2022 Singapore GP: Post Race Analysis

Great post, as usual

This Singapore circuit is horrific. I was there, at the inaugural race in 2008 (I was compelled by the magic of a "night race"). The circuit is inexcusably bumpy, there's walls everywhere , and the jungle-climate humidity is so damn high (like, 80% during the day, maybe dropping to 70% at night) that if the track gets wet, with no sun (because of that nighttime "magic" ) ... it will take forever to dry.

Terrible race on a terrible track.

 

Great post as per usual!

Perez drove a fantastic race and I'm happy he got the win today, he did everything perfect. And boy did he need a good performance this weekend as he's been lacking lately. Max had a poor start (anti stall?), but was great on restarts...I'm going to guess the puddle played a bigger part than my initial reaction that he had overheating brakes due to a tear off being stuck inside them. Maybe it's a combining factor or the tear off removed itself already. His drive back through the field was yet again very impressive.

Ferrari will be depressed this weekend I reckon. Not only starting on pole but Max all the way down in 8th with a very out of character series of mistakes from Max's side of the garage in quali really gave a big opportunity to Ferrari today. Leclerc did nothing wrong at the start, he had a really good one, but it was just that Perez had an excellent start. I honestly don't know if the slow stop was a contributing factor, I know Leclerc had a very slow outlap on top of that as well, I haven't looked at all the data to see if the undercut was able to work or not. Data will likely be skewed as very shortly after a SC came out. Sainz was off the pace from Leclerc and Perez, not much can be said about his race really.

Mercedes will be seething after this race. This was THE place for them to capitalize. This car works very well on high downforce, low power tracks and they had an eye on pole. Didn't get that, fine. Lewis crashing the car once and then bizarrely driving on the wet with slicks to try and overtake Vettel who stuck to the dry line...the mind boggles. Honestly don't know what else he was expecting to happen except go straight on. Russell had a SHOCKER of a weekend, spend most of his time bitching, couldn't even get out of Q2, couldn't get passed Bottas and went on slicks WAY too early. Then crashed into Mick and yet again, refuses to take any kind of responsibility for that...not the first time this year and certainly won't be the last I suspect. I really, really wonder what went through his head this time...a left hand corner, car firmly on his right...and he drove clean into him, actually turning right before getting into the left hander. Utterly bizarre. And NO penalty points yet again, not even under investigation, nothing.

Great weekend for Mclaren with the car that they have. Norris drove the new car this weekend, Ric has to wait until next week I believe. Norris really is an underrated driver IMO. Solid performance yet again.

Aston was pretty quiet during the race but a great result for them.

Felt bad for Alonso how his 350th race ended...

Fully agree. I wish they'd return to Malaysia instead. Similarly hot but with a great, great track that is! And provided so many good races.

 

Ferrari have actually put some solid performances in lately.

I've been saying they need to stop trying to win unwinnable races, and focus on the podium and finishing so they can secure 2nd in the WCC, and it seems since Zandvoort they've grasped this. More mature and safe strategy, both Leclerc and Sainz have been focusing on just not getting involved any drama, and the team just seem to be in better form.

And I must say, I'm impressed by Mekies fighting words regarding the cap, and the open threat that Ferrari won't follow it if it's not enforced meaningfully. Maybe they need to consider promoting him to TP.

I say all this and next race will be a disaster.

 

Does anyone think that Ferrari possibly turned the PU down a bit in the races? Seems to me they were a bit faster early in the year, but had to many reliability issues. I really have no idea and I know some people here have great data. If they did compromise a bit of power for finishing in the top few I could understand that.

 

^^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^^

 

Indeed until next year they will have to run their PU in detuned mode for obvious reliability reasons.
Detuned engine means compromised aerodynamic set up.
In the end a less competitive car with limited setup.
Since Baku car isn’t the same and I strongly hope they will made a good step forward next year when our PU will be 100 percent!

 

Alonso faster than both Astons.
Perez defended very well against Charles.
More brainfarts from Ham.
Where was Ocon ?

 

Race was a bore, but seing the Goat **** up twice was nice, Russel was a clown, Max was on drugs, Goatifi never disapoints, Sainz was slow (as usual), Checo was just perfect, and Charles was ths show man, damn it was like watching Alesi or Gilles all over again, his constant slides just showed how much he was pushing that Ferrari...amazing car control and those few laps made it all worthy, that's the reason i watch!

 

Was a boring 2 car race but the impressive form of Checo is the story. Without slippery track, the tires are a non issue and we have no safety cars. Sorry but the analysis was exactly what Singapore is..............a procession. If you have no 1.5 sec per lap closure you are not going to pass here either.

Max only issue passing(besides his major brake lock up), was being behind FA in a DRS train as he stated in the press. The RedBull would have had poll had the team provided the proper amount of fuel. On to SUZUKA!!

 

The reason why overtaking was so much harder here was pretty simple: Dry line. Go off it and you can't brake, therefore not overtake.

On a dry track overtaking would've been quite possible.