Singapore Grand Prix 2012

Qualifying 1 of the atmospheric Singapore GP saw Perez out on track early, having missed some free practice in the morning. Alonso set the pace early on, whilst several of the cars locking up under braking particularly at turn 10. The Red Bull drivers still not recording times 6 minutes into the session. Hamilton beating Alonso's time by a second with 7 minutes to go, with Vettel and Webber close behind. With track conditions improving, Raikkonen on the super soft tyres went quickest, then Di Resta, who immediately lost the place to Grosjean who headed Quali 1, Senna squeezing into 17th whilst Kobayashi in the Sauber failed to make Quali 2

With a target time of 1.48.4/5 predicted to ensure a place in Quali 2, early runner Raikkonen put in a 1.48.261 whilst team mate Grosjean spun and hit the wall, apparently leaving the Lotus undamaged. Meanwhile several drivers opted for the super soft tyre including Vettel and Hamilton who battled for the top spot. Senna meanwhile hit the wall, damaging the rear suspension on the Williams which put him out of the session. Hamilton, Vettel and Button occupying the top 3 spots elected to stay in their garages, whilst the other drivers continued to contest the remaining places with Webber, Grosjean, Alonso, and Maldonado pushing Button down to 7th Raikkonen, Massa, Hulkenberg Perez, Vergne, Ricciardo and the stricken Senna failing to make Quali 3

The battle for Pole commenced with Button soundly beaten by Hamilton who was quickest in every sector, both cars on the super softs, the McLarens heading the initial run from Vettel, all the other contenders failing to record a time. As the clock ticked down towards 2 minutes.30 seconds and with all the cars on track apart from the two Mercedes, Grosjean looking ragged, narrowly missed the wall and failed to break into the top 3. Maldonado impressed with a 1.46.804 taking second place, Alonso losing 3rd to Vettel and 4th to Button in the final seconds, Hamilton's time could not be bettered and he secured pole alongside Maldonado and half a second ahead. Di Resta finishing 6th ahead of Webber Grosjean and the two Mercedes.

Race Day
Hamilton got a clean start, but Vettel managed to outfox the Williams of Maldonado who ran wide in Turn 1. Meanwhile the rest of the field was jockeying for position four abreast at times, but at the end of lap 1 Hamilton led Vettel from Button, Maldonado, Alonso, di Resta, Webber and Grosjean.

Vettel was first to pit on lap 10, as his tyres degraded, followed soon by Hamilton on worn tyres who exited with a fresh set of softs. Two laps later Button pitted and emerged once again behind the two front runners

Hamilton commented later that at this point he was “cruising” and holding the gap to Vettel Button meanwhile was still holding third place, but never looking as though he would catch the leaders.
Lap 23 saw Hamilton once again frustrated as gear selection problems left him with a box of neutrals, and his race came to an abrupt end.

With Hamilton out Vettel took the lead, but soon after came the first safety car period of the race as a result of Karthikeyan's crash at Turn 18. There was a mad flurry of pit stops for tyre changes, and the unfortunate retirement of Maldonado's Williams from fourth, in what had been an impressive weekend.

The safety car pulled in at the end of lap 38 with Vettel leading from Button, Alonso, an impressive Di Resta, Hulkenberg and Webber. As racing resumed, Schumacher misjudgement his braking and demolished the back of Jean Eric Vergne's car retiring both drivers and forcing the safety car back out again.

Button meanwhile nearly ran into the back of the Red Bull when Vettel was warming his brakes, and Button his tyres, but on the restart Vettel looked very comfortable in the lead, slowly extending the gap to Button, who was now well outside the DRS zone.

One of the best dices of the race was between Massa and Senna, the former completing a brave and dramatic overtaking manoeuvre on the Brazilian, who sadly later retired.

Vettel crossed the line, after the mandatory 2 hour race period ahead of Button and Alonso and said “It’s great to get the win today. I’d like to dedicate it to Professor Sid Watkins. It’s thanks to all the work he did to bring safety advancements to the sport that we can race on circuits like this”

Di Resta finished a fine 4th ahead of Rosberg, Raikkonen, Grosjean, Massa, Ricciardo with Webber finishing 10th after his 3 stop strategy was foiled by the safety car. Subsequently Webber was handed a 20 second post race penalty promoting Perez to the final points scoring position,

As a result of Hamilton's unfortunate retirement, the consistent Alonso extended his championship lead, with Vettel now overhauling Hamilton to take second place in the championship.