After a successful Italian GP the Williams Martin team has left Europe moving to Singapore for the 2015 Singapore GP. In what has become a popular race the demanding circuit will pose challenges for the FW37. But the team is still looking at coming away from the race with another good collection of points as they try to close the gap to Ferrari in the Constructors championship.
A modern-day classic despite
its unusual timings as a night race, Singapore has become a popular stop
for the Formula One paddock. Due to the high humidity the drivers lose
up to three kilos in sweat during the race, so preparation is vital to
maintain concentration amidst the looming street circuit barriers.
The race’s susceptibility for safety cars makes it one of the longest of
the season, and it often finishes close to the FIA’s two hour time
limit. Good traction and car stability are vital for a good lap time due
to the bumpy nature of the circuit but unlike other street circuits,
overtaking is possible.
ROB SMEDLEY:
On the back of a successful weekend in Monza, the team heads to
Singapore in good spirits and hopeful of scoring some good points. It’s
a street circuit and a night race so it poses some very significant
challenges. It’s very long with 23 corners which are a challenge for the
drivers physically, and also for the engineers because of their relative
low speed. It starts off as an understeer circuit which develops to
include tyre degradation on the rear tyres which causes traction issues
in the race. The ambient conditions are tough on both the drivers and
the crew alike, as are the abnormal working hours which everyone has to
get used to. There have been a few small changes in the layout but the
drivers have worked in the simulator to understand this. Singapore has
become a jewel in the crown of Formula One as it epitomises what we love
about the sport.
FELIPE MASSA:
It’s a fantastic race and I love to visit Singapore; the city is
incredible and the people are really friendly. There are a lot of
passionate fans so I hope we can deliver a good performance. It’s not
easy to get the set-up perfect and the tyres working in the ideal
operating window, and these are challenges we will face from the start
of the first session. Of the last remaining races this season this is
probably the hardest track for our car, but that doesn’t mean we can’t
deliver a good haul of points.
VALTTERI BOTTAS:
Singapore is a very cool place and quite unique in that it’s a night
race. Being in the middle of the city I can walk to the circuit from my
hotel which is convenient and adds to the sense of atmosphere. For the
fans there is nothing more you would want really - you can see the city
and racing all in close proximity. For the team it’s a challenging track
as there are so many corners with different characteristics which makes
it hard to get the balance perfect. The heat, humidity and intensity of
the track also makes it very physically demanding. There have been a few
changes to the track layout this year so it will be interesting to see
the effects these have.
Race Data Friday:
Practice 1: 18:00 - 19:30
Practice 2: 21:30 - 23:00 Saturday:
Practice 3: 18:00 - 19:00
Qualifying: 21:00 – 22:00 Sunday: Race: 20:00
Singapore GP: Williams Martini Grand Prix Preview
Posted by: Williams F1 (IP Logged)
Date: 16/09/2015 09:45
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