lap 41 the Safety Car pulls off. This time the re-start witnesses a lot more urgency.
Massa makes a great move to snatch 13th from Magnussen.
As Ricciardo hounds Hamilton, Bottas is right behind the Red Bull. Elsewhere, the Sainz/Perez battle resumes.
In 8th, Stroll appears to be the cork in the bottle, with Grosjean, Hulkenberg, Ocon and Massa all seeking to escape.
Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (47.133).
Once again, Hamilton appears to have it all under control, as he posts a string of fastest lap, Ricciardo is under increasing pressure from Bottas.
That said, a mistake on lap 45 sees Ricciardo close the gap, posting a new fastest lap in the process (46.999).
"We want to keep the field compressed," Hamilton is told, "we don't want to give anyone a free stop if there's another safety car." When Hamilton replies: "I don't get your tactics, it doesn't feel comfortable driving off pace", he is told: "OK, you dictate the pace."
Due to the Safety Car periods the race will end at 2 hours and will not go the full 61 laps.
"Maximum focus now, let others make mistakes," Vandoorne is told.
At the end of lap 48 Hulkenberg pits again, and it could well be terminal. Indeed it is, the German is pushed into his garage.
With 11:24 remaining, Perez and Palmer are closing in on Sainz.
"Oh, for **** sake," exclaims Magnussen, as he is told to slow with what appears to be an MGU-K issue. The Dane subsequently pits to leave 13 drivers still running.
With 4 minutes remaining, Bottas is just 2.110s behind Ricciardo who is now 4.299s down on the race leader. The Finn subsequently posts a new fastest lap (45.405).
Hamilton responds with a 45.008.
The Briton crosses the line with 0:04 on the clock, and therefore the race goes another lap to 58.
Hamilton takes the flag, and with it a mighty 28 point lead over title rival Vettel.
"Get in there Lewis," comes the call over the radio. "What an awesome drive! Can't wish for better." "What can I say?" he replies. "Thank you so much for the hard work and continued belief. What a great day!"
A great day for a number of drivers according to the various shouts of joy as the drivers head back to the pitlane.
According to the F1 App, a particularly great day for Palmer, who days after learning he is not being retained by Renault for 2018, appears to have taken a win for the Enstone outfit.
Hamilton wins, ahead of Ricciardo, Bottas, Sainz, Perez, Palmer, Vandoorne, Stroll, Grosjean, Ocon, Massa and Wehrlein.
In the ante room the podium men study the first lap incident, wondering where each was when the fireworks began.
"We had no idea what would happen today," admits Hamilton on the podium, "We just tried to stay focussed. Obviously it was very fortunate at the beginning, but I couldn't be happier. I'm very grateful.
"I capitalised on the incident," he continues, "who would have known that would happen? It was unfortunate for Ferrari, but Daniel put up a really good fight, I was hoping I would get to race with Sebastian at the beginning.
"As I got around turn two or turn three, I had Sebastian in front, I thought 'I'm going to have a real race here', but of course it's better the way it is, I'm just glad we brought it home."
"I can't win the bloody thing!" grins Ricciardo, following his fourth podium appearance here, "I'm trying.
"Today we didn't have the Friday pace we showed, so a little disappointed to miss the win, but I have to be grateful to get the podium.
"I watched the chaos unfold in front of me at the start, it just looked like three were trying to go into one. I don't know whose fault it was but it was too close."
"For us it was very good damage limitation, we definitely got lucky," admits Bottas. "I struggled in the wet with the pace but in the dry it was good, better than expected. There's still plenty of races to come and plenty of opportunity, so Sebastian is definitely the next target."
A day of historic proportions, when a few got their prayers answered and others didn't.
Whereas Vettel could have left here leading the championship again, instead he heads to Malaysia trailing Hamilton by 28 points.
And then there's the little matter of possible repercussions following that first lap clash.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Singapore, here.