In the round-up: Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez are rumoured to be the top candidates for the seats at new F1 team Haas in 2016.
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Grosjean to leave Lotus for Haas (F1i)
"Grosjean is set to partner Esteban Gutierrez at Haas, with Ferrari placing its test and reserve driver in the team as part of its close technical partnership."
Lewis Hamilton's Singapore DNF caused by broken Mercedes clamp (Sky)
"We had a very minor bit, a metal clamp, that broke that had a massive effect."
"Lewis Hamilton's Senna dream was wrecked by a £5 clamp."
Windtunnels could become 'obsolete' in F1 (Autosport)
"We don't think it's good for Formula 1 to use 10-year-old technology - we are supposed to be at the top."
Singapore GP: 'A blip? Or have Mercedes lost it?' (BBC)
"Others were outlandish - had Bernie Ecclestone ordered Mercedes to be given disguised harder tyres to spice things up for the weekend? 'It crossed my mind,' Wolff said. 'I have seen a lot of things, but I don't think Pirelli would do that.'"
2015 Singapore Grand Prix attracts slightly more spectators (The Business Times)
"Some 86,970 spectators attended the 2015 Singapore Grand Prix, up from last year."
Tweets
CCTV video of the #SingaporeGP track invader: https://t.co/yV3wJNGdu9 #F1 #F1F
— F1 Fanatic (@f1fanatic_co_uk) September 20, 2015
No marshalls at these kind of gates no wonder he got on track pic.twitter.com/oB6ohiQu7x
— Dinalli (@Dinalli) September 20, 2015
It was a drunken Englishman who was slowly crossing the track. First stopped in the middle of road looked around then walked further. #AMuS
— Tobias Grüner F1 (@tgruener) September 20, 2015
Some of the boys getting neutral.. I remember we had that a few years ago with @AussieGrit #undergroundtrams
— Lee Stevenson (@leestevo1) September 20, 2015
Button on Maldonado: "I should have known, really, that he's mental." #F1 #SingaporeGP
— F1 Fanatic Live (@f1fanaticlive) September 20, 2015
Verstappen comes in ahead of Sainz – good to see him sticking up for himself. @ToroRossoSpy @Max33Verstappen #F1 #SingaporeGP
— F1 Fanatic (@f1fanatic_co_uk) September 20, 2015
Well done Sébastien I can see you in my mirrors now
— Alain Prost (@Prost_official) September 20, 2015
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Comment of the day
The sane explanations for Mercedes’ difficult weekend are more convincing than the conspiracy theories:
Ferrari was definitely the closest on track with predominantly low-speed corners, like Monaco and the Hungaroring. Vettel even had a searing pace coming from the back in Montreal. And they’ve also been the closest here last year too.
I think Mercedes do have a capable aero package, it’s just that aero does not weight as much more here compared to mechanical grip as it does on other tracks – and in terms of mechanical grip, James Allison seems to have nailed this Ferrari about as much as he nailed his 2012-2013 Lotuses.
Mercedes cannot use its other big strength, power, either.
All in all, I guess it’s been a perfect storm once (again, like in Sepang, although with other bunch of factors lining up): less reliance on aero, on power, higher tyre pressures, bumpier track, long layout to accentuate differences and Vettel and Ricciardo who’ve always done exceptionally well here (probably only Alonso matches them here).
@Atticus-2
From the forum
- Vettel’s conduct after his victory yesterday drew praise from @omarr-pepper
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On this day in F1
Lewis Hamilton won the Singapore Grand Prix on this day last year after team mate Nico Rosberg’s car broke down.
Tyler (@tdog)
21st September 2015, 1:12
Assuming the Grosjean to Haas stories are accurate, I hope that Renault (née Lotus) replace him with Vergne. It would be great to see him return to F1.
Pete (@repete86)
21st September 2015, 1:36
+1 Even if it’s not accurate, Vergne to Haas would be nice.
Sven (@crammond)
21st September 2015, 1:38
I´d assume Grosjean wouldn´t leave the team, and Maldonado wouldn´t be confirmed to stay, if Renault took over. To me this looks like they are pulling out and not take over Lotus.
@HoHum (@hohum)
21st September 2015, 1:53
Makes me wonder if PDVSA might be buying a stake in the team rather than just buying Pastor a seat.
Jules Winfield (@jules-winfield)
21st September 2015, 13:17
To me, this looks like they are taking over Lotus (which is what all the rumours say) and Grosjean is jumping ship because he doesn’t want another year with a hopeless engine in the back of his car.
Apex Assassin
21st September 2015, 3:18
+2 so much for Palmer.
anon
21st September 2015, 6:30
Why are you sad for Palmer? The guy is considerably overrated – we’re talking about somebody who was the worst rookie in GP2 when he joined that series (managing to be beaten by several drivers who didn’t even complete a full season) and managed to get himself thrashed by Marcus Ericsson in GP2.
Jack (@jmc200)
21st September 2015, 11:22
Nasr beat him in 2013 too.
BasCB (@bascb)
21st September 2015, 6:22
I would think that Pic has a good shot – it might have been a way to settle the dispute (see Spa), and he can bring some money from his family business, who also have long standing ties with Renault @tdog, and its clear that Renault is looking at where to get the budgets from (why else re-sign Pastor).
Also, next years car will either have to run a mercedes engine, or be somewhat compromised to fit the Renault engine (as by now the mechanics are probably pretty much done for next years car), so its not all that likely they will be able to make a big step up next year.
JCost (@jcost)
21st September 2015, 9:23
Expect fierce competition; the entire F1 refugee community now racing in Formula E is craving for the new Renault seat (s).
David Not Coulthard (@davidnotcoulthard)
21st September 2015, 11:34
@tdog Nee Toleman :)
OOliver
21st September 2015, 1:17
I have often wondered how the teams are supplied tyres.
Do the teams choose the tyres from a pool or the supplier determines the sets a team is given.
It is possible for the tyres to be exactly the same in terms of compound but just a very old batch.
@HoHum (@hohum)
21st September 2015, 1:58
That scenario would certainly fit the circumstances but I doubt the teams would not have safeguards in place to prevent such an “error” taking place.
Apex Assassin
21st September 2015, 3:20
it’s random but ask any driver and they’ll tell you no two sets of the same compound are identical – unlike with previous suppliers who had a high level of consistency. ;)
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
21st September 2015, 1:22
It’d be the end of his career if he decides to move to Haas. No offence to the american team but the chances of them coming to the sport and doing well in the short term are low to say the least.
Romain going there would be like Timo Glock switching to Virgin. He’s still in the sweetspot of his career, way too early to go down the order and endure years of development work. Gutierrez and Vergne should go to Haas, Grosjean should stay at Renault if they decide to buy Lotus.
Sauber (@mumito)
21st September 2015, 1:27
MAL has been confirmed for 2016. Do you think Renault can run with that? I think Renault is out for the time being.
Pete (@repete86)
21st September 2015, 1:36
The rumor is that Haas will be for one year only and that it’s really just so that Ferrari can evaluate him for 2017.
Simtek (@)
21st September 2015, 2:11
I wouldn’t go comparing Grosjean’s (possible) move to Glock’s. The reason Virgin and the other new teams were so poor was because they were structured around a budget cap that was never implemented. Hence, they were unable to cope with the spiralling development costs and were miles off the pace. Haas knows what he’s getting into and is taking a very smart approach. This could be more like Barrichello moving to Stewart than Glock to Virgin.
bull mello (@bullmello)
21st September 2015, 3:12
Wonder if somebody has tipped off Grosjean that the Renault buyout of Lotus is not going to happen for sure. (Somebody like Prost maybe?) This could make sense with Maldonado and his PDVSA money staying at Lotus. Guess it’s all just guessing at the moment.
Iestyn Davies (@fastiesty)
21st September 2015, 6:12
@bullmello Apparently Prost rates Vergne so I’m sure that’s who they’d look to sign and partner with Maldonado, now that PDVSA, Total, Infiniti and a historical payment mean there is enough budget to be able to.
Apex Assassin
21st September 2015, 3:21
you don’t know much about the Haas F1 team based on that statement. or RoGro’s aspirations for the Ferrari seat in 2017.
JCost (@jcost)
21st September 2015, 9:38
They lured him with the possibility to replace Kimi in 2017. That’s easily a deal breaker.
InSilico_ (@insilico)
21st September 2015, 14:19
Sadly @fer-no65.. I think you are absolutely spot on with that. Unless it’s a stepping stone to joining Ferrari in 2017, his F1 career will very probably teeter out like many other promising drivers of the past.
Sauber (@mumito)
21st September 2015, 1:26
I’m sure Haas is taking advantage of Gutierrez being mexican and bringing a ton of money. GUT has done nothing but embarrass himself in 39 races with Sauber.
C33 was a disaster, but still GUT got beaten by a mediocre pilot such as SUT. not only that….everybody still remember Rascasse mistake. Not even STE did that.
The C32 years say HUL score in 10 races and GUT in just 1. So….good car, bad car, good partner or mediocre partner GUT always is behind.
Dont get me wrong. He is a cool guy and he has the aptitude. But his head is weak. He lacks of actitude which he hides behind a pile of dolars.
I would rather see VER in Haas.
Clemsie McKenzie (@clemsiemckenzie)
21st September 2015, 9:12
While I wouldn’t be as harsh on him, I certainely don’t see why Gutierrez is so overhyped these days. Is it because he’s not racing? I don’t even understand why he is the #1 test and reserve driver at Ferrari while JEV who clearly is a very very good driver is only the sim driver. Surely Ferrari doesn’t need his cash that bad?
Anyway. I see why Haas would want him (budget would appreciate), but he clearly is no match for a Grosjean or a JEV. And I’m not saying that because I’m a Frenchman.
@HoHum (@hohum)
21st September 2015, 1:41
COTD; referencing Alonso’s success at Singapore always makes me wince.
David-A (@david-a)
21st September 2015, 1:56
Alonso finished top 4 there between 2009-2014, including a podium in the 2009 Renault, grand-chelem in 2010 and 4th in the ugly and slow F14 T.
@HoHum (@hohum)
21st September 2015, 2:01
But it’s the win that is most memorable.
OmarRoncal - Go Seb!!! - @omarr-pepper (@)
21st September 2015, 2:11
@hohum maybe @atticus-2 also admires Lance Armstrong’s victories at the Tour de France!
Just kidding ok?
Jorge Lardone (@jorge-lardone)
21st September 2015, 2:24
+1
Atticus (@atticus-2)
21st September 2015, 12:18
No issues.
@omarr-pepper
Apex Assassin
21st September 2015, 3:24
Symmonds: Guilty
Flabio: Guilty
Piquet Jr: Guilty
Renault F1: Guilty
but the guy who takes the win is innocent and allowed to keep the trophy and accolades. Ok so Alonso isn’t guilty. I can accept that. But his team is guilty and their actions literally handed him the win. That has tainted this race and the sport ever since. Sometimes justice outweighs PR, something the FIA and FOM no longer care about. All they care about is profits and public image to increase those profits. No wonder F1 is just a fancy name for hedge fund.
Asanator (@asanator)
21st September 2015, 13:42
Not just the race but the World Championship result that year!
Boomerang
22nd September 2015, 7:40
Alain Prost – Suzuka 1989 – Guilty
Ayrton Senna – Suzuka 1990 – Guilty
Michael Schumacher – Adelaide 1994 – Guilty
So what?
safeeuropeanhome (@debaser91)
21st September 2015, 1:46
Why Romain, why?
Well, if true it’s kind of obvious that Romain hopes it will give him a foot in the door at Ferrari ready for when Raikkonen leaves. But it’s a big risk as Verstappen will surely be the top person on Ferrari’s wishlist for 2017. And Vettel’s going nowhere soon. Big call.
matiascasali (@matiascasali)
21st September 2015, 2:25
If he fails with Haas, at least he will have some courage to show for. Staying in lotus -even if renault buys it- would be a waste of time. Best case scenario, he can jump to Ferrari in 2017, worst case scenario, he retires in haas building a solid mid fielder team. I guess that’s what he can hope for.
Hahostolze
21st September 2015, 9:06
Exactly this. Much as 2016 at Haas might be a year for Ferrari to assess his performance, the same will count for Verstappen at STR with a Ferrari engine. And I think Verstappen will be far superior to Grosjean
Nic
22nd September 2015, 10:31
Not far superior. Grosjean is very good and still underrated.
@HoHum (@hohum)
21st September 2015, 1:50
One really would have thought a lack of boost pressure in the plenum would have triggered alarms on the pitwall and at the factory but somehow it went unnoticed for some time. I imagine the hoseclamps will be replaced rather than re-used in future and a technical bulletin on tightening torque limits will go out to all MB engined teams.
BasCB (@bascb)
21st September 2015, 6:26
I guess nightrace, jetlag and temperatures played together to see the teams making more mistakes the last weekend, because we saw quite a few pitstop issues. And off course the SW thing for Rosberg before the race (apparently it was in Lewis car too but they fixed it before it was a problem, after finding it on Rosbergs car), and this blunder @hohum
Optimaximal
21st September 2015, 8:25
@hohum team radio did indicate the team couldn’t see the problem immediately when Hamilton reported it. I think it took them a whole lap and some visible loss of pace to get the data.
Possibly a telemetry issue caused by the EM problem around turn 19?
Nic
22nd September 2015, 10:33
Hamilton broke the rules discussing this over the radio. Why has no -one complained about this?
faulty (@faulty)
21st September 2015, 2:11
@keithcollantine
‘sup with that linkedin “title(source)” hyperlink?
Sauber (@mumito)
21st September 2015, 3:06
NObody will mention that a newbie and not so bright RSI mopped the floor with STE? First MER now RSi….I dont understand the logic of Manor. Does anybody know if STE brings a lot of money?
David Not Coulthard (@davidnotcoulthard)
21st September 2015, 11:40
@mumito Yes, I think so.
Dan Brown (@danbrown180)
21st September 2015, 15:07
I don’t think Merhi wiped the floor with Stevens…
Sauber (@mumito)
21st September 2015, 3:15
BUT has himself as one of the best drivers. His judgement is evidently wrong. I’m not talking about 2000s Jenson, nowadays HAM, ROS, VET, RAI, RIC, KVY, HUL, VES, SAI, GRO, MAS, BOT, ALO, NAS are clearly better than him. He is fighting in PER, ERI, BUT, zone…just above MER, STE, RSI. Hi is for sure in the lower 25th percentile.
And even comparing career wise…..You still have HAM, ALO, VET, RAI running.
My point is he could be more humble. Or maybe he is enjoying his last races and microphones.
macrob
21st September 2015, 9:02
No, all those are not CLEARLY better than Jenson Button…VES, SAI, GRO, NAS?? Don’t let your passions blind your judgement my friend…and if PER is such a bad driver as to put him in the bottom, how come he has been clearly driving better than the “great” HUL for a while now? He will finish this season ahead of him, he has raised his game a lot.
Jenson Button is a WC, with a lot of experience (high car development capability) and he can still be fast. I would like to see him retire in a fast McLaren-Honda, I hope he gets it, he deserves it.
Have a nice day Sauber!
Nic
22nd September 2015, 10:36
Hamilton should be more humble. It’s really grating that drivers like HAM and RAI ignore the younger drivers. ALO is all class and supports all the drivers.
Bforth (@bforth)
22nd September 2015, 17:10
Alonso supports other drivers? What, you mean like how he egged on the booing at Italy in 2013? Or how about getting so upset that a rookie was beating him in 2007 that he tried blackmailing the team for preferential treatment. That was certainly not what I would call sporting and supportive of a then-young driver.
Apex Assassin
21st September 2015, 3:25
here’s the image on the nutter in the middle of the track. shame you can’t see Vettel in the same shot to show how very dangerous it really was!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CPXSHy3UcAAH1EN.jpg
evered7 (@evered7)
21st September 2015, 3:34
Yeah sure it was only that clamp which prevented Hamilton from winning the GP and equalling Senna’s record. Vettel and Ricciardo had nothing to do with.
Sometimes they do see a different race to the general public.
David-A (@david-a)
21st September 2015, 4:31
Lesson learned. Never look in The Mirror.
Simon (@weeniebeenie)
21st September 2015, 4:29
I noticed FOM didn’t show any replays of the intruder, I assume because they think they can pretend it never happened, la la la, security at F1 is awesome that way.
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
21st September 2015, 11:09
I’ve heard he’s a member of the Strategy Group. One of the 12 mysterious yes-men who always vote with Bernie.
Theoddkiwi (@theoddkiwi)
21st September 2015, 22:28
I is probably the same principal as when there is an pitch intruder in Cricket or Rugby. The cameras avoid the intruder so the intruder does not get the publicity they are after.
Also considering often pitch invaders in cricket are streakers they like to keep things G rated.
Can’t imagine it would have been great live TV to see a car hit the guy.
Jules Winfield (@jules-winfield)
21st September 2015, 13:18
Perhaps he was a 70 year old Rolex wearer and Bernie didn’t want to upset him.
Mike
21st September 2015, 4:52
Whatever you think of Grosjean’s decision if he moves to haas. What a boon would it be for haas! Fantastic driver.
Iestyn Davies (@fastiesty)
21st September 2015, 6:15
Agree.. if we assume Hulk is the one that turned them down (they’ve said someone they offered did so), then they’ve basically scooped one of the best 2 drivers that were available, that’s a very good start.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
21st September 2015, 5:26
I largely agree with atticus although I pointed out yesterday many reasons to why there must be either something wrong in what has changed in the Merc ever since monaco or a blunder by the team. I’ll point 2 other things out. Monaco is more extreme than Singapore and Singapore has a higher power and consumption ratio than Monaco, 1.5 is a gigantic leap. Perfects storms ha happened they dont mean 2 to 3 sec swing. 3rd point aero is reliant. People are stiffening their cars as much as possible to keep the aero in-line, what doesn’t matter here is aero efficiency as everyone will put max downforce, the slippery cars were well down the grid.
CountryGent (@countrygent)
21st September 2015, 8:28
Bad news for the McLaren youngsters. Button’s seat is likely to be vacant for 2016, but with Wehrlein a dead cert for Manor and JEV equally likely to line up at Renault, the guy that doesn’t land the seat is looking set to spend 2016 on the side-lines. But who will McLaren promote? The Dane who is already exasperated after a season as a reserve, or the Belgian on a meteoric rise through single seater racing and in the eyes of many, including my own, the hotter property? Is a Luizzi/Klien style shared drive possible?
2face
21st September 2015, 10:30
What indications have you seen that Jenson won’t continue with McLaren?
Timothy Katz (@timothykatz)
21st September 2015, 11:53
This has just popped up on the Telegraph site. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/jenson-button/11879322/Jenson-Button-poised-to-quit-Formula-One.html
Can’t vouch for the accuracy, though.
JCost (@jcost)
21st September 2015, 12:00
@CountryGent And were will Mercedes place Ocon? Is Stevens on his way out at Manor?
charles (@charles)
21st September 2015, 9:21
Rossi will be at haas that’s why hes been given five races with marusia this season. I would guess that Ferrari have pulled those strings. As hass will be there torro rosso next yr. Also I think have said they want at least 1 American driver.
Andy
21st September 2015, 9:31
McLaren’s comments regarding windtunnels IMO means: Our windtunnel is ancient. We need a new one but with no investors or major sponsor we can’t afford it. So instead we will try to argue for increased CFD and ban windtunnels because we already have a room full of computers. We will frame it as a “cost reduction” argument which is in vogue these days. Problem solved!
But what Eric seems to have forgotten is that CFD is software and with software junk in = junk out. I don’t believe it is possible to know if you are putting junk into CFD or getting junk out if you don’t have a windtunnel to check!
Boomerang
21st September 2015, 9:42
I have to echo on that. RBR has to rebuild their windtunnel as well. They’re just dodging additional investment. I think that the only car designed only by using CFD was Marussia Virgin Racing. Need I say more?
Sven (@crammond)
21st September 2015, 21:12
@boomerang
Actually, the 1994 Simtek S941, designed by the same Nick Wirth who designed the first two Virgin Racing cars, has been constructed without a wind-tunnel as well.
Joao (@johnmilk)
21st September 2015, 13:59
You can always do convergence analysis, not 100€ effective, but probably close enough.
ireni
21st September 2015, 9:40
@omarr-pepper : “Ferrari was (I don’t know how) forgetting to mention Kimi on the board for the photoshoot after the race, so Seb stopped the photo in order to include Kimi. I think that shows real team spirit.”
That’s nice! Not so nice of SF though.
Fixy (@)
21st September 2015, 11:00
I thought Maldonado drove a good race. That incident with Button was careless, but he thought better of vainly resisting to either Sauber and a Toro Rosso, if I remember correctly.
lockup (@)
22nd September 2015, 10:46
True Pastor doesn’t take every single opportunity to have a collision, and you could say JB was optimistic with that move, as he was in Monaco on Heidfeld once upon a time. The question is would other drivers have put their car where Maldonado did, on the slow, dirty tight line, knowing the car behind would be going faster and committed?
I felt it was a bit of a joint effort, but it’s always Maldonado who’s part of it, being too aggressive. I can’t believe Lotus have re-signed him; I reckon they desperately need his funds signed off and have an exit clause buried somewhere, for Renault to deploy.
Atticus (@atticus-2)
21st September 2015, 12:24
Thank you for the COTD, @keithcollantine. Next time I’ll try to get my act together when it comes to grammar. :)
It’s a bit sad though that some people in the comments began arguing about the least important element of my comment, the Alonso reference.
@HoHum (@hohum)
21st September 2015, 14:05
@atticus, My apologies, I did not intend to sideline your point.
Girts (@girts)
21st September 2015, 15:24
There could be many reasons for Grosjean’s decision to leave a squad that is about to become Renault F1 Team for Ferrari’s B-team that will most likely never win a race in F1. A tie-up with Ferrari is an obvious one. However, I believe that Grosjean knows more about Renault’s plans than we do and it is possible that he thinks they are not serious enough. There are many examples where a manufacturer fails big time in motorsports, such as NISSAN at the WEC this year. If Grosjean feels this might be the case with Renault because of lack of investment, strong management or commitment in general, then it probably makes sense to leave the long-term project that Renault F1 is going to be anyway and try his luck elsewhere.
BasCB (@bascb)
21st September 2015, 16:44
Renault looking to the likes of Infinity, Total and Pastor Maldonado’s PDVSA to field the bill does hint to a lack of resources being made available @girts, I wouldn’t be surprised if they told Grosjean to bring a budget if he wants to keep his seat too.
Nic
22nd September 2015, 10:40
He’s too good for that.
Jon (@johns23)
23rd September 2015, 1:38
I feel for Grosjean as hes probably thinking how hes career has turned out from podium places to nowhere. But to go to Haas i would of thought would be the wrong decision for his career