UBS and Formula 1� announce Global Partnership

UBS and Formula 1� today announced that they have signed an agreement for UBS to become a Global Partner of Formula 1�. The partnership will be formally launched at the 2010 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX, which runs from 24 to 26 September, 2010.

The agreement follows a comprehensive evaluation by UBS of the commercial benefits of all global sponsorship properties. Formula 1� is a year round, highly visible, and popular sport with an especially strong presence in many of UBS�s key growth markets such as Asia, Middle East and Latin America. The long-term partnership will provide excellent branding and hospitality opportunities that fit with UBS�s global footprint and business strategy.

Key benefits of the partnership include;
- Global reach: currently 19 events in 18 countries on 4 continents
- Growth markets: Formula 1� is present and growing strongly in strategically important markets for UBS such as Asia, Middle East and Latin America
- Brand awareness: global television audience in 2009 of more than 520 million people across 187 countries; making Formula 1� one of the most-watched annual sports in the world
- Client entertainment: fascinating opportunities for key client hospitality across the globe
- Year round presence: Formula 1� season lasts eight months of the year

Oswald Gr�bel, UBS Group Chief Executive, said:�UBS has been searching for a global sponsorship platform that has appeal to our clients, promotes our brand globally and makes good commercial sense. Our new partnership with one of the largest and most popular sporting organizations in the world will fulfil all these criteria, and it constitutes a key element of our newly launched branding activities. The global reach of F1� complements the many local activities we support."

Bernie Ecclestone, Group CEO of Formula 1�, said:�UBS is a global company where performance, teamwork and superior execution are integral to their clients� success. These values complement those of Formula 1� and I�m delighted to welcome UBS to Formula 1�.�

In line with all commercial contracts, the financial terms of the agreement will not be disclosed by UBS or Formula 1�. Commercial attractiveness was however a key consideration for UBS and the agreement compares favourably with other forms of brand awareness and client hospitality.

A few words with Jean Todt in Singapore

Motorsports' chief says he wants the sport to once again emphasise drivers' skill


Barring injury or some other huge misfortune, Michael Schumacher will be flying past City Hall in a Mercedes GP car in the third Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix.There is little doubt motorsports fever has hit Singapore, and new FIA president Jean Todt believes the man he brought to Ferrari in 1996 will light up Singapore streets.

Speaking to MediaCorp, Todt said: "Singapore has been very brave to make something nobody expected, a Formula 1 Grand Prix on the street at night. "Michael's return will push a lot more people to come watch the race. His return has already brought more interest, sales for the Australian Grand Prix has increased by 25 per cent since it was announced."

Todt was in Singapore last week, the first stop on his Asian tour from Feb 12-22. The Frenchman, who turns 64 next Thursday, took time off to speak with local media at Changi Airport's CIP terminal while waiting for a flight to Malaysia, where he was due to spend the Lunar New Year weekend with his partner, Malaysian action star Michelle Yeoh, and her family.A permanent race track just off Changi Coast Road will be ready in 2012 and Singaporeans will then have the prospect of watching a round of MotoGP and other car races. There is talk of Singapore becoming a motorsports hub in the region, and Todt said: "It takes time. The Singapore GP was a big challenge, and now Singapore wants to create another facility in a little country to demonstrate its interest in racing.
"The (Singapore) Government has shown great support to facilitate (the organisation of the Singapore GP) and I'm respectful of the ambitious programmes that are going to happen.

Todt succeeded Max Mosley as chief of FIA, motor sports' world governing body, last October.
Safety is big on his agenda, considering he mentioned it a few times last week."Singapore is a high-tech country with a lot of innovation and Singaporeans are more educated than average. I think it can send a strong message to the world on how to implement excellence in road safety," he pointed out.
Like little Singapore, the slightly-built Todt has big plans for motorsports' crown jewel, the Formula 1 World Championship. "F1 is one of the greatest sports shows ever, and we are aiming for improvement ... moving towards a bigger focus on driver skill and less on engineering," he claimed. Some rule changes have already been implemented for the 2010 season, and a few are in accordance with Todt's aims.
A ban on refuelling during races, as well as the requirement for drivers who participate in Q3 (the top 10 positions on the grid) to start the race on the same tyres used to set grid time, will put less emphasis on team strategy and more on driver ability.
Said Todt: "F1 is definitely a rich sport, there is no doubt, but it costs too much money and the teams understand that there needs to be a change and that is among my top priorities, to reduce cost. "We could face a situation where there are not enough competitors otherwise." There are four new teams this season, taking the total number to 13 from 10 in 2009.
But the new FIA president is aware that Formula 1 has been tarnished by Spy-gate, Lie-gate and Crash-gate."Formula 1 has to remain a sport even if it has a lot of commercial and marketing impact. I will do all I can to make sure that the sport is transparent and healthy," vowed Todt.
"The sport cannot allow (actions that) put drivers, marshals and spectators at risk and in danger."He is not just serious about his job, Todt actually enjoys it. En route for reunion dinner in Ipoh with his partner, he said: "I've always had to work a lot, but if you like what you do, you don't need a holiday."

by Shamir Osman

88% of F1 tickets for Singapore Grand Prix already sold

The Singapore Formula One race is slightly more than a week away and while it was a sold-out inaugural race last year attracting some 100,000 spectators, that will not be repeated this year.

Organisers are only offering 83,000 seats this year, and as of today, 88 per cent of tickets have been sold.

With the poor economy, race organisers were already expecting slower ticket sales this year. Despite that, they managed to ramp up sales, which are picking up as the race approaches. Five categories, including the walkabout tickets, have been sold out.

Last year, the very last ticket was sold on race day on Saturday and organisers are hoping the same this year.

Tourism is another area affected by the economic downturn, but the authorities are cautiously optimistic.

Lynette Pang, director, Entertainment, Sports & Arts, Singapore Tourism Board, said: "We are keeping our target the same as last year, in terms of tourism receipts, which is really the important key performance indicator for us - as Singapore Tourism Board.

"We are looking at S$100 million in tourism receipts which is the same as last year. Likewise in terms of visitor attendance, we are keeping it the same as last year at 40 per cent of the total attendance of the three-day race."

Actually, tourism receipts hit S$168 million in 2008 and an estimated 40,000 spectators were foreigners.

In absolute terms, the latest targets will still be a challenge due to the slower response. However, the tourism board hopes to draw more foreign fans using targeted marketing and hitting different demographics.

The situation is not common to Singapore, as many races around the world see a decline in interest after the second year onwards.

Similarly, it will be a challenge for Singapore to drive fans to support the Singapore GP, at least for the next three years, when the current five-year deal ends in 2012.

Komoco lands Ferrari franchise

HOTELIER Ong Beng Seng's motor company Komoco has clinched the Ferrari franchise, ending months of speculation about who will represent the Prancing Horse in Singapore.
Komoco, which currently sells Hyundai and Chrysler cars, will take over from Hong Seh Motors.

The latter, owned by businessman Alfred Tan and son Edward, has held the Ferrari franchise for 25 years.
The Straits Times understands that Ferrari, of Italy, informed Komoco as well as the other contender Premium Automobiles - which sells Audis - of its decision yesterday afternoon.
Premium Automobiles' chief operating officer Marc Singleton said: "We're very disappointed, of course. But it was worth the attempt."
Neither Komoco nor Ferrari was available for comment.
Up to eight parties were said to have been pursuing the franchise, including Mr Andy Goh, brother of Lamborghini dealer Melvin Goh; Porsche dealer Karsono Kwee; and Mr Arthur Tay, who runs leisure group SUTL.
Mr Tay, however, clarified that he was not keen on acquiring the coveted Italian brand, but might want to have "a small stake" in whoever clinches it.
Some quarters reckon Mr Ong's Formula One ties helped seal the deal for Komoco, as Ferrari is strongly associated with the motorsport which the hotelier helped bring to Singapore last year.
Ferrari owners here welcomed the end of the uncertainty revolving around the dealership matter since The Straits Times broke the news in February that Ferrari was looking for a new local agent.
Dr Ben Neo, president of Ferrari Club's Singapore chapter, said: "It's sad for Hong Seh, but we hope Ferrari's decision will be constructive, and we look forward to the new dealer's support."
The club has around 50 members, out of close to 300 Ferrari owners here.
Ferrari prices range from $700,000 to $1 million, and about 20 to 40 cars are sold here a year.
Worldwide, Ferrari sold about 7,000 cars last year.

The new player is expected to have thinner profit margins than Hong Seh, as Ferrari open-market values - roughly the cost price of the car - have started creeping upwards in recent months.
Komoco has been shopping for premises to house the Maranello marque for several weeks now, notably along the Leng Kee Road motor belt.
Sources said it may also have a showroom in Orchard Road, at the Hilton, part of Mr Ong's Hotel Properties stable.
Komoco is expected to operate the Ferrari business under a new name, and should start up in two to three months' time, possibly kicking off with the launch of the California convertible.
The California will be followed by the popular Ferrari F430's replacement, which is expected to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

By Christopher Tan, Senior Correspondent

UPDATE

It is confirmed - Ital Auto, a wholly- owned subsidiary of Komoco Motors, has been picked as the new importer of Ferrari in Singapore.
The Shanghai-based Ferrari Asia Pacific regional office is said to have sent Ital Auto a letter of offer yesterday afternoon.

Subject to agreement, it will bring to a close a much talked-about race among half a dozen competitors who have been ardently wooing the Italian super sports car brand for more than six months.
Ital Auto was set up earlier this year by hotelier Ong Beng Seng and his good friend and long-time business partner, Metro Holdings group managing director Jopie Ong, to bid for the Ferrari dealership.
After beating a field of high-end car distributors and wealthy businessmen, it appears certain that Messrs Ong and Ong will accept the offer to represent the exclusive Italian marque.
If they do so, Ital Auto is expected to appoint Komoco Motors managing director Teo Hock Seng as the dealer principal.
In turn, Mr Teo will likely have to hire a general manager to look after the day-to-day operations.
When that happens, the prancing horse will join an existing stable of automotive marques - Harley Davidson, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Hyundai.
The Ferrari showroom is expected to be housed at the spacious Komoco Motors building on 253 Alexandra Road.
It is understood that the entire facade facing Leng Kee Road will be devoted to Ferrari.
Currently, this section of the building is occupied by the Chrysler and Harley Davidson showrooms.
Most of this space will be taken over for the Ferrari showroom, while the rest is understood to be set aside for the marque's workshop operations.
However, all this is likely be a temporary measure, with the ultimate aim said to be to eventually house the exclusive marque in a more impressive stand-alone facility.
So far, it is understood that the location for this has yet to be identified.

But three years ago, the Italian exotic carmaker undertook a review of its dealer network across the region in an effort to maximise the full potential of the brand.
For Singapore, it invited interested parties to bid for the franchise.
The successful applicant is expected to invest in a new and more visible showroom in the traditional Leng Kee motor belt or the Orchard Road area, as well as beef up after-sales service and customer care programmes.
Last year, only 45 units of Ferrari sports cars were delivered in Singapore, out of the manufacturer's tiny global total of 6,587 units.
But as the Ferrari badge is arguably one of the most desirable in the world, it was no surprise that an unusually large number of parties was vying for the dealership despite the very low volume involved.
They included Hadi Tanaga, the owner of Audi dealer Premium Automobiles, and Karsono Kwee, who represents Porsche and Rolls-Royce, among other brands.
Mr Ong and Mr Tanaga were the two candidates shortlisted by Ferrari a week ago, while Mr Kwee had to bow out of the race much earlier after pressure from Porsche

Singapore Hotels dangle F1 'best rates'

HOTELIERS here are dangling yet another carrot this year to get people to book their rooms early for the second run of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix night race, which is taking place from Sept 25 to 29.
Race organiser Singapore GP has got 29 non-trackside hotels to agree to offer a "Best Rate Guarantee" for the early birds who book in advance. This scheme ensures that the early bird customers do not lose out should hotel room prices fall further closer to the race day.
Last year, during the first run of the race, hoteliers initially priced their rooms very high, leading to poor demand for the rooms. As the rooms remained empty in the weeks leading up to the race, hotels started massive discounting in a last-minute attempt to attract more customers. That led to a situation where those who booked early ended up having to pay higher prices than those who came last minute.
To prevent the same situation from happening again this year and to get people to book now instead of waiting for better deals to materialise, the hotels have come up with such a plan.
Singapore GP said in a statement on Tuesday that the Best Rate Guarantee initiative was a "result of feedback from corporate and general ticket-holders" who were unhappy at being penalised for having to pay a high rate for booking early.
Its chairman Teo Hock Seng called the scheme a "win-win solution" for participating hotels and customers and expects more hotels to join in the coming weeks.
He said: "Hotels will be able to manage their inventory better with early confirmations, while visitors who want to come here to watch the race will also have a greater degree of confidence, instead of having to wait and see whether there will be any last minute price deals."
Hotels across the board are having a difficult time this year with dwindling tourist arrivals as a result of the global economic recession and the global outbreak of H1N1. And the bookings for F1 race dates are trickling in rather slowly despite early bird offers which offer massive discounts on last year's prices.

For more information on the list of participating hotels, go to www.singaporegp.sg or www.visitsingapore.com/sgpseason/hotel_rates.html

A Formula lost

Could the Singapore Grand Prix be collateral damage?

Ian De Cotta

Jun 20, 2009

"SHOCKWAVES from the pull-out of eight marquee teams from next season�s Formula 1 are being felt by fans and race organisers across the world, and Singapore is no exception.In the sport�s biggest upheaval in 60 years, the eight teams including the likes of Ferrari and McLaren-Mercedes have begun preparing for a rival series, after failing to resolve their dispute with motor sport�s governing body.While this should not affect the rest of the season or Singapore�s second F1 race this September, it would mean that from next year, much of the race�s glamour would be gone - along with legendary personalities such as Ross Brawn, and champions Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen.

The Republic is contracted to host the Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix until 2012, and has invested more than $100 million in fees and infrastructure in the first year alone. The annual returns for the economy is estimated to be just as much.How the teams� departure will affect the numbers or whether courting the new series could be an option for Singapore, no one knows yet - and Singapore GP chairman Teo Hock Seng would prefer, for now, to focus on hosting this year�s night race at the Marina Bay Circuit.

�It would not be appropriate for us to comment on the ongoing discussions between the Formula 1 Teams Association (Fota), Formula One Management and the FIA (F�d�ration Internationale de l�Automobile). The exact contractual terms under which the Singapore Grand Prix is staged are confidential,� said Mr Teo. �But we will continue to closely monitor the ongoing developments regarding the 2010 season.

�Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, speaking on the sidelines of the annual Singapore Sports Awards Night on Friday, said: �This is something the teams and the F1 management will have to sort out. We hope they will be able to come to some agreement for the good of motorsport as a whole.

The teams� split from F1 came after talks with the FIA over budget caps and new regulations for next year broke down, on the eve of the British Grand Prix this weekend.The eight outfits, grouped under the Fota umbrella, are Ferrari - a feature in every season since the start of F1 in 1950 - McLaren-Mercedes, BMW Sauber, Renault, Toyota, Red Bull Racing, Toro Rosso and championship leaders Brawn GP.In starting a rival series, they would deprive the F1 of US$2.2 billion ($3.2 billion), which industry research monitor Formula Money estimates is their total yearly investment in the sport.

The bone of contention is a voluntary budget cap of US$40 million on technical developments the FIA is introducing for the 2010 season, to put the brakes on costs. The teams� breakaway has escalated calls for FIA president Max Mosley to step down, with former world champion Jackie Stewart saying: �A lot of people are kind of fed up with his dictatorial attitude.�

Will race turnout crash?Fans in Singapore were shocked. Property investor Denis Chang, who splurged close to $2,000 tickets for this year�s race, said it would not be the same without Ferrari and McLaren. �They have a big pull and I can�t imagine going to an F1 race without seeing them on the track,� he said.

But Bruno Gillet ( That's me !! ) , who travels to races in Australia and Malaysia, isn�t giving up on F1 yet. �I don�t know if the teams can set up their own series. It will be difficult. F1 is still the world championship, so I won�t give it a miss,� he said.

Malaysian organisers are worried the split will add to the impact of the woeful economic climate on turnout.�My paymaster, the Malaysian government, is concerned how it will affect the Grand Prix in Sepang,� said Sepang International Circuit chairman Mokhzani Mahathir. �We have a contract with Bernie to hold the FIA F1 race until 2015 and it says he will deliver. �What will turn up on the grid next year, we don�t know, but without the big names, it will definitely affect crowd attendance.�

But Drew Ward, chief executive of Australian Grand Prix Corporation, is not too worried that a Ferrari-less series will upset plans to stage the season opener in Melbourne early next year. They will work with F1 rights holder Bernie Ecclestone to make it a success.�This is not the first time a new championship has been proposed and it is not unusual for threats like this to be made by the teams in F1,� said Mr Ward. Mr Ecclestone has so far refrained from commenting, and could still play a role in bringing the teams back into the fold, thinks journalist Fredrik Petersens, who has attended every race since the mid-1970s.�It happened in 2000 when the same teams threatened to start a new series and then Bernie brought Ferrari to heel, and the rest followed. �Right now, it is all words and posturing, so we haven�t seen what Bernie might do.�";

Singapore track Tweaked for Performance

JENSON Button could be crowned world champion before the SingTel Singapore Grand Prix from Sept 25-27, but race organisers are confident it won�t lessen interest in the Formula 1 night race here.
Brawn GP�s Button has won all but one of the season�s seven races so far and is on course to wrapping up the drivers� championship before the Singapore race, the 14th of the 2009 Formula 1 season.�It is less about the championship situation and more about the overall experience ticket holders can expect both on and off the track,� said Singapore GP media and communications director Jonathan Hallett, at a briefing on the progress of modifications to the street track yesterday.�And with over 200 performers already confirmed and more to come, you will never be far from world-class entertainment both on and off the track.
�Last week, Singapore GP rolled out their first list of entertainers, which includes the Backstreet Boys and Chaka Khan. And more big name acts and DJs are set to be unveiled next month.�We�ve always been committed to making the Singapore Grand Prix more than just about the racing,� said Hallett.
�This year, it�ll be a more breathtaking combination of sights, sounds and sensational action.�On the track, the entrance to the pit lane and the exit near Sheares corner (Turn 1) have both been moved further away from the start-finish straight.
�The alterations to the circuit also made it necessary to alter the Sheares corner,� said Singapore GP�s manager of circuit infrastructure, Lawrence Foo. �It will now be easier for drivers to overtake there.�The bumpy stretch along Raffles Boulevard will also be resurfaced to make it easier for drivers to execute passing manoeuvres when they reach Turn 7.
�The apex at Turn 13 before Esplanade Drive will also be made �gentler� for drivers to pick up speed into the next corner, which will be tweaked to allow for more overtaking there.

Backstreet Boys & Chaka Khan to perform at Sinagpore F1 Race Party

Backstreet�s back for F1

"IT DID not take much to convince top-selling American boy-band group Backstreet Boys to perform again in Singapore.When they heard that their gig would be held at the Padang during the SingTel Singapore Grand Prix night race, they gave a resounding yes.The best-selling boy band - with record sales of over 100 million records - and multi-Grammy Award winner Chaka Khan were two of the entertainment acts that race organisers revealed yesterday as part of the entertainment package for the event from Sept 25 to Sept 27.

�Both the Backstreet Boys and Chaka Khan normally perform at concerts ... they see a sexy element to the night race and reckon they will have a blast,� said Singapore GP director of operations Sarah Martin. The third big name will be released next month but the group will appeal to all age groups, said Ms Martin. Among other events to be announced then will be two of the world�s top 10 DJs.

�I can honestly say we have revolutionised the way people view entertainment at any Grand Prix,� said Ms Martin. �Without a doubt, we will be giving the best experience that any Grand Prix has seen.�

Although all ticket holders will be able to watch Backstreet Boys on both weekend nights at Zone 4, only spectators at the grandstands facing the paddock at Zone 1 will have the privilege to watch Chaka Khan after the main race on Sunday.Tickets there are priced at $1,388 each.�We felt that ticket holders who are paying a lot more ... deserve some exclusivity and this is the best way to give it to them,� said Ms Martin.Other top performers include Senegalese legend Youssou N�Dour - listed in Time magazine�s 100 Most Influential People - and Rock \& Roll Hall of Fame�s Mavis Staples.

To cater to the large number of foreign visitors, two key theatre acts will be staged along the lines of the world famous Cirque du Soleil.�About 40 per cent of the fans at the race will come from overseas and we want to bridge the language barriers,� said Ms Martin.The acts will be at the Padang and the floating platform. One of them has worked in partnership with Cirque du Soleil and is planning something special for the Grand Prix, she said."

Another Successful Week-end !

It has been another successful week-end for Formula1 Fans in Singapore.

Our East Coast bazaar has allowed us to meet many new customers and interest in the new 2009 F1 Team Merchandise was very good.
While not doing to good on track at the Monaco GP, Vodafone McLaren Shirts and Merchandise were the Best Sellers over the week-end, followed closely by our Ferrari T-shirts and Caps.

For new Brawn GP Fans, do note that we are now taking pre-orders for the Merchandise range and goods should be in Singapore by 1st week of July.

We thank you all for your participation, for braving the scorching afternoon sun and patronizing our stall.
You can look forward to some exciting news over the coming weeks and urge you all to join our Facebook page to make sure you do not miss out on important updates.

Photos will follow later today.

Sebastien Vettel Grabs Pole Position in Shanghai

Sebastian Vettel (born July 3, 1987 in Heppenheim) is a German race car driver. He drives for Red Bull Racing having replaced former driver David Coulthard.
By taking part in Friday practice for the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix, Vettel became the youngest Formula One driver to drive at a Grand Prix meeting, at 19 years and 53 days. On Sunday September 30, 2007, during the Japanese Grand Prix Vettel became the youngest driver to lead a Formula One race. (Mike Thackwell remains the youngest driver to compete in a championship Grand Prix race; Nico Rosberg the youngest to drive an F1 car in private testing) He also became the quickest driver to get a fine in F1, being fined $1,000 nine seconds into his career, after speeding in the pitlane. He went on to become the sixth youngest driver to start a Grand Prix and the youngest driver to score points in a Grand Prix. During qualifying for the 2008 Italian Grand Prix, Vettel became the youngest Formula One driver to win pole position. He went on to win the race, making him the youngest F1 race winner by nearly a year.

Junior Series

Vettel demonstrating his Formula Three Euroseries car in 2006
Vettel started racing karts in 1995, winning various titles such as the Junior Monaco Kart Cup (2001). In 2003, he upgraded to open-wheel cars, and won the 2004 German Formula BMW Championship with 18 victories from 20 races. In 2005 he drove for ASL Mucke Motorsport in the Formula Three Euroseries. He was placed fifth in the final standings with 64 points, winning the year's top rookie honours. He did not win any races, but this was largely due to the championship's domination by Lewis Hamilton. Despite, this, he tested the Williams FW27 Formula One car on September 27 as a reward for this Formula BMW success. He then went on to test for the BMW Sauber team.
Vettel finished as runner-up in the 2006 F3 Euroseries, behind series leader Paul di Resta. He also made his debut in the World Series by Renault at Misano, winning after Pastor Maldonado was disqualified. However, at the next round at Spa-Francorchamps, his finger was almost sliced off by flying d�bris in an accident, and he was expected to be out of racing for several weeks.

However, he managed to compete in the Ultimate Masters of F3 at Zandvoort the following weekend, finishing in sixth place. He also set third fastest lap time, and it surprised his ASM team boss Fr�d�ric Vasseur. Vasseur said: "I was impressed for sure, because at the beginning of the week I was sure he wouldn't race! But he showed good pace from the first practice session. I can't imagine he's 100 per cent but at least we know we can be competitive in the next F3 Euroseries round at the N�rburgring next weekend - that's important."

Vettel became BMW Sauber's third driver at the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix, when former incumbent Robert Kubica was called up to replace Jacques Villeneuve for the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Vettel impressed on his testing debut by setting fastest time in second Friday Free Practice before the race.The young German also impressed on his second testing session in the 2006 Italian Grand Prix, setting the fastest time in both Friday practice sessions, a race weekend in which all the BMW cars were quick, with his predecessor Robert Kubica finishing on the podium in the race.
He was confirmed as BMW's test driver for 2007, and also competed in the World Series by Renault Championship, where he had his first win at the N�rburgring. He was leading the championship when he was called up to F1 permanently, and his seat was taken by Michael Ammerm�ller.

Formula One

Vettel made his Formula One debut at the 2007 United States Grand Prix, driving for BMW Sauber.

2007: BMW Sauber
Following the serious crash of regular BMW driver Robert Kubica at the Canadian Grand Prix, Vettel substituted for him at the US Grand Prix and started in seventh position on the grid, finishing in eighth position, thanks to Nico Rosberg's late retirement, to take his first F1 World Championship point and became the youngest driver ever to score a point in Formula One (at the age of 19 years and 349 days), a record previously held by Jenson Button � who was 20 years and 67 days old when he finished sixth at the 2000 Brazilian Grand Prix.

2007-2008: Toro Rosso

2007
On July 31, 2007, BMW released Vettel to join Red Bull's Scuderia Toro Rosso team, replacing Scott Speed as race driver as of the Hungarian Grand Prix. He earned approximately $165,000 for finishing the season with Toro Rosso. Before the race, it was also announced that Vettel would drive for STR in 2008. His team-mate would be S�bastien Bourdais.

Vettel struggled to keep up with Liuzzi's pace at Budapest, Istanbul, Monza and Spa, and never managed to progress amongst the lower-midfield pack (Toyota, Honda, Toro Rosso, Super Aguri). In the rain-hit Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji, Vettel worked his way up to third behind Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber, and seemed to be on course for not only his but also Toro Rosso's maiden podium finish. However, Vettel crashed into Webber under safety car conditions taking them both out of the race and prompting Webber to say to ITV reporter Louise Goodman �It�s kids isn�t it... kids with not enough experience � they do a good job and then they fuck it all up.� Vettel was caught on camera crying after the incident. He was initially punished with a ten-place grid penalty for the following race, but this was lifted after a spectator video on YouTube showed the incident may have been caused by Hamilton's behaviour behind the safety car, which Hamilton was also cleared of.

However, Vettel bounced back to finish a career-best fourth a week later at the Chinese GP having started 17th in mixed conditions. He collected five championship points, making it both his and Toro Rosso's best race result.

Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz believes Vettel will be one of Formula One's big stars in the future. "Vettel is one of the young guys with extraordinary potential ! He is fast, intelligent, and he is very interested in the technical side."

According to some sources, at the end of the 2007 season Vettel was contacted by McLaren in order to replace Spanish two-time world champion Fernando Alonso who left the British team for Renault in the same period. The talks between McLaren chief Ron Dennis and Dietrich Mateschitz failed however, the Red Bull boss refusing a multi million Euro deal for the young German driver.

2008
After four races of the 2008 Formula One season Vettel was the only driver to have failed to finish a single race, having retired on the first lap in three of them. In each of these three instances, he was involved in accidents caused by other drivers. However, at the fifth round at the Turkish Grand Prix, he finally saw the chequered flag, finishing 17th after qualifying 14th. In the next race at the Monaco Grand Prix, Vettel scored his first points of the 2008 Season with a fifth place finish, mainly due to the changing conditions. Vettel also benefitted from the downfall of other drivers, such as Adrian Sutil and Heikki Kovalainen. Vettel scored again at the Canadian Grand Prix after starting from the pit lane and having to fight off Heikki Kovalainen in the last few laps for the final championship point. Vettel finished 12th in the French Grand Prix after passing Hamilton at the start. Vettel retired on the first lap of the British Grand Prix after being clipped by David Coulthard and aquaplaning into the gravel trap along with the Red Bull driver. He then bounced back from this by finishing eighth at the German Grand Prix by fending off Fernando Alonso and securing the last championship point after Jarno Trulli went off the track. Vettel then became the first retirement of the Hungarian Grand Prix after his engine overheated during his first pit stop. Vettel impressed many at the European Grand Prix by setting the fastest time in the first practice session and fastest time in the second qualifying session, which was also the fastest overall time in qualifying. He qualified 6th on the grid, and finished 6th, 2 seconds behind Jarno Trulli.
At the 2008 Italian Grand Prix, Vettel became the youngest driver in history to win a Formula One Grand Prix. Aged 21 years and 74 days, Vettel broke the record set by Alonso at the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix by 317 days as he won in wet conditions at Monza. Vettel led for the majority of the Grand Prix and crossed the finish line 12.5 seconds ahead of McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen.

Earlier in the weekend, he had already become the youngest polesitter, after setting the fastest times in both Q2 and Q3 qualifying stages, and his win also gave him the record of youngest podium-finisher. Toro Rosso team boss Gerhard Berger said, "As he proved today, he can win races, but he's going to win world championships. He's a cool guy". Hamilton praised the German, stating that this victory showed "how good he is".

Alonso, whom Vettel displaced as the youngest Grand Prix winner, said the victory was "deserved" by the whole of the Toro Rosso team. The nature of the victory and the story of the 21 year old's fledgling career led the German media to dub him "baby Schumi", although Vettel was quick to downplay the expectation the result has brought, particularly the comparison with the seven-time World Champion: "To compare me with Michael Schumacher is just a bit ridiculous...It will be difficult in normal conditions for us to repeat this achievement". He then went on to finish fourth at the Singapore Grand Prix and fifth at the Japanese Grand Prix.
In the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix, after running second for much of the race, Vettel overtook Lewis Hamilton in the rain for fifth place on the penultimate lap to contribute to a thrilling climax to the season. He nearly deprived the McLaren driver of the championship before Timo Glock slowed dramatically on the last lap (he was struggling with dry tyres in the ever increasing rain) enabling both Vettel and Hamilton to pass him, earning the Briton the title.

2009 onwards: Red Bull Racing

2009
At the start of the 2009 season, Vettel replaced David Coulthard at Red Bull Racing.
Vettel began strongly at the Australian Grand Prix, qualifying third and running in second for the majority of the race. However, a clash with Robert Kubica over second place on the third last lap of the race forced both to retire. He thought that he would be asble to do this because the yellow flag resulting from his incident forbids overtaking. Vettel attempted to finish the race on three wheels behind the safety car to salvage some points, but eventually pulled off to the side. He was given a ten-place grid penalty for the next race, the Malaysian Grand Prix, and his team was fined for instructing him to stay on track after the damage occurred. In Malaysia he qualified in third position, but was demoted down to 13th due to his ten-place grid drop. He spun out of the race while eighth, just before the race was stopped due to adverse weather conditions. However in China he went on to take pole position, the first pole for the Red Bull Racing team.

Race of Champions
Vettel competed in the 2007 Race of Champions, representing the German team alongside Michael Schumacher. Vettel and Schumacher won the Nation's Cup Title, after exciting finals. Vettel had to beat two RoC champions, Kovalainen and Marcus Gr�nholm, after Schumacher stalled his car. Vettel lost the individual competition however, in first heat, in his second battle against Kovalainen.

Helmet design

The Bergstra�e Coat of Arms that appears on the chin area of Vettel's helmet
Vettel's helmet, like most of Red Bull's drivers, is heavily influenced by the energy drink company logo. Apart from minor changes and sponsorship differences, it has rarely changed over the years since he has been backed by Red Bull.

Winning names for Singapore GP turns Announced

The winning names for the Marina Bay Circuit: Sheares, Memorial and Singapore Sling

THE names �Sheares�, �Memorial� and �Singapore Sling� will be on the tip of Formula 1 fans� tongues here and around the world come September, at the second Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix.

Turn 1 of the Marina Bay street circuit after the start-finish straight has been named Sheares, after the Benjamin Sheares Bridge which runs over it.
Turn 7, the scene of many a thrilling overtaking manoeuvre near the War Memorial, will now be known as Memorial. And the tricky chicane that is the 10th corner has been christened Singapore Sling.

The response to the It�s Your Turn at the Singapore Grand Prix contest, a joint effort by race organisers Singapore GP and Today, was overwhelming. Readers and Formula 1 fans from around the globe were invited to submit their suggested names, and we saw entries coming in from as far away as Spain, the United Kingdom, Brazil and Canada.

Only those who adhered to the rules and conditions made the final round of judging, with contestants� reasons for the names they suggested taken into account. The panel of six judges met yesterday to pick the three best names to christen Turns 1, 7 and 10 and had to sift through a pool of 1,440 entries.

After a blind vote, the three winners came from Singapore. The top prize of two grandstand tickets, a pitlane walk and a two-night stay at a trackside hotel during the Formula 1 2009 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix from Sept 25 to 27 went to wedding card designer Arthur Lim.

Showcasing Singapore

Lim�s suggestion for Turn 1, a nod to Singapore�s second President Benjamin Sheares, the bridge named after him, and the fact that the name hints of �speed and smoothness�, won the judges over.

Memorial, suggested by Ngee Ann Polytechnic lecturer Chan Kwan Yew, proved a winning entry because of its simplicity, ease of pronunciation and its ties to the past. �It is a significant site, honouring the victims of the Second World War,� Chan noted of the corner near the War Memorial.

The most talked about and challenging corner of the Marina Bay circuit last September was Turn 10. Fittingly, the judges spent the most time deliberating that turn.

Most entries zeroed in on the fact that the old Parliament House and the former Supreme Court overlook the tricky chicane, with Judgment Day, Justice Trap, Supremo and the Court among the better suggestions. But the judges considered the difficulty of negotiating the first of three twists and decided on Singapore Sling, submitted by Foo Say Boon.

Simon Rock, managing director of Performance Motors and one of the judges, said the first two turns were Singapore-centric and offered an opportunity to tell the world something about the country.

�Singapore Sling, on the other hand, is known internationally and fans everywhere can relate to it instantly,� explained the Briton.

�It says more about the turn. Drivers have to be careful here, but it can serve as a slingshot if they tackle it well.�

Rock�s fellow judge Colin Syn, deputy chairman of Singapore GP, said he was impressed by the quality and creativity of the entries. He said: �Throughout the intensely engaging judging process, the panel deliberated for over three hours to arrive at an acceptable shortlist.

�Getting to the eventual winners was a tough task, but in the end, the panel was in accord on the final winners.�

The other judges on the panel were Today Sports Editor Leonard Thomas, Singapore Motor Sports Association president Tan Teng Lip, STPB F1 project director Leong Yue Kheong and former racer Lee Chiu San.

How will it sound on TV?

When contacted yesterday, Lim could not contain his excitement when he learnt he had won the top prize. He told Today he had rehearsed in front of his wife several times before submitting his entry for Turn 1.

�I wanted to make sure it would come off nicely from the tongue of a TV commentator and that it will be easy on the ear,� said the 37-year-old father of two.
�Sheares is also an historic name because it is the name of our second President, but it can easily be used to describe cars cutting through the turns.�

Chan and Foo, the other two winners, each won a pair of grandstand tickets and a pitlane walk for the Singapore Grand Prix. All winners will be contacted by Singapore GP on how to collect their prizes.

====And the winners are:

====Turn 1: Sheares � Arthur Lim

====Turn 7: Memorial � Chan Kwan Yew

====Turn 10: Singapore Sling � Foo Say Boon

Ian De Cotta ian@mediacorp.com.sg

Hunt for the best F1 photo From Singapore

The tourism board and Singapore GP are looking for the best picture that captured the buzz and suspense of the Republic's first Formula One race last year.
Photographers are invited to submit their shots for a chance to win passes or pit grandstand tickets. There is no limit to the number of shots that can be entered for the competition, which ends on March 20.

Entries will be assessed by a panel of judges from the Singapore Tourism Board and Singapore GP, on criteria such as relevancy to the race, composition, creativity and artistic expression.

Go to www.visitsingapore.com/mysgp for more details.

Winners will also be announced on this website on April 15.

Tweeked Singapore Circuit in Hopes of more overtakings

The Marina Bay circuit, which plays host to Formula 1�s night race in Singapore, will undergo layout changes in a bid to boost overtaking ahead of its second grand prix later this year.
The sport�s inaugural floodlit race was widely hailed as a big success last September, but organisers have wanted to improve the racing spectacle for 2009 and have now announced track alterations following discussions between themselves, the teams and FIA.

These are headlined by minor changes to turns one, 13 and 14 to try and give drivers a better opportunity to attempt a passing move.
In addition the controversial pit lane entry, which used the exact same piece of track as cars on a flying lap and saw Nick Heidfeld and Rubens Barrichello penalised for an incident there in 2008, and exit will be revised, while improvements to the bumpy track surface will be made between turns five and seven.
�While the circuit and the event exceeded expectations around the world, as with any brand new event, there are always things which we now know we can do better,� said Singapore�s technical and race operations director, Michael McDonough.

�Minor modifications are proposed on the track, at Turns one, seven and 14 in order to improve overtaking opportunities whilst the main changes will be to the pit entry and pit exit to provide added margins of safety for cars entering and leaving the pit lane.�
Organisers say changes to the first corner will involve moving the corner apex and reducing the corner radius in a bid to reduce entry speeds and give drivers more of an opportunity to try an out-braking move into the turn.
And after drivers took advantage of a concrete verge to take a wide line into the corner last year, kerbing will also be installed on the entry so to force drivers to take a narrower line.

Changes at turn 13 will see the previously tight left-handed hairpin, the turn immediately after the iconic Anderson Bridge, altered to increase cornering speeds so cars carry more speed down the next straight into the braking zone at turn 14.
In addition the geometry of turn 14 will be altered to give more overtaking chances under braking.
Meanwhile, the pit lane entry and exit changes will see a dedicated approach lane created, with the vast run-off areas around the final turn reduced, while the exit will be extended past the first turn so drivers now feed back onto the circuit off the racing line at turn two.

Singapore F1 track scoops award

The Singapore Marina Bay street circuit has come into the limelight again after winning international praise with its inaugural night race on Sept 28.

The street circuit has won the title of world-wide Motor Sport Facility of the Year at the Professional Motor Sport World annual awards ceremony, held in Cologne, Germany on Nov 11.
The Singapore Grand Prix venue was commended both for the revolutionary track lighting and the spectacular way in which it wove the track through the heart of the city.

The Singapore Grand Prix venue went up against other candidates such as the European Grand Prix venue at Valencia in Spain, the new Toyota Racing Development chassis engineering building in Cologne and a new start-of-the-art motor racing facility at Sturup, near Malmo in Sweden.

Jonathan Hallett, Director of Media and Communications for Singapore GP, praised the entire team involved in the event.
'We are delighted that the efforts of the entire team, the invaluable contribution from all our fantastic partners, and the strong collaborative efforts from the government agencies and businesses, particularly those around the circuit, have been recognised by this award,' he said.
The Professional Motor Sport World Awards, which are in their third year of recognising international motor sports endeavours, were selected by a distinguished judging panel from all areas of the sport.

Other awards given out at the gala Award show in Cologne included Safety Innovation of the Year (awarded to the FIA Foundation for their work in improving safety in the World Rally Championship), and Team Principal of the Year (awarded to Franz Tost of Scuderia Toro Rosso).

Red Bull Formula Unas

The world�s first night race on September 28 witnessed many firsts for Singapore, including hosting its very first F1 programme tailored exclusively for ladies � the Red Bull La Formula Una Program.
This annual event that is held exclusively by Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso � the two Red Bull-owned teams, which are the only Formula One teams with a dedicated program for the females. The programme offers a once-a-lifetime opportunity to rub shoulders with the who�s who in the world of Formula One, and to experience the sport in ways that will make the men green with envy.
VIP treatment is guaranteed both on and off track as the ladies, who will be handpicked by a panel of mystery judges, can expect four days of non-stop heady action, access to exclusive parties and glamorous fun. In addition, the agenda includes exclusive access to the F1 Paddock, pit garage tours, photo shoots, media interviews and possibly even the chance to dine with the RBR and STR drivers.

SINGAPORE FORMULA UNAS LADIES

MALAYSIA FORMULA UNAS LADIES

JAPAN FORMULA UNAS LADIES

ABU DHABI TIPPED TO SHAKE UP F1

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been lauded as an event that will herald a new era in world motor racing.
That bold remark came courtesy of His Excellency Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, who is clearly not a man prone to understatement.
The founding chairman of Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management launched the vision of his organisation and country ahead of next year's season-ending debut on the Formula One calendar.
ADMM are not just in the process of building another new circuit, but an entire infrastructure on one of the many islands that make up the Middle East state.
Yas Island is being turned into a statement of intent for the United Arab Emirates as a whole, with the 3.4-mile, 21-turn anti-clockwise track at its heart.
The Yas Marina Circuit can be split into two smaller tracks of 1.9 and 1.46 miles, whilst other racing facilities include a 0.75-mile world championship-standard karting centre and a dragstrip.
For the first time anywhere in the world, the 50,000-seater grandstands will be entirely covered.
And because of the environmentally-conscious drive in Formula One these days, many of the facilities will be solar-powered.
Away from the track there will be hotels, theme parks - including one specifically dedicated to Ferrari - a shopping mall, the marina itself and a yacht club.
The piece de resistance, however, is the 500-room hotel that will straddle the track, affording those lucky enough to stay there an unparalleled view of the race.
Al Mubarak is convinced the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will eclipse those currently on the calendar, including Monaco, and most recently the spectacular event in Singapore.

The Singapore Grand Prix was incredible. They did an absolutely fantastic job, and the first night race was something special," said Al Mubarak.
"The track, the visual impact of the city, the organisation, for everybody that was there it was fantastic, and we look at it as a challenge.
They have done what we are looking forward to doing next year - setting a new benchmark - and we will do that. There is no question in my mind that this is a track that will set that benchmark in motor-sport racing. It will be the future of motor racing, and we will be the cutting edge in everything we do in the sport.
Like everything that Abu Dhabi does, we are going to do it right, it is going to be unique, it will set a new standard, and it will be long-term. That is what we are doing with the 2009 grand prix, and with the relationship we will have with Formula One.
It is the start of what I feel will be a new era in racing, not just for the region, but for the world."
Despite the many millions of pounds being lavished on the facility - which has in place an initial seven-year race contract with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone - Al Mubarak insists it will be money well spent.

The entire island makes sense and is an integrated development," added Al Mubarak.
You don't invest what we are nvesting in this island without being cost conscious and efficient.
But I cannot emphasise enough the importance of this event for the country and the UAE.
This is the epitome of sports, and being part of it, launching it next year for the country and putting Abu Dhabi out there for the global audience, is absolutely tremendous.
It is like having the World Cup or the Olympics every year. It takes a lot of preparation, hard work, but we are going to be ready.
We are going to deliver to the world a statement in terms of how we can organise world-class events, delivering a standard that will make the world happy to come, to watch and enjoy.

There has been talk of the race being staged at night, and it would be unsurprising given the hotel at the centre has an exterior outer layer made up of 4,800 LED panels allowing it to change colour.

Al Mubarak refused to drawn on a race start time, but he is adamant the track design - which has received input from current and former drivers - will serve up a thrilling spectacle of a race.
It has made a difference that we are building the track from scratch which has alowed a lot more creativity and flexibility in terms of how we designed it," said Al Mubarak.
I expect it to be a very fast track, a very competitive track with significantly more opportunities for overtaking than many of the tracks we have today."

Off Track Newsletter No 5

Well, after much time off from the blog it's time to catch up on those delayed posts.
here we have issue No 5 of the Marshall's newsletter, covering the Final shakedown before the race, Interviews with the Boundary riders marshalls and so on.

Read more about it here. ISSUE No 5

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO - SINGAPORE HIGHLIGHTS

So much has been said about the Singapore Grand Prix, that it's hard to top up.
The first of many kind, it has according to officials been a tremendous success. I was privileged enought to be part of this amazing event through a Marshalling role. From our point of view, i will say that it was the highlight of my F1 passion. I will post photos and links in another post soon enough for your enjoyement, but in the meantime here is the Official Video review of the Singapore GP.
Watch it Here

Singapore technical preview

Here is another technical preview ahead of this week-end GP

The 5.1km Singapore street circuit looks like being one of the slowest of the season, with teams likely to run with high downforce and projected lap times in the 1m45s region.

As a step into the unknown, the teams have been running computer simulations to get a rough idea of the ideal set-up required. In reality, though, it won't be until the cars take to the track on Friday morning that the teams will get a proper understanding of the demands of the track.

Tyres

Much like Monaco, grip levels are likely to be low at the new Singapore street circuit. Therefore Bridgestone will supply the soft and super-soft compounds from its 2008 range, the very same compounds that were taken to Monaco, Budapest and Valencia.

This will offer good grip on what is expected to be a very green track surface at the beginning of the weekend. However, like any temporary circuit, grip levels will ramp up as the track evolves across the weekend and rubber is laid down.

Aerodynamics

After Monaco, Singapore looks like being the second slowest circuit of the season. The teams will therefore run with a high downforce package to give the car good stability under braking and to push the car into the ground in the corner exits to maximise traction and ensure good acceleration.

Brakes

Initial simulations suggest that the circuit will be quite demanding on the brakes with wear rates being similar to somewhere like Melbourne. It is not the severity of the braking but rather the regularity that makes it so demanding as the brakes will get little respite. Efficient brake cooling is therefore a must.

Suspension

Suspension set-up is one of the most difficult things to predict when planning for a new circuit. However, for any street circuit with a high percentage of low-speed corners, mechanical grip is always valuable and the team will work hard to ensure they give the drivers a supple enough suspension to get good clean exits out of the slow corners and a car that can ride the bumps and any changes of camber.

Engine and gearbox

Street circuits tend to be less severe on the engine due to the low percentage of the lap spent at full throttle, but the engine can still be under stress as it will be used in a very stop-start fashion. Closely-spaced gears ratios will be used at this circuit in order to optimise acceleration, and get the most from the engine at low speeds, while the engine teams will work on the mapping to ensure the engine delivers good torque from low revs, allowing early throttle application.

A last minute Run Down of the Singapore GP Circuit

Turns 1-3

The first of Singapore�s 13 left-handers, Turn 1 also represents the first overtaking opportunity on a circuit which, refreshingly, seems to offer several. A Grand Prix car will be travelling at over 280 km/h when it�s time to brake for Turn 1, downshifting to 2nd and slowing to around half that speed in the short right-hand sprint that follows, snatching 3rd through Turn 2 before dropping back to 2nd for Turn 3. Look for cornering speeds around 90-95 through there.

Turns 4-5

Leaving the new, permanent section of the track at the apex of Turn 3, the cars will accelerate up to 4th and touch 200 km/h and above through the left-hand kink of Turn 4. The right-hander at Turn 5 will be 3rd-gear, around the 130 mark, but the key point here is that the corner doesn�t tighten up � getting back on the throttle and up to speed for the long straight shouldn�t pose too many problems.

Turn 6

Speed is the essence of racing, of course � and the need for speed will be well and truly answered in this section! The cars should rocket all the way up to 7th as they go through the right-hand �kink� halfway along the straight, meaning they will hit 300+ before the sharp left-hander at
Turn 7. And this, remember, is a street circuit�

Turns 7-8-9

Deceleration from those speeds means the approach to Turn 7 offers another clear overtaking opening. They need to get down to around 110k km/h to get round Turn 7, the 2nd-gear corner onto Nicholl Highway, and the ones who leave the braking late are the ones who will have a chance to make up places. As long as they don�t leave it too late�It�s a dab on the throttle and back to around 200 approaching Turn 8, the 2nd-gear right-hander where the circuit�s �waist� is tightly pinched opposite Turn 14. Same for Turn 9: on the throttle, 200 or so then hit the anchors for the left-hand 3rd-gear corner which brings us to the historic heart of the track and the city.

Turns 9-10-11

Next comes the short straight that carries them past the Padang and towards the Singapore River. Getting the power down well out of Turn 9 will set a driver up for an attack on the way into the intriguing section at the end of it. Speeds here should be around 250 km/h, and a pass under braking into the left-hand sequence starting at Turn 10 is a distinct possibility. Snaking their way through 10 and 11, the drivers are likely to be reminded very firmly that this IS a street circuit: space is at a premium, so getting the lines right here will make all the difference. With its absorbing backdrop, it could be a photographer�s paradise.

Turns 12-13

This is potentially one of the most intriguing sections of the new track. Where else can you see Grand Prix cars arrowing across a 100-year-old bridge, turning sharp left and crossing the wide mouth of a river on a much more modern bridge? They should be in 2nd, then 3rd and building to 150 through Turn 12, jockeying for position on the narrow bridge and lining up the acute left-hander at Turn 13, taken in 2nd gear.

Turn 14

This is one of four places � Turn 13 to Turn 14 � where the cars can really stretch their legs: look for top speeds around 280 once more as they cross Esplanade Bridge before braking hard into 14. Sound familiar? It is � and it means another overtaking chance under braking for the right-hander that makes up the other side of the circuit�s �waist�.

Turns 15-20

We have to take this sequence all together as that�s what the drivers will be trying to do: minimizing the loss of speed through a challenging stretch that begins at around 230 km/h through the left-hand kink at Turn 15, then slows dramatically for another unique section of Singaporean track. This bayside section is the slowest on the track, not much faster than 100 or so in 2nd with a run of right-left-left-right-right changes of direction from Turns 16 to 20. Getting into corners well under braking, and getting back out of them well at relatively slow speed, will be the key.

Turns 20-21

Picking up speed, the cars will shift up to 3rd through Turn 20, accelerating through 120 km/h and faster through 21 as the drivers look for the best possible momentum into and out of the final corners.

Turns 22-23

That�s the double left-hander, Turns 22 and 23, swinging back onto the main straight. Through 22 the speed should climb above 150, then quickly up to 200 through the final corner as they get ready to pass the Start-Finish line on the way to 280 km/h. Only another 60 laps to go!

Courtesy of www.paddocktalk.com