Pastor Maldonado needs a new chassis, drivers fall foul of the new radio limits and FOM are finally getting the hang of social media.
Here’s Friday’s Singapore Grand Prix highlights from Twitter.
Team radio ban relaxed
The day began with the news that the planned limits on radio messages had been drastically cut back.
Only 9 radio messages heard during the last race would now be illegal under the FIA's significantly reduced ban: http://t.co/ud0amyhOVD #F1
— F1 Fanatic (@f1fanatic_co_uk) September 19, 2014
https://twitter.com/_markgallagher/status/512902810401513472
Felipe #Massa was the most outspoken but I spoke to him this morning and he said he is happy with the new accommodation #f1
— Byron Young (@byronf1) September 19, 2014
Look out for new and exclusive #F1 graphics over the #SingaporeGP weekend…
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 19, 2014
First practice
Ricciardo heads out – note the flo-vis. #F1NightRace #F1 #Singapore pic.twitter.com/98o5alzGNX
— F1 Paddock Pass (@F1PaddockPass) September 19, 2014
The FIA uses a special machine to remove road markings for more grip. Necessary for safety – or dumbing down? #F1 pic.twitter.com/oJc4GNAR3M
— F1 Fanatic (@f1fanatic_co_uk) September 19, 2014
One of reasons Singapore is so special is how close you can get to the cars. This is general admission last corner pic.twitter.com/VYHjwnBZ81
— Andrew Benson (@andrewbensonf1) September 19, 2014
Some drivers continued to ask questions their engineers are no longer allowed to answer;
Hamilton: "How are my sector times?" Bonnington: "Keep the revs up." #F1 #SingaporeGP
— F1 Fanatic Live (@f1fanaticlive) September 19, 2014
Hamilton: "Are people getting extra laps?" Bonnington: "Just keep up with our programme we'll discuss it when we get back in the garage" #F1
— F1 Fanatic Live (@f1fanaticlive) September 19, 2014
Another unanswerable question: Vergne: "Is anybody improving after the first timed lap?" Pujolar: "Just keep pushing, you will be OK." #F1
— F1 Fanatic Live (@f1fanaticlive) September 19, 2014
However Lewis Hamilton was able to get this piece of information about his brakes:
Bonnington to Hamilton: "We're seeing a lot of front locking. We suggest coming globally rearward on brake balance or using more B-mig." #F1
— F1 Fanatic Live (@f1fanaticlive) September 19, 2014
Kimi Raikkonen’s brake trouble was more serious:
The Ferrari mechanics spent a while looking on as Raikkonen's front-right brake burned. #F1 #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/BZMGe1cWMO
— F1 Fanatic Live (@f1fanaticlive) September 19, 2014
Second practice
And Sebastian Vettel’s engine problem was even worse. Fortunately his team intended to change it before the race anyway:
Just to confirm, the team wasn't planning to race with the engine that was used in Sebastian's car in #FP1 #SingaporeGP .
— Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) September 19, 2014
Hamilton does a start – switches from neutral to first, revs to 9,000rpm and pulls away.#F1 #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/LKjVuNKCka
— F1 Fanatic (@f1fanatic_co_uk) September 19, 2014
Nice faux pas from the circuit commentators who mentioned the 'tread depth' of the slick tyre. Erm, really? #Oops
— F1 Paddock Pass (@F1PaddockPass) September 19, 2014
Maldonado is in the wall at turn ten. #F1 #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/pcrQO6F27s
— F1 Fanatic Live (@f1fanaticlive) September 19, 2014
If you're looking for statistics on Maldonado accidents this year, don't look at me because I stopped counting ages ago
— Sean Kelly (@virtualstatman) September 19, 2014
The time gap between soft and supersoft means that supersoft is the obvious way to go for qualifying. That affects race tactics too #F1
— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) September 19, 2014
And we're done! pic.twitter.com/2RrYXbPVYV
— Lotus F1 Team (@Lotus_F1Team) September 19, 2014
Pits and paddock
https://twitter.com/redbullf1spy/status/512979389345447936
#F1 Classic #F1 cars out on the track right now. So cool to see them under floodlights. pic.twitter.com/l9WVOFNffJ
— Tobias Grüner F1 (@tgruener) September 19, 2014
Interesting ad in the gents. Wonder if it flouts F1 advertising regs. pic.twitter.com/uFcLIjgPs4
— Ben Hunt (@benjhunt) September 18, 2014
The Tweet above is from yesterday. And sure enough…
The Dyson advert has miraculously disappeared today. pic.twitter.com/fiFRKxt8Xs
— Ben Hunt (@benjhunt) September 19, 2014
As Claire Williams talked about the future line up @benjhunt just shouted "Jenson Button" .
— Byron Young (@byronf1) September 19, 2014
It'll be a new chassis for Pastor tomorrow. Here are his Lotus mechs building it up #stopshunting pic.twitter.com/x89F6A86WE
— Tom Clarkson (@TomClarksonF1) September 19, 2014
Between #F1 sessions #SingaporeGP crowd are entertained with videos featuring extensive-now banned-radio talk. #Bizarre….
— Darren Heath (@F1Photographer) September 19, 2014
Drivers' briefing over in record time. Not a single question about radio regulations and what is or isn't allowed. Seriously. Not one.
— The Buxton Blog (@thebuxtonblog) September 19, 2014
Spot the new team members that came to visit for FP2 👀 #frontright #frontleft pic.twitter.com/kMBOYcktBw
— Chloe Roberts (@chloeroberts323) September 19, 2014
Great 2 get back in the car around this crazy circuit! Some work needed tonight to maximise the setup but feeling good #SingaporeGP #Sweaty
— Jenson Button (@JensonButton) September 19, 2014
Decent first day of driving in Singapore. Disappointing to not put a representative lap on option… http://t.co/8K55fICnCs
— Marcus Ericsson (@Ericsson_Marcus) September 19, 2014
F1 Fanatic on Twitter
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2014 Singapore Grand Prix
- Frustrating year led to Singapore outburst – Grosjean
- Hamilton beats Vergne to Driver of the Weekend
- Singapore GP falls short of high 2014 standard
- “Contamination” caused Rosberg’s Singapore failure
- 2014 Singapore Grand Prix fans’ video gallery
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
19th September 2014, 21:21
Is Peter Bonnington answering the question before last? That could be a way round the ban.
hunocsi (@hunocsi)
19th September 2014, 22:55
You mean the “discuss later in the garage”? That wasn’t ever going to get banned, I think other engineers said that as well.