FORMULA 1 - 2012

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Kubica unhurt in rally crash

Robert Kubica emerged unscathed when he left the road and crashed into the trees during the San Martino di Castrozza Rally.

The Pole, who has been out of action since suffering severe injuries in a rally crash last February, made a successful return to motorsport earlier this month winning the Ronde Gomitolo di Lana Rally in Italy.

However, Kubica's second outing in his Subaru Impreza WRC did not go according to plan.

Contesting the San Martino di Castrozza Rally on Saturday, the 27-year-old lost control of the car and ran off the road, crashing into the trees.

Both Kubica and his navigator Jakub Gerber escaped injury but were not able to continue as the car was badly damaged.

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Becoming very tired of hearing about Hamilton.......

The boy needs to grow up.

Thanks once again for the great updates mate.

Mate, I feel the same way about Hamilton.

Almost tempted to ignore news on Hamilton but I am sure there are fans here...

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Returning Grosjean to help teammate's title tilt

Romain Grosjean has revealed he might give way to his teammate and title contender Kimi Raikkonen.

Returning in Singapore this weekend from his one-race ban, Frenchman Grosjean is a long way behind the sister Lotus in the drivers' standings, while Raikkonen is regarded as a dark hose for the title.

"I wouldn't say that for the rest of the season I'm here just to play a supporting role," said Grosjean.

"Of course, I want the team to achieve the best results it can and if you look at the points difference between me and Kimi it would be foolish to think only of my own results," he added.

After a very strong mid-season period, during which he was charging for victory at Valencia, Grosjean's momentum suffered a dip more recently.

But the Monza ban, for causing the start-line chaos at Spa-Francorchamps, gave him pause to learn and reflect, according to team boss Eric Boullier.

"He has definitely learned his lessons," said the Frenchman. "In a way, it will have done him good.

"We have spoken a lot about it. And definitely in some way it was best for him.

"He will be even more confident in himself and, having discussed and fixed these issues, he will be better."

Grosjean told L'Equipe that, having attended the drivers' briefing at Monza whilst serving the ban, he was greeted warmly by Fernando Alonso but ignored by Lewis Hamilton, whose race also ended at the first corner in Belgium.

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Sauber calm despite uncertain 2013 lineup

Peter Sauber insists he is not worried about the future, despite intense speculation surrounding his Swiss team's 2013 driver lineup.

The impressive Mexican Sergio Perez has been linked with moves to Ferrari or McLaren, while speculation suggests Kamui Kobayashi's place could be in danger due to the well-funded Charles Pic's solid debut for struggling Marussia.

"It's not for nothing that the Brits call this time of year 'silly season'," Sauber wrote in the Swiss newspaper Blick.

"Journalists' crazy imaginations can tend to run away," he said.

"From our side there is nothing new on the subject. The situation has remained unchanged for weeks, we are not under time pressure and will announce our drivers for 2013 in due course.

"There is no deadline. The fact is, the interest in our team is very big," said Sauber.

Indeed, the Hinwil based camp has been impressive this year with its Ferrari-powered C31; Perez finishing on the podium three times so far.

The usually mid-grid team, meanwhile, has already scored more than double its 2011 points tally.

"Quite a few experts predicted we would suffer a mid-season drop," Sauber explained, "because they assumed that we would be unable to keep up with the rate of development of our competitors.

"Actually, the opposite has happened: we are stronger now than we were at the beginning of the season.

"I am convinced that the clearly upwards trend is no accident, but the direct result of our entire organisation.

"Many experts were surprised when we announced our new structure without a technical director," said Sauber, referring to the departure early this year of James Key.

"I heard more than once that it (having no technical director) is impossible, but our results say otherwise."

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Ferrari should keep Massa for 2013 - Briatore

Flavio Briatore thinks Ferrari should sign Felipe Massa for another season. The Italian team is openly undecided over its choice of teammate for Fernando Alonso next year, but former Renault boss Briatore said: "I would keep Massa for another year".

"Massa is a good driver but he should never compare his times with those of Alonso," Italian Briatore is quoted by Corriere dello Sport. Briatore, who remains involved in Alonso's management and was in charge at Renault when the Spaniard won his back-to-back titles, baulked at reports linking Sebastian Vettel with Ferrari.

"I would never put Vettel and Alonso together so long as there is only one title for one driver," he insisted.

"We have seen it so many times in F1: Prost-Senna, Mansell-Prost, Alonso-Hamilton. They were experiments that divided the team and cost the drivers as well.

"Put it this way: if I had a slow driver, I would put someone beside him who is even slower," he smiled.

Massa said at the weekend he is hoping to hear "good news soon" about his future.

"I have no news yet, but results help, and I think that it won't take long," said the Brazilian.

David Brabham, the son of triple world champion Sir Jack and a former Simtek driver, spoke in support of the struggling Massa whilst competing at a sports car race in Sao Paulo at the weekend.

"It is common in any sport to lose confidence after a serious accident," the Australian is quoted by Globo. "He probably didn't come back the same, but he's getting there.

"I don't know what Ferrari will do, but I believe he (Massa) would have a better year in 2013," said Brabham.

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Bruno Senna expects strong outing for Williams in the Singapore GP

Bruno Senna thinks Williams can look forward to one of its more competitive outings in Singapore this weekend.

The high-downforce nature of the Marina Bay circuit should play well to the strengths of the FW34.

And, after Senna scored a single point for the team at the Italian Grand Prix a fortnight ago, he is positive that an even bigger haul should be possible this time out.

"Singapore should suit our car because it's a high downforce and load circuit and that's where the car feels at home the most," he said.

"Of course it's hard to judge where we will be as others teams are improving all the time, but if we can score points in Monza then we should be looking to get further into the top ten in Singapore.

"I had a good performance there last year as well so that always gives you a boost before a race."

At Singapore in 2011, Senna outpaced team-mate Vitaly Petrov on what had been a difficult weekend for the then Renault outfit.

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Lotus to try new rear wing in the Singapore Grand Prix

Lotus will introduce a new rear wing for this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix that should improve its DRS-performance.

As the Enstone-based outfit bids to get back to fighting for the podium, following a disappointing weekend in Italy, the team is confident that the high-downforce nature of Singapore will play better to its car strengths.

As part of a package of improvements it is bringing to the race, the new rear wing should allow it to produce maximum grip in the corners without compromising its straight-line performance when DRS is activated.

Technical director James Allison said: "We have a new floor and a new rear wing. The new rear wing operates at the same downforce level as our Monaco spec rear wing, but with a better DRS delta. This means that this wing has better DRS switching from its maximum drag to its reduced drag settings.

"We believe we've been able to produce a rear wing which is at the higher end of the downforce spectrum but still able to allow the lion's share of the DRS potential which is more difficult to achieve at high downforce levels. It will be interesting to see how it works on track."

The new wing is a separate development from Lotus' version of double-DRS, which is due to return to the track at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Team principal Eric Boullier said about the device not being used in Singapore: "It would not suit the track's characteristics. This system should be back in Japan. That said, we have a few upgrades scheduled for Singapore and they should bring some extra performance."

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BBC SEEKS NEW FACE OF F1 AS JAKE HUMPHREY QUITS THE CORPORATION:

The BBC is looking for a new presenter of its Formula 1 coverage in the UK after the main presenter Jake Humphrey announced that he is to leave the Corporation after 10 years.

Humphrey will become one of the best paid presenters in sport as the face of BT Vision's ambitious new Premier League football offering, due to start next season. It moves him away from Formula 1, which he has presented since March 2009.

It's an interesting move for the likeable Humphrey, who was well placed to become the main presenter for BBC Sport in the near future. He fronted the cycling at the London Olympics and has also presented part of the Euro 2012 football tournament.

It will take him away from the mainstream in one sense, but as TV fragments and moves towards convergence with the internet, he will be very well placed for the future. Broadcasters like Al Jazeera are expected to come into the domestic football rights war in three years time as they build up to their World Cup in 2022.

Humphrey will have the opportunity to host BT's 38 live Premier League games each season for three years. The deal is a huge gamble for BT, which has paid £738 million for the rights. That they have entrusted the delivery of that to Humphrey is a sign of his standing in the industry. In that sense he is a loss to F1.

It leaves the BBC thinking about how they replace him, as they had built the whole presentation around a Top Gear-style 'three amigos' dynamic with Humphrey's playing along in increasingly ridiculous sketches with the antics of Eddie Jordan and the mild dissaproval of David Coulthard.

Lee McKenzie has deputised for Humphrey during his enforced absences on other sports duties in the last couple of years and the BBC may go with her for its 10 live races and 10 highlights races each season.

But the dynamic with the other two other male presenters will clearly change, so it requires a root and branch rethink.

At the end of last season the BBC lost Martin Brundle and Ted Kratitz to the new Sky Sports F1 HD team. Coulthard's popularity as a pundit and commentator has soared since then.

"I am incredibly excited to be joining the team at BT not just because I get to fulfil a lifelong dream of presenting the Barclays Premier League but because of the fresh perspective that BT will bring to both sport and broadcasting in this country," said Humphrey.

"To be a part of this young, vibrant team who are as passionate about sport as I am, is a privilege. I've grown up at the BBC, and whilst I hope to work with them in the future, I'd also like to place on record my thanks to them.

"I am incredibly grateful to all colleagues, and of course the viewers, for their incredible support from CBBC all the way to Formula 1. My focus from the start of 2013 is on making BT's coverage of football the best this country has ever seen."

MIKA: I already sent my resume.

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WOULD YOU WANT TO BE APPRENTICE TO FLAVIO BRIATORE?

On the theme of television, former F1 team boss Flavio Briatore is the central character in the Italian version of “The Apprentice” – a reality series which originated in the UK with entrepreneur Alan Sugar.

The Italian series begins tonight (18th September) at 9pm on Cielo channel in Italy. Briatore will mentor around 14 young go-getters who want to get ahead in business. The idea is that each week he sets them a business task and then fires the one who performs the worst until he is left with the winner, who will become his Apprentice for a year.

Air Asia and Caterham F1 boss Tony Fernandes has been approached to do something similar in his native Malaysia.

Briatore, who rose to prominence with the Benetton group, came into F1 in 1989 and oversaw F1 world championships with Michael Schumacher (1994/5) and Fernando Alonso (2005/6).

He is still serving a ban from motor sport for his part in the Crashgate scandal which rocked F1 in 2009, when Nelson Piquet Junior admitted deliberately crashing his car in a hard to reach place during the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix of 2008, causing a safety car deployment which worked in the favour of his then Renault team mate Alonso. Alonso won the race.

The ensuing scandal led indirectly to Renault withdrawing from the sport as a works team as well as a ban for Briatore and Pat Symonds, the director of engineering.

Those bans will expire at the end of the 2012 season.

MIKA: Better hair than Donald Trump!

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Massa in the dark over his future

Felipe Massa concedes it is not ideal to be in the dark over his future, but is nevertheless determined to secure good results in order to stay at Ferrari.

The Brazilian's contract with the Scuderia runs out at the end of the season and the powers that be are keeping mum over whether or not they will offer him a new deal.

Many believed he would be shown the door midway through the year after he picked up only 11 points in the first eight races, but he has stepped it up in recent grands prix.

His improved performances have led to speculation that Ferrari might not get rid of him after all, but Massa says the team bosses are yet to reveal their hand to him.

"There is no news on my future at the moment, but there's no doubt that good results will help," he told the official Ferrari website.

"I just need to keep pushing hard and getting good results, in the hope of hearing some good news soon. It's always better to know what the situation is, as of course I want to know what I'm doing next year. But I can tell you that it's never happened that I'm in the car in the middle of the race and I start thinking about what I'll do next year!

"However, I know that results are what matter, so if the situation arises where you have to take a risk in the race, then you have to think carefully about it, as you know your priority is to finish the race."

Next up on the Formula One calendar is the Singapore Grand Prix and Massa is no doubt hoping to repeat his Monza success at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

"I like the Singapore track and I feel the circuit suits me, even if I've never had much luck there," said the Brazilian, "so I'm definitely looking for another good result and I hope I can do even better than in the last two races.

"Touch wood we can continue the same way, after what were definitely good races in Spa and Monza. I picked up a good number of points, which was especially important if you look at the state of play in the championship right now and then compare it to how things were at the beginning of the year."

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Wolff: 'Nice guy' Pastor is learning

Williams executive director Toto Wolff has backed Pastor Maldonado to come back stronger following his recent woes.

Maldonado isn't exactly the most popular driver in Formula One at the moment as he has received criticism from various corners for his aggressive driving style.

The Venezuelan has incurred a host of penalties so far this season, but he has also proved that he tremendous potential with victory at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Wolff, who believes Maldonado is paying a heavy price for putting one foot wrong in Monaco, is confident the 27-year-old will learn from recent events.

"He's got a huge raw talent - he is extremely fast. And he is a nice guy, which is important because you need to be socially competent to function in that environment," he told the official Formula 1 website.

"The new generation of drivers needs to be like that.

"Yes, he seems to struggle in some situations in the race. From one stupid, heated incident in Monaco it has almost become an avalanche - and this is affecting his performance. But I think he has understood now that he has to take a different approach - this is not GP2.

"But he is an intelligent guy and he will learn from it. He understands that he is in a difficult situation, but he will rise above it. Of that I am 100 percent sure.

"Remember Ayrton Senna in the beginning? Nobody wanted to touch him. In those days there weren't many grid penalties, but had there been he would probably have had to go back 10 places on the grid many times. (laughs)"

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Lotus eye DRS boost

The Lotus E20 will sport a new rear wing and new floor at the Singapore Grand Prix with the latter expected to give the team a boost in the DRS zone.

Technical director James Allison believes the new wing in particular will help to improve their DRS performances without having a negative impact ont heir straightline speed.

"We have a new floor and a new rear wing. The new rear wing operates at the same downforce level as our Monaco spec rear wing, but with a better DRS delta. This means that this wing has better DRS switching from its maximum drag to its reduced drag settings," he is quoted as saying by Autosport.

"We believe we've been able to produce a rear wing which is at the higher end of the downforce spectrum but still able to allow the lion's share of the DRS potential which is more difficult to achieve at high downforce levels. It will be interesting to see how it works on track."

The Enstone squad have also been working on a double-DRS in recent months, but the innovation won't be used at the Marina Bay Circuit this weekend as it unlikely to be compatibale with the street circuit.

"It would not suit the track's characteristics," team boss Eric Boullier said. "This system should be back in Japan. That said, we have a few upgrades scheduled for Singapore and they should bring some extra performance."

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Teams agree to cover up ugly noses for 2013

Formula 1 teams have agreed an amendment to the 2013 regulations, yet to be finalised, which will see the stepped noses disappear next season.

The majority of the cars on the grid, bar McLaren's MP4-27 and Marussia's MR01, feature a stepped nose which came as the result of new regulations for 2012 to reduce the risk of a car launching into the air should the nose make contact with the rear of another car - much like Mark Webber and Heikki Kovalainen at the 2010 European Grand Prix.

The new-look received mainly negative feedback from fans who branded the noses 'ugly'. The new regulations give a team the option to cover the step with a 'modesty panel', which simply hides the step according to McLaren's technical director Paddy Lowe.

"We have agreed a rule that allows a 'modesty panel', which in effect means you can take the existing cars and existing structures that have a step and put a cover there," said Lowe.

"The way it's managed is that the laminate and size of that panel is limited so that you can't create an aero [advantage] out of it and also so that it plays no part in the forward impact."

All 12 teams have agreed to the alteration, therefore it's almost guaranteed to be included in the next issue of the technical regulations.

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HRT will incorporate new upgrades at Singapore

Madrid - With the European part of the season completed the Formula 1 World Championship heads east for a swing of five Asian races that begins with the Singapore Grand Prix on the weekend of the 21st to the 23rd of September.

This event stands out because of its singularity as it is the only nocturnal Grand Prix on the calendar and the European time zone is respected meaning that teams work at night and rest throughout the day.

After a special weekend in Italy, the objective of HRT Formula 1 Team is to maintain the reliability that led both cars to cross the finish line in Monza and progress with the upgrades which will be introduced to the car in Singapore.

After a positive debut at the Italian Grand Prix, Ma Qing Hua will step into the F112 once again for the first free practice session, replacing Narain Karthikeyan and joining Pedro de la Rosa.

The Marina Bay Street Circuit has hosted the Singapore Grand Prix since 2008. It's a slow, bumpy and narrow anti-clockwise track and is also a very physically demanding test for the drivers given the high temperatures and humidity. Pirelli has elected its supersoft and soft tyres for this Grand Prix.

Pedro de la Rosa: "I've never raced at Singapore but I know the circuit because of my simulator work as a test driver for McLaren. It's a spectacular track and probably the toughest circuit on the brakes in the entire Championship besides being a very physically demanding race because of the heat and humidity.

We should have a good performance as there are many slow corners and it is quite similar to Monaco. Besides, we've got an aero upgrade which should help us to cut down the gap to our rivals. I have to make the most of the practice session to adapt to the circuit but I'm up for the challenge".

Narain Karthikeyan: "Singapore has a spectacular atmosphere as the race takes place under artificial lighting. The Marina Bay Street Circuit is bumpy and very complicated. You can't make any mistakes as it is a street circuit. Besides, it's also very demanding physically because of the high temperatures and humidity.

I arrive here extremely motivated and in good form after a good weekend in Italy and we've also brought upgrades which we hope will help us improve our race pace a little bit more".

Ma Qing Hua: ""I'm very happy to drive the F112 for a second time in a row and I really appreciate the opportunity HRT is giving me. It will be very exciting to drive a F1 around the streets of Singapore. It's a very demanding track for all of us, but it will be even more of a challenge for me as this is only the second time I will be driving the car at a race weekend.

But I am looking forward to it and the laps that I added to my tally at the last Grand Prix in Monza have given me plenty of confidence. I have prepared myself in the simulator as well as doing some specific exercises to be used to driving at night.

This is yet again another step in my career and I look forward to getting more experience at the wheel of a Formula 1 car as well as doing my best to help the team to prepare for the race".

Luis Pérez-Sala, Team Principal: "I don't personally know the Marina Bay Street Circuit but I'm really looking forward to getting to know it since everyone says it's one of the most beautiful races in the Championship. But also because in Singapore we're incorporating the second major upgrade to the car of the season which we hope will help us take another step forward.

Ma will step into the car once more for the first free practice session and the objective is for him to continue learning and improving as he did in Monza, where we were very happy with his work and performance. Pedro and Narain come on the back of a good race in Italy and we hope that with the upgrades they can get even closer to our rivals".

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Lotus's drivers impressions about Singapore GP

Kimi Räikkönen: "Third in the championship is good, but second is just one point away…"

On what was one of the team's most difficult weekends in terms of pace, Kimi Räikkönen's strong run to fifth place in Monza moved the Flying Finn into third position in the Drivers' Championship, just one point off second spot. More to come? We asked the man himself…

Are you looking forward to the Singapore Grand Prix?

I really like going to Singapore. It's a great place to be, I love the local food and I don't mind the unusual times we run in the car. I have some unfinished business after my two GPs there so far, as I have never scored a point.

That doesn't mean I'm not quick there as I've been told I still hold the lap record from 2008. I crashed while fighting for fifth place that year and finished down in tenth in 2009, so I want better this time.

What difference does it make racing at night?

In the first two years of this GP, I was a little bit surprised by how people were talking so much about the different timing. When they switch on the lights, it's exactly the same as racing in the day time. I think everybody in F1 enjoys the night race in Singapore.

It's worked out really well as it's a buzzing city and lots of people turn up. Apart from one or two dark spots in the run-off areas the circuit is very well lit, so there is not a big difference to racing in the day.

Regardless of being at night, it's another street race; what effect does this have?

Monaco was not that good for us, but Valencia was one of the best weekends so far. Obviously, there is no reason why Singapore should be any different compared to Valencia. Like at every street circuit, it's very difficult to pass other cars there, so starting the race as high as possible on the grid is a very important factor to get a good result.

How do you think the circuit will suit the E20?

Everybody will bring updates to this race so we'll have to see what difference that makes. It's a case of trying to get the maximum from our package and working on achieving the best balance. If we get everything right we should do okay.

What's your target?

Obviously, the podium is a target again. We have had six podiums so far and scored as many points as the top guys in last few races. We have managed to get everything out of our package. Hopefully we are able to carry on in the next races, too.

Any worries about the weather?

Every year they say that it will rain in Singapore when the evening comes. Well, we'll see when we're there. It's no use to worry about it. It will be the same for everybody, anyway.

Monza was a tough race for the team?

We didn't have enough speed in the car. We were thinking that sixth or seventh would be a realistic finishing position so fifth was probably the maximum we could have achieved. Our speed down the straights wasn't so good, which made it quite tricky to defend from cars behind. When you look at it like that it's not a bad result.

You're up to third in the Drivers' Championship. How high up the order can you go?

We've lost some points to Fernando [Alonso] which is not so good, but we still managed a decent result in Italy and it's good to be up to third in the Championship. It's impossible to say how this season will turn out, but we're very close to second. We'll see what happens in the next few races.

Romain Grosjean: "The support I have from the team is amazing"

After a weekend on the sidelines in Italy, Romain is back in the hot seat for the Singapore Grand Prix and keen to put his learning experience from Monza into practice...

Obviously watching the race from the pit wall in Monza was not ideal; do you feel you gained anything from that experience?

I think for me, the main thing about Monza was being in the garage and feeling the support I had from the team. It was really nice and I think that's something a driver needs. We're a family here and it meant a lot to me.

Apart from that, being on the pit wall with the engineers and looking at the data is always useful. You get another perspective on how the cars are performing, where the differences are, what can be improved and so on.

I can still learn a lot from Kimi too; he has a huge amount of experience. As a team-mate he is both challenging and fantastic; challenging because he is so quick and has abilities I have yet to develop, but fantastic because he is also a great example to follow in the way he can switch his mind set so quickly during a race weekend to be entirely focused on the job.

Apart from actually being in the car, I think the weekend in Monza was the best preparation I could have for Singapore.

The last few races have been a bit of a mixed bag for you it seems; what will be the key to hitting top form over the rest of the season?

I would say that since Hockenheim I haven't really had the same connection with the car as I had previously. At the start of the season I felt very comfortable and by the time we got to Valencia the sensation I had in the car was just amazing.

Whether it's the tyres, the setup or something in my driving style I'm not 100% sure; we need to go through everything and find out. The grids are so close this year that any tiny thing can mean the difference between being at the front and sitting in the midfield. I'm determined to find that synergy with the car again in Singapore and carry it through the rest of the season.

Kimi has now moved up to P3 in the Drivers' Championship; will this affect your approach if you are racing alongside him at any stage?

I wouldn't say that for the rest of the season I'm here just to play a supporting role; if I have the opportunity to reach the podium, or even a win, then I will take it.

Of course, I want the team to achieve the best results it can and if you look at the points difference between me and Kimi it would be foolish to think only of my own results. Let's hope we can have a fantastic end to the season for me, Kimi and the team.

What are your thoughts heading to Singapore?

Singapore is a pretty special race with it being held at night; it makes a great show for the fans. It's a pretty cool city. I haven't got much experience of the circuit so far; my first race here was back in 2009 and that was a difficult weekend, but I'm looking forward to getting back in the car, learning the track a bit better and putting everything in place for the rest of the season.

It's another circuit, another race and a chance for me to get back out there and do my best. I want to qualify well, be as close to possible to Kimi in terms of performance and score points for the team in the Constructors' Championship.

You've always seemed to go pretty well at street circuits; looking at the layout here, do you think this is a track that should suit both yourself and the car?

I think so yes. It's a very high downforce track and that seems to suit us best as we saw in Budapest. In terms of the tyres I think we should be looking good too; it's always an interesting race, so I'm looking forward to it.

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Sahara Force India on 2012 Singapore GP - Hulkenberg’s video preview

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Pirelli Zero Yellow and P Zero Red under the lights of Singapore

Milan Pirelli's P Zero Yellow soft tyres and P Zero Red supersoft have been nominated for the Marina Bay circuit in Singapore, the only race of the year that takes place at night.

This produces some unusual variables, with the Formula One paddock living on European time (as every session takes place six hours later than it does usually) and ambient and track temperatures that tend to fall, rather than rise, during the course of the grand prix.

One constant is the humidity, which tends to remain within 75% to 90% throughout the weekend. Marina Bay is a street circuit where traction is critical as it contains the second-highest number of corners (23) seen all year.

The asphalt tends to be bumpy and slippery, and grip is further compromised by street furniture such as manhole covers and painted white lines. Nonetheless, the cars manage to generate up to 4.3g under braking despite the lack of adhesion.

With 61 5.073-kilometre laps, which are run anti-clockwise, the race tends to come close to the full two-hour time limit, so coupled with the heat, humidity and constant bumps, this makes it a very physical experience for the drivers as well as tough on the cars and tyres.

In the opening sequence of corners from turns one to three for example, there is a double change in direction that places particularly heavy demands on the tyres.

The driver tends to leave the braking as late as possible, turning in and decelerating at the same time. This subjects the tyre to both longitudinal and lateral forces at the same time, working the structure hard.

The integrity of the construction though guarantees the driver optimal precision and perfect adhesion to the racing line: vital in the tight confines of Singapore, where mistakes rarely go unpunished.

Pirelli's motorsport director says:

Paul Hembery: "Personally speaking I love the Singapore Grand Prix: it makes for an amazing spectacle at night with a great atmosphere and a fantastic challenge for our tyres.

Due to the unusual circumstances in which the race is run, under more than a thousand spotlights, the teams and drivers have to think very hard about strategy as track conditions and evolution are somewhat different than you would find in a normal daytime race.

One factor that could certainly come into play is safety cars: during every single Singapore Grand Prix that has been held so far since 2008 the safety car has come out at some point.

This means that strategies have to be flexible as well as effective in order to quickly take advantage of any potential neutralisation.

While the humidity is constantly high, it hasn't yet rained in any Singapore Grand Prix so this should be the same again this year and we are likely to see the ultimate performance offered by the two softest slick compounds in our Formula One range.

Last year's race was won with a three-stop strategy by Sebastian Vettel, but Lewis Hamilton finished fifth after stopping four times and taking a drive-through penalty as well. As average speeds are not very high, degradation should not be an issue if wheelspin is controlled out of the slower corners, which can lead to overheating."

The men behind the steering wheel say:

Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham): "Singapore is a very cool race. It's an amazing place to have a grand prix and it must be incredible for the fans, watching the cars running flat out through the streets at night.

In the cockpit it's really no different to a normal street race: the lights are so good we don't have any problems with visibility. But I've seen the TV images from above the track and the overhead shots from the helicopters with the whole circuit lit up, which are pretty hardcore!

From a technical point of view one of the keys to set-up in Singapore track is finding good braking stability and maximum traction. It's a high downforce track that is hard on brake temperatures and still pretty bumpy, especially around turns 13 and 14, even after it was resurfaced in 2010.

We'll have the soft and supersoft Pirelli P Zero tyre compounds in Singapore, just like we did in Monaco, and while it will be hotter in Singapore than it was in Monte Carlo it's likely to be similar in terms of degradation.

All year tyre management has been key to performance and I think hotter track temperatures and the nature of the track might suit us. It did in Monaco, so hopefully we can have a similar race in Singapore as we did back in May."

Pirelli's test driver says:

Jaime Alguersuari: "Singapore has high thermal degradation because of the high temperatures, but the main thing that everyone notices is the humidity, which is one of the factors that makes it such a tough race for the drivers.

Soft and supersoft is a very good choice for this track: it's nice to get back to the softer compounds after the recent races on the harder ones, as you get so much performance from them.

The feeling in Singapore is a little bit like Monte Carlo but actually more fun as there are more opportunities to overtake.

I don't think you could try a one-stop strategy like Monaco though: instead I think we will see two stops. Having said that, the actual tyre degradation itself is low and that is because there is not so much energy going through them, because while there are lot of corners they are all quite slow."

Technical tyre notes:

• The cars start the Singapore Grand Prix with the heaviest fuel load of the year, which affects tyre wear at the beginning of the race in particular. As well as being a long race, fuel consumption per kilometre is one of the highest of the year due to the stop-start nature of the circuit. Around half the lap is spent on full throttle, but there are also several braking areas.

• One of the toughest corners for the tyres is Singapore Sling, which comes after the longest straight of the lap. Although it's not the fastest corner the drivers use the kerbs to carry more speed, with the tyres hitting the kerbing hard at around 130kph.

• An important factor affecting the race strategy is the time needed to make a pit stop. Singapore has one of the highest pit stop times of the year, due to a lower pit lane speed limit than most races (60kph) and a 404-metre pit lane.

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Mateschitz wants Renault to dump alternator supplier

Red Bull wants Renault to dump its alternator supplier.

The reigning champions have been dogged by a recurring reliability problem in 2012, which cost Sebastian Vettel victory at Valencia and crucial points at Monza.

The faulty component, which has also failed in other Renault-powered cars this year including the Lotus and the Pirelli test car, is the alternator supplied by Italian company Magneti Marelli.

"I want Renault to separate from its supplier Magneti Marelli and use someone else," Red Bull team boss Dietrich Mateschitz is quoted by Germany's Auto Bild Motorsport.

Renault Sport's Remi Taffin confirmed that the French marque is considering its works partner's request.

Despite a testy relationship between Red Bull and McLaren, it is believed one of the only ready alternatives to Magneti Marelli is McLaren Electronic Systems (MES).

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F1 peers admit Alonso best of 2012

Fernando Alonso is clearly the standout driver of the 2012 season so far, two of his peers have explained.

Narain Karthikeyan, who usually brings up the rear of the field in his HRT, said the championship leader has performed above the level of the Ferrari.

"Alonso is pulling out something much more than what that Ferrari is capable of," the Indian told the PTI news agency.

"He is thinking a lot about it. Whether is wet or dry or whatever, he is still doing a tremendous job. In the races he knows he can't win he is (still) taking away huge chunks of points from his rivals.

"He is 37 points ahead of his closest rival Lewis (Hamilton) and it will be hard to stop him," added Karthikeyan.

Also backing Alonso for 2012 glory is his former rival and friend Robert Kubica, who has returned to the public eye after a 19-month recuperation from injury.

"It's a very interesting championship," the Pole told Italy's Omnicorse.

"It's difficult to read because the balance of power has been changing often, but there has been one driver who has made the difference with something other than the best car.

"Fernando (Alonso) showed from the first race that he has the edge over all the others, because he is maybe the only one able to make a difference even with an uncompetitive car.

"He's the favourite," said Kubica. "He's out of this world and I don't see any big rivals for him.

"Knowing F1, we can't say that the season is decided already, but if there is no car that is much better than his, then I think Alonso is 80 per cent sure (to win)," added Kubica.

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F1 return for Kubica still possible - Hakkinen

Mika Hakkinen has revealed he thinks it is possible Robert Kubica will return to formula one. "If he is able, he will surely find a place," the 1998 and 1999 world champion is quoted by the Polish publication Przeglad Sportowy.

"If he recovers his health, the future is open," said Hakkinen, referring to the former BMW and Renault driver who suffered serious injuries in a February 2011 rally crash.

Kubica has returned to the headlines this month, resuming his competitive career with a couple of minor Italian rally outings, featuring a win and a crash.

Hakkinen continued: "He was, and still is, a good driver.

"He is still young enough. Can he go back (to F1?) Sure, why not?

"Formula one is always open to talented drivers. It is a very tough sport -- it always was, but today it is harder than ever. Even if you are completely healthy, it is very difficult, and so if you have a problem, it's even harder."

Hakkinen knows well how to return from serious injury, having almost died in Adelaide in 1995, suffering a fractured skull and requiring a trackside emergency tracheotomy.

But "Robert is in a much worse situation than I was," Hakkinen admitted.

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Schumacher and Vettel team up again for ROC in Thailand

Seven-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher and his compatriot, reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel will pair up to headline this year's Race of Champions in Bangkok, organisers said on Tuesday.

The annual event features winners from various motorsport series racing in identical cars and will take place at the Rajamangala Stadium, home of Thailand's national soccer team, from Dec. 15-16.

The event has been held in Duesseldorf, Germany, for the last two years before which it made its Asian debut at Beijing's 'Bird's Nest' Olympic Stadium.

Schumacher and Vettel have teamed up for Germany to win the "Race of Nations", which forms the first half of the event, for the last five years.

"I have never raced in Thailand before so this will be an interesting addition to my motor sport travels," Schumacher said in a news release.

"Of course it means Team Germany won't have the home advantage of the past two years but Seb and I managed okay in London and Beijing so we hope it won't stop us from keeping up our run.

"Racing in a stadium is sensational and it's a very different experience for us drivers to hear the fans so close. And of course we are all professionals so the moment we close the visor we want to win…"

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Mercedes' major upgrades get Singapore Grand Prix green light

Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg's hopes of a step forward in form from Mercedes have been lifted with their team poised to race its new Coanda-effect exhausts at this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix.

The Brackley-based outfit tested a heavily revised exhaust layout on its W03 during last week's young driver test at Magny-Cours - making use of the concept that has been put to good use by a number of teams this year including Ferrari, McLaren and Sauber.

The developments completed more than 1000 kilometres during the three days of testing in the hands of Sam Bird and Brendon Hartley - and team sources suggest the outfit was hugely encouraged by the performance boost they brought to the car.

Mercedes now plans to fit the new exhaust layout to both Schumacher and Rosberg's cars in Friday practice in Singapore.

If the testing proves successful, then the team will commit to racing it on the Marina Bay circuit too.

Team principal Ross Brawn said last week that the benefits of the exhaust layout which improves exhaust and airflow to the floor of the car would be especially felt on the type of low speed corners that are so common in Singapore.

"We think that's quite significant in low speed traction," he said about where the speed was improved with the Coanda exhausts.

"The effect of the exhaust is more significant at lower speeds than higher speeds, and also brings you the balance perhaps you need for the rear tyre."

Brawn admitted at the Italian GP that the team had perhaps focused too much recently on understanding tyres, rather than bringing developments like the Coanda exhaust, which had meant it falling behind its rivals.

Mercedes also trialled a Lotus-style of double DRS during the Magny-Cours test too, but this is unlikely to be raced for a little while.

The team made significant progress with it last week and it could trial it in some Friday practice sessions to perfect its set-up before electing to race with it.

Although the W03 also appeared with a shark fin on the engine cover for the final day at Magny-Cours, AUTOSPORT has learned that this was not a performance development aimed to be raced this year but is instead part of an FIA-backed programme to help improve driver identification for fans.

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Formula 1 teams open to reviving budget cap plan

Formula 1 should give serious consideration once again to the imposition of a budget cap as a means of bringing down costs, according to leading teams.

Several F1 squads are open to the concept as they believe the sport must work much harder to ensure some teams are not priced out of existence.

FIA president Jean Todt last week warned that grid numbers would fall if costs were not reduced by 30 per cent over three years - and talks between the governing body and teams are ongoing to try and find a solution.

One idea that has gained momentum in recent discussions has been the return of a budget cap – which was first controversially proposed by former FIA president Max Mosley in 2009 but dropped following opposition from teams.

Sauber CEO Monisha Kaltenborn says that her outfit has always been in favour of such a budget restriction, although she is well aware that it must be pitched at the right level.

"We for a while have been proposing a budget cap, which we are still convinced about because it will allow everyone to make use of their strengths," she told AUTOSPORT.

"It would be a level playing field and everyone could go the way they wanted to, which I think would make the sport very exciting.

"But we should not start at a level that is even beyond what people are doing right now. Fans want to see competition between teams, and what strategic decision you take on the development side as well as on track."

Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn reckons that limits on spending are a better way forward than trying to clamp down through technical regulations.

"I think we welcome any fair and proper constraint on resources," he said, when asked by AUTOSPORT whether he felt budget caps were the most viable way to reduce costs.

"There is no attraction to spending more than you have to, to have a successful and competitive F1. Most teams on the grid are perhaps not operating to those limits, but there are five or six teams on the grid who do operate to the upper limits.

"I cannot think any of those who would not want a reduction in how much it costs to be competitive in F1, as long as it is applied fairly and as long as it is not applied with any unintentional bias towards one car over another.

"We are firm supporters of the RRA – because we think that applied is something very simple. This year is X, next year it is X minus 20 per cent and the year after it is X – 40 per cent, so it a very easy thing to pull down."

He added: "We have never demonstrated in all my years in F1 that there is any long term successful way of reducing costs through technical regulation changes, apart from the constraint on engines and gearboxes which have been fairly successful.

"If you put constraints on all those [technical] things then we are in danger of spoiling the sport, and I would certainly advocate a restraint on resources. You cannot spend more than this; you cannot have more people than this and you have to do the best job you can with what you have got. Then you still allow innovation and you still allow the spirit of F1. For me it is definitely the way to go."

Lotus boss Eric Boullier believed that a budget cap was one of only three options that F1 could adopt to control costs.

"There are three ways: budget caps, maybe a more conservative technical and sporting regulations because I am sure there are changes to be made in sporting one to save money, and the RRA.

"But what happens is going to have to suit all the teams. There is not just one way: there are three ways to make sure we can control costs in F1."

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Lotus are doing what BMW should have done in '08

Formula 1 is an incredibly competitive sport so when an opportunity to win a title comes your way, you have to grab it with both hands.

This is exactly what Lotus intend to do for the rest of 2012 as they recently said they would "push like hell" for the title.BMW Sauber was in a similar position back in 2008 in that they were not favourites, but had a chance to win the title. However they didn't take the chance. The end result was that team boss Mario Theissen paid the ultimate price when BMW pulled out of F1 at the end of 2009.

In F1 you have to live for the moment. You never know when a good chance to win the title might come round again.

Of Kimi Raikkonen's title bid Eric Boullier says: "He's currently third, one point away from Lewis Hamilton. Anything can happen."

He added: "We're not naive though, and we know that his chances are slim. However, we'll push like hell as long as there is a mathematical chance of winning it."

Back in 2008 BMW Sauber had the third quickest car on the grid (and not that far away from pacesetters McLaren and Ferrari) and Robert Kubica was making full use of it. He was utilising his incredible talent to extract the maximum from the car, and mix with the leaders in the championship fight.

In the first six races he finished in the top four five times, which included three podiums. In the seventh round at Canada he won for the first (and so far only) time.

After that race Kubica led the championship by four points. At this point you would have expected BMW to push on, and support Robert's title bid knowing that there was now a real opportunity.

However development faded away as more focus switched to the 2009 car. With sweeping regulation changes the thought was that getting a headstart on the new rules, could usurp McLaren and Ferrari.

Despite much less development over the remainder of the season on the 2008 car, Kubica defied the odds. He was in championship contention all the way to the penultimate race of the season in China.

Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa were constantly losing points, whilst Kubica was reliable, consistent and producing some incredible drives.

Just think what BMW Sauber might have been able to achieve had they pushed full throttle for that title. Robert Kubica could very well have been a world champion right now. The Pole wasn't happy about the decision.

It was a very strange move. Focussing on the next season is something a team does when the current campaign has been disappointing, not when a team is actually leading one of the championships.

Before the 2009 season when asked if he discussed the decision with BMW at the end of the season Kubica told F1 Racing magazine: "I don't think there was a lot to discuss. Of course we had meetings reviewing last season, but I will concentrate on this year. Sometimes it's very difficult to accept some situations but everybody has different views, so I will accept it."

BMW's decision to focus on 2009 backfired spectacularly as they had a very poor season. A double diffuser was the thing to have rather than KERs. The teams that paid a lot of attention to KERs lost out spectacularly.

Sacrificing the chance to win the title in 2008 to try and mount a title challenge in 2009 failed miserably.

BMW then quit the sport at the end of that year, and the team went back to being just Sauber in 2010. If they had won the 2008 title there is a chance that they could still be in the sport now.

As it transpired 2008 was their only ever chance to win the title, and they completely ignored it.

Lotus isn't going to making that same mistake. Yes, they are not the favourites for the title. McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull will be hard to beat in both championships.

However they are within range of the leaders in both the drivers' and constructors' championships. They have one of the quickest cars out there when they hit the sweet spot. They know that if they can go on a strong run there is a genuine chance of winning a title.

This is the first time the team from Enstone have had a remote chance at a title, since winning back to back championships in 2005 and 2006.

They are throwing everything at it. They will be trying a new rear wing in Singapore. In Suzuka they will finally be using their double DRS device. This along with other upgrades could be very significant for the team. There are upcoming circuits such as Suzuka, which should suit the E20 down to the ground.

Of course all this focus on trying to win in 2012 could detract from the challenge of 2013. However at least with stable regulations (in contrast to BMW's situation in 2008) upgrades on the 2012 car could be transferred over to the 2013 challenger too.

They are absolutely right to push for the 2012 title. They can't know for sure when they will next be competitive enough to mount a championship challenge.

In 2013 Red Bull could easily recover from their blip this year and become dominant again. Mercedes could finally put everything together and become very formidable.

Looking ahead to 2014 and the new engine regulations, Renault might lose the engine war to Ferrari and Mercedes. If that is the case Lotus won't have much of a chance. Engines are likely to be a huge deciding factor in whether teams are successful or not in 2014.

It might be that Lotus just miss out on the 2012 title but at least they won't have any regrets.

The difference between BMW and Lotus is that the German manufacturer weren't really racers, whereas Lotus are. Racers grasp every single opportunity however small. It was one of the reasons why Kubica joined the team (when they were still Renault) back in 2010. He would certainly approve of their approach to the rest of 2012.

Opportunity can be such a sparse thing in Formula 1 for both the drivers and the teams. It's possible to have a chance to win the title one year, and then not have another chance for another ten years.

Benetton were title winners back in 1994 and 1995. It wasn't till 2005 (then as Renault) that they had the chance to challenge for the title again.

Then look at Mika Hakkinen and Jenson Button. Button's chance to win the title didn't come till his tenth season in the sport. For Mika it was his eighth season.

Now we are in one of the most competitive eras of F1, more than ever you have to take any opportunity that comes your way. We currently have five teams in Red Bull, McLaren, Lotus, Ferrari and Mercedes who have the capability of mounting a challenge for the F1 titles.

We also have six world champion drivers amongst one of the most talented grids F1 has ever seen.

With such intense competition, it's possible you may have to wait until your next chance comes round.

When Mario Theissen retires he may sit at home one day and wonder what could have been, had his team had gone gung ho for the 2008 title, just like Lotus are now doing for the 2012 title.

[MIKA27]

HOW THE TEAMS WILL APPROACH THE SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX:

In just three years the Singapore Grand Prix, F1’s only night race, has established itself alongside Monaco as one of the two most important races on the calendar for the sport, the teams and sponsors.

But the race on the Marina Bay Circuit is also one of the longest and toughest of the year for cars, drivers and strategists. The race can last up to two hours and with high temperatures, humidity and constant braking and turning, it is a real marathon. And there has been a safety car every year to throw all the best paid plans up in the air.

Strategy wise it was a three stop race last season and this year Pirelli is again bringing the soft and supersoft tyres. However we have seen a trend this year of races taking one less stop than in 2011, so two stops will probably be the most common strategy.

Last year there was a problem with tyres getting cut by bolts set into the plastic kerbs, this will have been remedied for this year.

As the track is at sea level, the air pressure is higher, the air is more dense and this means that the fuel consumption is higher. The stop and start nature of the track further adds to this. So the cars start heavier than at many places with around 155 kilos of fuel on board -10 kg more than the average. This adds to the punishment of the tyres in the early stages of the race.

Track characteristics

Marina Bay, Singapore – 5.073 kilometres.

Race distance – 61 laps = 309.3 kilometres. 23 corners in total.. Street circuit around Singapore’s Marina Bay area.

Aerodynamic setup – High downforce.

Top speed 305km/h (with Drag Reduction System active on rear wing) – 290km/h without.

Full throttle – 45.5% of the lap time (low).

Total fuel needed for race distance – 155 kilos (average/high).

Fuel consumption – 2.26 kg per lap (average)

Time spent braking: 21% of lap.

Number of brake zones – 16. Brake wear- Very high. Toughest race of season for brakes as no cooling opportunities.

Loss time for a Pit stop = 24 seconds (very high)

Total time needed for pit stop: 26 seconds (very high)

Fuel effect (cost in lap time per 10kg of fuel carried): 0.37 seconds (high)

Form Guide

The Singapore Grand Prix is the 14th round of the 2012 FIA F1 World Championship.

McLaren has won the last three Grands Prix from pole position, making a total of five wins from 13 races for the team this season. Ferrari were strong in Monza, but that is a low downforce circuit so the carry-over to Singapore cannot be guaranteed. Red Bull has been struggling for qualifying pace lately and must urgently address this to revive the drivers’ championship campaign.

Lotus were strong in Monaco, Hungary and Valencia, which is normally a good indicator for Singapore and were good on the supersofts on Montreal, as were Sauber, with Perez taking a podium.

As far as drivers’ and teams’ form at Singapore is concerned; Alonso won the race in 2008 with Renault and 2010 with Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton won the 2009 edition for McLaren and Sebastian Vettel won last year.

Weather Forecast

The weather forecast for the weekend is for high temperatures, around 31 degrees, with little chance of rain forecast. However in four previous events rain hasn’t affected the race, so we must be due a wet race soon, given the nature of the weather in Singapore.

Likely tyre performance and other considerations

Pirelli tyre choice for Singapore: Soft (yellow markings) and Supersoft (red markings). This combination was seen in Monaco and Montreal.

In Singapore the great challenge is to look after the rear tyres, which get damaged by the constant stopping and starting at the circuit’s 23 corners. Pirelli found in its first year that it’s quite an aggressive track and the risk here is overheating the tyres, leading to the thermal degradation we saw in many of the early races this season.

It is one of the hardest races of the season for the brakes, not because of big stops from high to low speeds, but because of the frequent brake use and no straights to cool the brakes. This places an extra strain on the tyres as the red hot brakes inside the wheels cook the tyres from the inside, so tyre management is difficult.

The supersoft is expected to be around 0.8 secs faster on a lap than the soft tyre and is more heat resistant with a higher working temperature range. Last year teams tended to do more stints on the supersoft than the soft, although Ferrari favoured the soft tyre.

Number and likely timing of pit stops

Last year the top four finishers made three stops, with first and last stints on supersofts and the two middle stints on softs.

However Paul Di Resta got a sixth place finish from 10th on the grid by saving a new set of softs from qualifying to start the race on and then doing a two stop strategy with a middle stint on supersofts.

He was able to keep up a good pace on softs and leapfrog several cars who stopped three times. Sauber and Lotus will be in a position to try a similar tactic this year. Perez did something similar in Canada and Italy this year. If they can qualify well they could pose a threat in the race.

A strategy of stopping around lap 17 for new softs and then again on lap 39 for new softs looks like a competitive plan at this stage.

The time needed for a pit stop in Singapore is very long, which helps cars able to make one less stop. A safety car is likely to feature at some point and this can change the game, allowing cars which lost ground to close up and, if deployed around the time of pit stops, can change the order significantly.

Five or six laps behind a safety car also moves teams into a window of making one less stop, by extending the tyre life.

Chance of a Safety Car

The chance of a Safety Car at Singapore is very high. There has been at least one Safety Car at every Singapore GP so far with an average of 6 laps spent under Safety Car. This will further encourage teams hoping to do less stops in the races.

Recent start performance

Starts are a critical part of the race and strategy can be badly compromised by a poor start, while good starts can make strategists change their plans in the hope of a good result. Much can change. In Hungary, for example, only three drivers completed lap 1 in the same position as their grid slot.

As far as 2012 start performance is concerned drivers have gained (+) or lost (-) places off the start line this season on aggregate as follows:

Gained:


+26 Massa *****

+21 Alonso, Glock

+19 Perez***, Kovalainen

+18 Senna * *****

+13 Vergne

+12 Raikkonen

+11 Pic

+8 Karthikeyan

+7 Kobayashi****, Maldonado****

+5 Schumacher* ******, Hulkenberg

+4 Hamilton

+3 Di Resta *****

+2 Button, De la Rosa ****

+1 Petrov*****

Held position: Vettel

Lost:

-3 Grosjean** **** *****, Webber

-6 Rosberg

-14 Ricciardo*

Note- This table is intended as an indicator of trends. Where drivers have had first lap incidents which dropped them to the back of the field, they are not included above, but are detailed in the notes marked * below. This affects other drivers’ gains, but the sample still shows prevailing trends of places won and lost at the start. Belgian GP start is not included as it eliminated many cars, skewing the sample.

* Senna, Ricciardo and Hulkenberg were all involved in accidents on 1st lap in Australia

** Schumacher and Grosjean collided on Lap 1 in Malaysia, Senna and Perez pitted for wet tyres on opening lap

***Perez punctured on lap 1 in Spain and went to back of field

**** Eliminated by or involved in first lap accident in Monaco

***** Di Resta eliminated lap 1 at Silverstone, Petrov did not start

***** Massa, Senna and Grosjean involved in first lap collisions dropping them to the back

****** Schumacher forced to pit lap 1 in Hungary (lost six places)

Pit Stop League Table

Of course good strategy planning also requires good pit stop execution by the mechanics and we have seen tyre stops carried out in less than two and a half seconds by F1 teams. The record is a 2.31s stop in the German GP by McLaren.

It is clear that the field has significantly closed up in pit stops.

The league table below shows the order of the pit crews based on their fastest time in the Italian Grand Prix, from the car entering the pit lane to leaving it. The league positions from the previous race are in brackets.

1. McLaren 20.736secs (1)

2. Ferrari 21.515secs (4)

3. Red Bull 21.556secs (5)

4. Toro Rosso 21.720secs (2)

5. Lotus 21.730secs (3)

6. Williams 21.814secs (11)

7. Mercedes 21.854secs (6)

8. Caterham 21.910secs (9)

9. Marussia 22.046secs (7)

10. Force India 22.190secs (8)

11. Sauber 22.472secs (10)

12. HRT 23.488secs (12)