FORMULA 1 - 2010

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Lotus preview the Singapore GP

Heikki Kovalainen: "It’s always slightly different racing in Singapore, but it’s something I look forward to. The race organisers always do a great job in preparing the track, and it’s pretty hardcore for the fans as the cars look cool and sound amazing around the city streets. The race itself is pretty tough on the cars and the drivers, but we make sure our body clocks stay on European time and as long as we sleep well and stick to our normal schedules, we cope with it fine.

"Before the race I’ll be doing some intensive training over the next week and a half to make sure I’m ready for the remaining flyaway races. It’s important to make sure I have enough in reserve, not just for Singapore, but for what lies ahead in Japan, Korea, Brazil and Abu Dhabi."

Jarno Trulli: "I’m staying in Italy after the race and will be doing a bit of cycling with some friends in Tuscany – it’s good to relax a bit between races and catch up with friends, and combining that with a bit of training is a good way to prepare for the next race. I really like the challenge of racing in Singapore – as a driver it’s good to push yourself and while the track itself isn’t hugely different from a couple of others on the calendar, the fact that it’s a night race makes it a unique event. It’ll be good to give the fans in Singapore, so close to Malaysia, their first chance to see the car on track, so we’re all looking forward to it. In terms of preparation for the race, there isn’t a huge amount you can do – we use a clear visor to maximise visibility in the twilight conditions, but apart from making sure your body stays on European time, it’s pretty much the same as any other race – train hard for the heat and make sure you’re ready."

Mike Gascoyne, Lotus Racing Chief Technical Officer: "Looking back to Italy it was obviously not the outcome we wanted in the race, particularly after such a good weekend until that point, but Jarno’s pace was very encouraging, particularly in the race, and Heikki put in a good performance to finish 18th. Now we move on to Singapore where we will be looking to get both cars over the finish line and reinforce our position in front of the new teams. The focus now is really on the 2011 car, so we won’t be bringing any major new parts to Singapore. Despite that, I think we’ll be able to maintain the advantage we have over our nearest rivals on what is a pretty high downforce track. The track is bumpy and some of the kerbs are pretty high, so being able to deal with the bumps and the kerbs well is important. Both our drivers have reported that they feel like the car deals well with uneven surfaces, and they have the confidence to attack the kerbs in the T127, so let’s see what happens."

Tony Fernandes, Team Principal: "Singapore is going to be amazing, for me and the whole team – we’ll be making a couple of very exciting announcements over the race weekend, so it’ll be good for us on and off track. Fairuz is driving in FP1 and it’s always good to see a young Malaysian competing on a global level, particualrly for Lotus Raicng. On a purely visual level it will be very cool to see our cars under the lights, and I think that green and yellow paint scheme, with the white flashes running along the cars, will look amazing on track – it’s something the fans will love. They also need to keep an eye on the skies, as the pictures of one of our AirAsia planes in Lotus Racing colours have appeared on the internet. I was sent a few pictures of it by Twitter, and while that is obviously very cool, it means even more to me that that plane will be taking the team back home to Malaysia after the race, and that they will be taking a bit of time off between Singapore and Japan in our other home. It is great to know they can land on the other side of the world from the UK and be given the sort of welcome they will receive in Malaysia, where Lotus Racing has really touched the heart strings of a huge amount of Malaysian fans.

"Singapore itself is obviously somewhere that is very close to my heart – I know a lot of people there, and I have had a lot of emails from friends and colleagues who are very excited about seeing us on track, so I can’t wait. Singapore is where we first announced the formation of Lotus Racing, standing there in black polo shirts and black caps. Mike had brought some parts with him to show Dr Tun Mahathir and now we have gone from that small beginning, with just a few parts and a very big dream, to where we are today, and long may that dream continue."

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'Sutil leading contender to replace Schu'

Adrian Sutil is reportedly first in line to replace Michael Schumacher should the German opt to leave F1 at the end of this season.

Schumacher returned to F1 at the start of this season, signing a three-year deal with Mercedes GP.

However, his comeback has failed to reap the rewards many expected from the seven-time World Champ, prompting rumours that he could retire again at the end of the year.

"I've a hunch something fundamental has changed. I believe he is disillusioned and thinking of quitting," BBC pundit Eddie Jordan said of Schumacher in the wake of the Italian GP.

"There are too many indications that now give me the feeling he is reconsidering his commitment to his three-year contract."

And should he opt to leave, another of the BBC's team, Jonathan Legard, says it will pave the way for Force India's Sutil to make the move up the grid.

"Hearing that Sutil is leading contender to replace Schumacher at season's end IF he leaves Mercedes. Sutil out of contract at Force India," Legard wrote on Twitter.

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Sauber: New front wing and diffuser

Sauber will introduce a new aerodynamic package at next week's Singapore Grand Prix, according to tech director James Key.

After a slow start to the Championship, Sauber finally got off the mark in Turkey and have since been making small improvements as they close the gap to the midfield teams and move away from the backmarkers.

However, in only one grand prix, Hungary, has the team managed to bring both cars home in the points, a feat Sauber hopes to repeat as they introduce a revised package, including a new front wing and a new diffuser, in Singapore.

"Singapore is the start of the last five races of the season, which are all flyaways. It's a tricky, technical circuit, one that is traditionally quite bumpy, so mechanical grip and mechanical set-up are important," Key said.

"It's probably the street circuit which is closest to Monaco in terms of the nature of the corners and the extreme high downforce levels. Of course, it's a night race and unique in that respect.

"It's a case of using the car the best way possible on Friday to get the right set-up for the circuit's conditions, and trying to ensure we have a good understanding of the tyres.

"The other important thing is that it's a track where it's quite tricky to overtake, so we are going to have to concentrate specifically on the qualifying performance.

"For the car we have quite a large aerodynamic update with a new front wing, a new diffuser and various other parts around the car. We hope the new package works as planned and then we shall see how we go."

Sauber have scored 27 points so far this season and are eighth in the Constructors' Championship.

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Heidfeld: I can't wait to get back

Nick Heidfeld says he cannot wait to get back to racing as he gears up for his return at next weekend's Singapore Grand Prix.

Sauber announced earlier this week that Heidfeld would replace Pedro de la Rosa for the remaining five races of this year's Championship, rejoining the team that he raced for last season under the BMW-Sauber banner.

However, once resold back to Peter Sauber, the Swiss team boss opted not to retain Heidfeld for 2010, instead signing de la Rosa and rookie driver Kamui Kobayashi.

But, nine months later, Heidfeld is back with the team and eagerly anticipating his first grand prix since the 2009 Abu Dhabi race.

"I can't wait to get back in the race car. I'm not just very much looking forward to going racing again, as I regard it as a special bonus that my first race will be the Singapore Grand Prix," said the German.

"Two years ago this race immediately became one of my favourites. Even for a city circuit it is quite demanding. It will be interesting to see how the situation with the bumps has developed. In this regard, the track got worse from 2008 to 2009 and it was said this would be sorted out.

"The atmosphere at this night race is simply massive. Of course I can hardly imagine how the circuit will suit the car as I haven't driven it yet, but according to everything I saw and from what I have heard, the performance should be better in Singapore compared to Monza.

"Another positive thing is we found out I probably can use my seat from last year. This does not only save a lot of work, but it also gives me a good feeling because it was a very good seat and normally you have to do a lot of fine tuning until it fits that well.

"I'm also very much looking forward to really getting to know James Key and my team-mate, Kamui, and working with both of them."

MIKA: Its great to see NH return behind the wheel!

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Schumi: Three reasons to be excited

He may be one of the most experienced drivers in F1 but next weekend's Singapore GP marks a first for Michael Schumacher.

The Singapore GP, F1's only night race, hosted its inaugural event in 2008, which means Schumacher, who quit the sport at the end of 2006, has yet to compete in a Formula One grand prix under lights.

But his return to the sport this season has handed the German the opportunity to add another new experience to his F1 career.

"I have always been fond of getting to know new circuits and Singapore will definitely be an exciting adventure," said the seven-time World Champion.

"I have three reasons to look forward to the weekend; it is a new circuit for me, it is a city race and it will be my first night race.

"Driving a new track has never been too complicated for me and I am usually very quick to learn and find the rhythm."

He added: "As a team, we would like to perform strongly and we will give our maximum to deliver as good a show as possible."

Meanwhile, team boss Ross Brawn revealed that Mercedes GP head to Singapore with a few minor upgrades for their W01 as they target their third successive double points-haul.

"From our team's perspective, we have some refinements to our existing upgrades for Singapore and the high downforce set-up required for this low-speed street circuit," said Brawn.

"We have achieved decent results within the performance limitations of our car at the past two races and hope to have a strong end to the season during the final flyaway races."

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Williams confident of competitiveness

Williams' tech director Sam Michael is anticipating another competitive outing at next weekend's Singapore GP.

As they've closed the gap to the front runners, especially in qualifying, Williams have finished in the points in four of the last six races and Michael reckons there is no reason why they cannot do it again in Singapore.

"Previous Williams cars have been competitive around Singapore's street circuit so the FW32 should be as well," he said.

"With some further upgrades for the car which should improve our recent good form further, we're looking to have both drivers in the top ten in qualifying and then fighting for points in the race.

"As the season has progressed, the level of competitiveness throughout the grid has increased with closer lap times across the board.

"We don't anticipate this race to be any different."

Meanwhile, Rubens Barrichello is looking forward to Formula One's only night race, confident that his team can overcome the challenges of racing on a street circuit.

"Singapore is a lovely place to go and it's completely different to the other races on the calendar. The track is a fairly typical street circuit and it benefits from a variety of corners.

"It can be a challenge to find the optimum set-up, but that makes it more interesting, and one of the reasons I like going there so much.

"There are some overtaking opportunities, like at turn four and towards the end of the lap. People also run different strategies which gives you the chance to gain position.

"We suffered a bit with the light the first year we raced there, but the organisers have improved that now. Driving a night race is similar to watching TV in standard, not high definition; there's just a bit less precision.

"In summary, Singapore is a lovely track to drive, there's always plenty of fun during the race and it's a good event for Formula One. There's just something special about it."

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'Picture will be clearer after Singapore'

McLaren's title contenders Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button are confident of a good performance at the Singapore GP after setbacks last week at Monza.

Team principal Martin Whitmarsh said the team was travelling to Singapore with a number of new ideas and he was "feeling positive that we'll once again be in a position to race at the front."

Hamilton crashed out of the Italian Grand Prix early in the race and has now dropped behind Red Bull's Mark Webber in the Championship.

Meanwhile Button finished second behind Ferrari's Fernando Alonso but left Monza feeling the team did not get the maximum from the race.

But the McLaren team reckons that modifications to the car will improve their chances on the street track at Singapore on September 26.

"The Singapore Grand Prix will be a very interesting weekend because I think it'll give us a clearer idea of the destiny of the World Championship," Button told the team's website.

McLaren were off the pace the last time it was at a low-speed, high-downforce track, in Hungary in early August. Button finished eighth in that race, while Hamilton retired with a gearbox problem.

But revisions to the rules on bodywork flexibility and work by the team's engineers now meant the car was better suited to slower circuits.

"Singapore will be interesting for all of us - we'll not only get an idea of the speed of the Ferrari and Red Bull, but we'll get to see for the first time whether all our efforts over the past two months have helped put us back in the ballpark at high-downforce tracks," Button said.

Hamilton, who won last year in Singapore, said he had "already drawn a line under Monza" where a mistake while trying to overtake in the first lap ended his race.

"I've learnt from the experience and, while it was extremely disappointing, those things are sometimes what you need to sharpen your mind and raise your game and motivation at an extremely crucial time in the season," he said.

McLaren's engineers were positive that the team had made progress on getting the car more competitive on slower circuits.

"So I think we head into the weekend with renewed confidence following some positive tests and some developments in the wind tunnel," he said.

Whitmarsh said in just two years, the night-time Singapore Grand Prix has become "one of the highlights" of the Formula 1 calendar.

"It's the first race at a low-speed, high-downforce track since the Hungaroring back in August," he said.

"It's also the first high-downforce track we've visited since the FIA tightened up its regulations on flexible bodywork, so it's likely to give us a much clearer idea of the respective pace of the leading teams after two less-representative events in Belgium and Italy.

"This is a race the whole team looks forward to enormously, and we travel to Singapore with a number of new ideas to try out on our cars, feeling positive that we'll once again be in a position to race at the front."

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Alonso: Podium results are a necessity

Fernando Alonso concedes he needs podium finishes in the remaining races if he hopes to stand any chances of winning the World title.

This year's Championship title is heating up as with five races remaining, a total of 125 points to play for, five drivers are still in the hunt for the World title.

Just 24 points separate the five title hopefuls of which Alonso finds himself in the middle, 21 points behind Championship leader Mark Webber.

But it's not just the Drivers' Championship that is proving to be a closely-fought contest as three teams are in the race for the Constructors' crown with Ferrari in third place, 60 points behind Red Bull.

And it's the intensity of the two title fights that has Alonso admitting that just bad race could cost a driver - or a team - their chance of glory.

"If in even one or two races we are not on the podium it will become complicated," the Ferrari driver told Spanish daily Marca.

"We are moving in a circle of five drivers and all are evenly matched. We are focused on doing our job and we'll see if it's enough at the end of the season.

"Each F1 team will try to give 100 percent with both their drivers for the common good of the team. Felipe and I are going to give one hundred and it will be the same of McLaren and Red Bull."

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Renault: Finances will decide Kimi's fate

Renault's F1 chairman Gerard Lopez says the team will have to weigh up the cost before reaching a decision on whether to sign former Champ Kimi Raikkonen.

Earlier this week, the news broke that Raikkonen, who left F1 at the end of 2009 in favour of joining the World Rally Championship, had approached Renault enquiring about a 2011 race-seat.

Renault, though, do not have the financial clout to offer Raikkonen a contract in line with what he was earning during his days with Ferrari.

Added to that, the team in fact signed a paying driver this season in Vitaly Petrov, who brought in much-needed funds through his Russian backers.

As such, Lopez admits the team needs to weigh up the cost of signing a big-name, big-salary but big-draw card driver like Raikkonen versus another paying driver.

"It's funny because people now think things are going well and we're going to change drivers," Lopez told Autosport.

"There's a certain rally driver that wasn't interested in Formula 1 but now has made contact and is interested in coming back to F1, funnily enough with us, but we're not there yet."

"It's very important (the financial considerations). As I said, we use Formula 1, and we have to push our team to succeed because we use the platform to do business. And you know, it's a question of image.

"People like to do business with winning teams, so it goes hand in hand. For us still, the main consideration in this outside of Eric's [boullier] mission and the team's mission to start winning races again, is the business one.

"And it has become more important now that we've solidified the team, that we've found the sponsors, that we're bringing the sponsors, that we're doing whatever needs to be done.

"It's even more important now to build the team, to use that platform for the business side of it. And the fact that we're doing more and more deals with companies that come through Renault Formula 1 because we provide other things, I think it's even more important for 2011 than it was for 2010. In 2010 we had to rebuild. In 2011 we can focus on business."

As for Petrov's chances of retaining his race-seat next season, Lopez insists it's not about the money, rather it's about his ability out on track.

"It's not that Vitaly is a paying driver, because he's not, but certainly the sponsors that he brought or that came, which is Lada, have been very good sponsors. But Vitaly was not bringing the kind of money that people were saying.

"And he's a good driver. Vitaly was second in the GP2 Championship last year and could easily have won that championship if he hadn't had six failures last year. On top of all that, he is a driver that has 250 million Russian-speaking people that are convinced in him, so we'd be stupid not to assume that there is a business behind that.

"But we have to build the driver. He is to us a very important element, just as Robert [Kubica] is."

MIKA: It would be great to have Kimi return, but in saying that, I wonder if he will be greedy and ask too much for a race seat?

Saying this, I think also keeping Petrov would be wonderful because he has shown he is a capable driver who will become even better as he races. Petrov has great potential.

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Webber surprised to be leading after Monza

The Formula One circus moves to Singapore next weekend for the 15th round of the 2010 championship. Just five races remain on the calendar and Mark Webber leads Lewis Hamilton by five points.

The Red Bull driver seems a little surprised to be in the position he is, jokingly claiming he'd have bitten someones arm off at the start of the season for the chance to lead the championship after 14 races.

"If someone had offered me the chance [at the start of the season] to be in the lead after Monza, I would have bitten their arm off for it," the Australian told Motorsport-Total.

Whilst his lead remains narrow, less than a race win separates the top five drivers, he is in the best position to win the title.

"It's always nice to have the points on board," he said. "The other guys have to catch up first. This is not a bad place to be in for the last five races."

Webber expects a good race in Singapore where the slow, high-downforce track is suited to the strenghts of the RB6. His win in Monaco, also a slow street circuit, should boost his confidence.

"In Singapore we expect a good result. I can't wait. It is a unique race under floodlights, and the track should suit us if Monaco is anything to go by."

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D'Ambrosio to replace Di Grassi on Fridays

Belgian GP2 driver Jérôme d'Ambrosio will replace Lucas di Grassi in four of the next ten Friday practice sessions this season.

He broke the news to Belgian TV channel RTBF in an exclusive interview, however the news is yet to be confirmed by the Virgin outfit.

D'Ambrosio currently drives for the DAMS team in GP2 alongside Ho-Pin Tung, both of which are test and reserve drivers for the Renault F1 team.

The opportunity to test for Virgin in Singapore, Japan, Korea and Brazil likely comes as he is rumoured to replace Di Grassi for the 2011 season, partnering Timo Glock.

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Singapore GP Timetable

The 15th round of the Formula One season takes place at night in the heart of Singapore.

The race debuted on the F1 calendar in 2008 and will mostly be remembered for the race fixing scandal at Renault which saw Nelson Piquet crash to secure the win for Fernando Alonso.

The 2009 race was won by Lewis Hamilton, his second victory of the season despite a poor performing MP4-24.

You can find the local time and UK times for the race below:

Local Time (GMT +8)

Thursday 23 September

15:00 - FIA press conference

Friday 24 September

18:00 - 19:30 - First free practice

21:30 - 23:00 - Second free practice

16:00 - FIA press conference

Saturday 25 September

19:00 - 20:00 - Third free practice

22:00 - 23:00 - Qualifying

23:00 - FIA post qualifying press conference

Sunday 26 September

20:00 - 22:00 - Race

22:00 - FIA post race press conference

UK Time (BST)

Thursday 23 September

08:00 - FIA press conference

Friday 24 September

11:00 - 12:30 - First free practice

14:30 - 16:00 - Second free practice

16:00 - FIA press conference

Saturday 25 September

12:00 - 13:00 - Third free practice

15:00 - 16:00 - Qualifying

16:00 - FIA post qualifying press conference

Sunday 26 September

13:00 - 15:00 - Race

15:00 - FIA post race press conference

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McLaren preview the Singapore GP

Jenson Button: "The Singapore Grand Prix wil be a very interesting weekend because I think it’ll give us a clearer idea of the destiny of the world championship. The last time we were at a low-speed, high-downforce track was in Hungary back at the start of August; our car wasn’t particularly competitive there, and maybe we haven’t had a properly representative view of the top teams’ relative pace because we’ve just visited two high-speed circuits.

"But, equally, a lot has changed since that race in Budapest – not least, some quite hefty revisions to the rulebook regarding bodywork flexibility and, additionally, a lot of work by the engineers at the MTC to ensure our car is now better suited to slower circuits.

"Singapore will be interesting for all of us – we’ll not only get an idea of the speed of the Ferrari and Red Bull, but we’ll get to see for the first time whether all our efforts over the past two months have helped put us back in the ballpark at high-downforce tracks.

"Personally, I think Singapore has quickly established itself as one of the best races on the calendar, and I’m already really looking forward to the race."

Lewis Hamilton: "Winning in Singapore last year was one of the most satisfying victories of my Formula 1 career. The whole team pushed for that result right from the start of the weekend, we overcame a number of problems, and we never gave up until it was in the bag. Crossing the line was a brilliant feeling.

"I’ve already drawn a line under Monza. I’ve learnt from the experience and, while it was extremely disappointing, those things are sometimes what you need to sharpen your mind and raise your game and motivation at an extremely crucial time in the season.

"It’s difficult to say accurately how competitive we’ll be in Singapore. If Monza most closely resembled a track like Canada, then Singapore is far closer to places like Monaco and Hungary, where we’ve struggled relative to the competition. But the engineers are positive that we’ve made some good progress, so I’m looking forward to getting out on track and sampling the changes for real.

"So I think we head into the weekend with renewed confidence following some positive tests and some developments in the windtunnel. The race should give us a clearer indication of exactly where we stand as the championship closes down over the next five races, but I definitely want to score as many points as possible in this grand prix.

Martin Whitmarsh - Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes: "In just two years, the Singapore Grand Prix has become one of the highlights of the Formula 1 calendar. The broadcast footage of the cars racing around in the fading evening light, against the glittering backdrop of the city, has set new standards in televised sport.

"I believe this race has shown the sport how it needs to move forward, and I’m sure that any new venue that joins the grand prix calendar will be able to learn and benefit from the levels of excellence set by the Singapore organisers.

"It’s the first race at a low-speed, high-downforce track since the Hungaroring back in August. It’s also the first high-downforce track we’ve visited since the FIA tightened up its regulations on flexible bodywork, so it’s likely to give us a much clearer idea of the respective pace of the leading teams after two less-representative events in Belgium and Italy.

"This is a race the whole team looks forward to enormously, and we travel to Singapore with a number of new ideas to try out on our cars, feeling positive that we’ll once again be in a position to race at the front."

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Sauber preview the Singapore GP

Kamui Kobayashi: "I have never raced in Singapore, but I know the track from the simulator. The last two years I attended the Grand Prix as a reserve driver for Toyota, so I had a look around Singapore and the track. It is quite a long track for one in a city. The atmosphere at that race is just great. I'm sure for spectators this is one of the best events on the calendar. I have only driven in a night race once, and this was in Qatar in February 2009 in GP2. I finished fourth but what I remember most is a terrible sandstorm! I believe in terms of performance we should be able to do better in Singapore than in Monza. I must admit I would really like to have a good result in my pocket when we head to my home grand prix in Suzuka. It is exciting to get a new team mate during the season and I'm curious about working with Nick."

Nick Heidfeld: I can't wait to get back in the race car. I'm not just very much looking forward to going racing again, as I regard it as a special bonus that my first race will be the Singapore Grand Prix. Two years ago this race immediately became one of my favourites. Even for a city circuit it is quite demanding. It will be interesting to see how the situation with the bumps has developed. In this regard, the track got worse from 2008 to 2009 and it was said this would be sorted out. The atmosphere at this night race is simply massive. Of course I can hardly imagine how the circuit will suit the car as I haven't driven it yet, but according to everything I saw and from what I have heard, the performance should be better in Singapore compared to Monza. Another positive thing is we found out I probably can use my seat from last year. This does not only save a lot of work, but it also gives me a good feeling because it was a very good seat and normally you have to do a lot of fine tuning until it fits that well. I'm also very much looking forward to really getting to know James Key and my team mate, Kamui, and working with both of them."

Technical Director James Key: "Singapore is the start of the last five races of the season, which are all flyaways. It's a tricky, technical circuit, one that is traditionally quite bumpy, so mechanical grip and mechanical set-up are important. It's probably the street circuit which is closest to Monaco in terms of the nature of the corners and the extreme high downforce levels. Of course, it's a night race and unique in that respect. It's a case of using the car the best way possible on Friday to get the right set-up for the circuit's conditions, and trying to ensure we have a good understanding of the tyres. The other important thing is that it's a track where it's quite tricky to overtake, so we are going to have to concentrate specifically on the qualifying performance. For the car we have quite a large aerodynamic update with a new front wing, a new diffuser and various other parts around the car. We hope the new package works as planned and then we shall see how we go."

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Mercedes preview the Singapore GP

Nico Rosberg: "Singapore is one of the highlights of the year and I really enjoyed the last two races. The atmosphere is fantastic and the concept of a night race works really well once you get into the routine of staying on European time. I had the best finish of my career so far at Singapore in 2008 when I finished second so the race has good memories for me. The track is good fun to drive and a real challenge. It feels like a proper street circuit, very narrow and enclosed, with a stop-start nature that never gives you the chance to relax. We've had decent results at the last two races so we will be hoping to continue our run of points finishes in Singapore next weekend."

Michael Schumacher: "I have always been fond of getting to know new circuits and Singapore will definitely be an exciting adventure. I have three reasons to look forward to the weekend; it is a new circuit for me, it is a city race and it will be my first night race. Driving a new track has never been too complicated for me and I am usually very quick to learn and find the rhythm. As a team, we would like to perform strongly and we will give our maximum to deliver as good a show as possible."

Ross Brawn: "Over the past two years, Formula One's night race in Singapore has proved to be a fantastic occasion enjoyed by drivers, teams and fans alike. The weekend creates a great spectacle to showcase our sport and with the championship battle getting closer, we can hope to see another exciting race. From our team's perspective, we have some refinements to our existing upgrades for Singapore and the high downforce set-up required for this low-speed street circuit. We have achieved decent results within the performance limitations of our car at the past two races and hope to have a strong end to the season during the final flyaway races."

Norbert Haug: "Singapore's night race is a very special Grand Prix on the Formula One calendar which has quickly established itself as a favourite. The atmosphere around the illuminated circuit is unique amongst the 19 race venues that we visit as are the images of Formula One generated from the night racing. Although we are focusing on the design of our 2011 car, we do have some technical developments for Singapore and as at the last two races, we will aim to achieve the best possible results with Michael and Nico."

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Williams preview the Singapore GP

Rubens Barrichello: Singapore is a lovely place to go and it's completely different to the other races on the calendar. The track is a fairly typical street circuit and it benefits from a variety of corners. It can be a challenge to find the optimum set-up, but that makes it more interesting, and one of the reasons I like going there so much. There are some overtaking opportunities, like at turn four and towards the end of the lap. People also run different strategies which gives you the chance to gain position.

We suffered a bit with the light the first year we raced there, but the organisers have improved that now. Driving a night race is similar to watching TV in standard, not high definition; there's just a bit less precision. In summary, Singapore is a lovely track to drive, there's always plenty of fun during the race and it's a good event for Formula One. There's just something special about it.

Nico Hulkenberg: We had a good result in Monza. I'm feeling more and more comfortable in F1 and in our car which is helping me to get the most out of a race weekend. I'm definitely getting more out of the FW32 than I was at the start of the season and I hope I can convert that into some more point-scoring finishes for the team.

Singapore looks like a cool track. It will be my first time there, but I have been using the simulator so at least I know the layout already and I like street circuits. I drove a night race in GP2 Asia in 2009 so driving at night isn't new to me and it makes the whole event a bit more special. Driving-wise, I don't think it'll be too different to normal; the key thing is to adjust to the timings; so going to bed in the middle of the night and then waking up at midday! Everything is out of our normal timeframe, but I'm sure it will be exciting. Everybody speaks very positively about this race, many people say it is the highlight of the year, so I really just want to go and find out for myself!

Sam Michael, Technical Director: Previous Williams cars have been competitive around Singapore's street circuit so the FW32 should be as well. With some further upgrades for the car which should improve our recent good form further, we're looking to have both drivers in the top ten in qualifying and then fighting for points in the race. As the season has progressed, the level of competitiveness throughout the grid has increased with closer lap times across the board. We don't anticipate this race to be any different.

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Toro Rosso preview the Singapore GP

From zoos to the Ritz Carlton to the Universal Studios theme park to the Singapore Flyer ferris wheel, Toro Rosso previews everything but the racing.

'Sleep? It's overrated.

'The first year we went to Singapore, everyone, including you media types, was worried about not getting enough sleep. Why, we are not sure, given that journalists are often spotted getting back to the hotels when the team personnel are leaving for the track: a special mention here to the English hack who did not check in to his Monaco hotel this year until his final night in the Principality!

'After two years coming here, it's clear that the night time schedule means everyone is getting far too much sleep and ruining the "rock 'n roll" reputation of Formula 1. We believe too many of you are adhering to the old saying, "early to bed early to rise" which means you'll never meet any interesting people that way. To paraphrase a famous Beatles song, "wake up, get out of bed, drag a comb across your head."

'Singapore has plenty to offer and here are a few tips for things you can do rather than shouting at the hotel chambermaids to go away. The Singapore Zoo is the only one we have heard of that offers a Night Time Safari and great fun it is too, because so many species in the animal kingdom are creatures of the night and will actually be happy to put on a show for you, rather than their daytime performance, when they lie around doing nothing much in particular, apart from grooming inappropriate parts of their body.

'Go to the Ritz Carlton on Raffles Avenue as they have an amazing art collection, featuring works from Andy Warhol, David Hockney and Henry Moore. Just opened in Singapore is a Universal Studios theme park, so why not get up early and go and visit the "Lost World" full of strange creatures and dinosaurs (much like the F1 paddock) or the "Enchanted Airways" which features stars and talking donkeys (just like an F1 press conference) and the "Land of Far Far Away" (which is where our families think we live all the time.)

'Or if you don't want to move too far from the safety of the Media Centre, there's always the nearby Singapore Flyer ferris wheel. A trip in this allows you to experience what it's like to be a grand prix driver, because you go round in circles and end up where you started.

'Sleep is overrated and people who say they slept like a baby have probably never had one. We all know insomnia is a nightmare, so get out of bed before your body changes shape and you discover you have become Half Man-Half Mattress. And remember, the amount of sleep required by most people is five minutes more.'

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Lotus preview the Singapore GP

After a disappointing Italian GP, Lotus head to Singapore intent on proving they are the best of the newcomers...

Heikki Kovalainen: "It's always slightly different racing in Singapore, but it's something I look forward to. The race organisers always do a great job in preparing the track, and it's pretty hardcore for the fans as the cars look cool and sound amazing around the city streets. The race itself is pretty tough on the cars and the drivers, but we make sure our body clocks stay on European time and as long as we sleep well and stick to our normal schedules, we cope with it fine. Before the race I'll be doing some intensive training over the next week and a half to make sure I'm ready for the remaining flyaway races. It's important to make sure I have enough in reserve, not just for Singapore, but for what lies ahead in Japan, Korea, Brazil and Abu Dhabi."

Jarno Trulli: "I'm staying in Italy after the race and will be doing a bit of cycling with some friends in Tuscany - it's good to relax a bit between races and catch up with friends, and combining that with a bit of training is a good way to prepare for the next race. I really like the challenge of racing in Singapore - as a driver it's good to push yourself and while the track itself isn't hugely different from a couple of others on the calendar, the fact that it's a night race makes it a unique event. It'll be good to give the fans in Singapore, so close to Malaysia, their first chance to see the car on track, so we're all looking forward to it. In terms of preparation for the race, there isn't a huge amount you can do - we use a clear visor to maximise visibility in the twilight conditions, but apart from making sure your body stays on European time, it's pretty much the same as any other race - train hard for the heat and make sure you're ready."

Mike Gascoyne, Lotus Racing Chief Technical Officer: "Looking back to Italy it was obviously not the outcome we wanted in the race, particularly after such a good weekend until that point, but Jarno's pace was very encouraging, particularly in the race, and Heikki put in a good performance to finish 18th. Now we move on to Singapore where we will be looking to get both cars over the finish line and reinforce our position in front of the new teams. The focus now is really on the 2011 car, so we won't be bringing any major new parts to Singapore. Despite that, I think we'll be able to maintain the advantage we have over our nearest rivals on what is a pretty high downforce track. The track is bumpy and some of the kerbs are pretty high, so being able to deal with the bumps and the kerbs well is important. Both our drivers have reported that they feel like the car deals well with uneven surfaces, and they have the confidence to attack the kerbs in the T127, so let's see what happens."

Tony Fernandes, Team Principal: "Singapore is going to be amazing, for me and the whole team - we'll be making a couple of very exciting announcements over the race weekend, so it'll be good for us on and off track. Fairuz is driving in FP1 and it's always good to see a young Malaysian competing on a global level, particualrly for Lotus Raicng. On a purely visual level it will be very cool to see our cars under the lights, and I think that green and yellow paint scheme, with the white flashes running along the cars, will look amazing on track - it's something the fans will love. They also need to keep an eye on the skies, as the pictures of one of our AirAsia planes in Lotus Racing colours have appeared on the internet. I was sent a few pictures of it by Twitter, and while that is obviously very cool, it means even more to me that that plane will be taking the team back home to Malaysia after the race, and that they will be taking a bit of time off between Singapore and Japan in our other home. It is great to know they can land on the other side of the world from the UK and be given the sort of welcome they will receive in Malaysia, where Lotus Racing has really touched the heart strings of a huge amount of Malaysian fans.

"Singapore itself is obviously somewhere that is very close to my heart - I know a lot of people there, and I have had a lot of emails from friends and colleagues who are very excited about seeing us on track, so I can't wait. Singapore is where we first announced the formation of Lotus Racing, standing there in black polo shirts and black caps. Mike had brought some parts with him to show Dr Tun Mahathir and now we have gone from that small beginning, with just a few parts and a very big dream, to where we are today, and long may that dream continue."

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Whitmarsh hails 'best ever' title race

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh says fans must savour this year's world championship battle - which he reckons could go down in history as the best ever.

Mark Webber, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel are still within 'one win' of each other in the points standings with five races to go - the first time since the early 1980s that Formula 1 has sustained a five-way title tussle so late into the season.

Whitmarsh is certain that it will stay wide open until the season finale in Abu Dhabi in November.

"It's going to be a race to Abu Dhabi now I think - and that's great," he said.

'This is an epic world championship.

"I hope everyone realises this is potentially one of the best world championships ever in the history of Formula 1.

"You've got Jenson and Lewis, you've got the two Red Bull drivers, you've got Alonso, absolutely all in this championship, and that's fantastic.

"Ferrari and Red Bull are very strong, I think we're not too bad...

"I wouldn't want to call this one."

Although Red Bull has sometimes appeared to have the potential to dominate, the balance of power has continued to swing between all three teams.

Whitmarsh expects that to continue, and says it is impossible to predict not only the title outcome, but even who will be quickest in each race.

"We're going to aim to win but I think it's anyone's," he said.

"When you hear these pundits saying we'll be strong here or weak there, I don't know how they work that one out.

"They obviously know more about our car than I do.

"But I think the fact that is [at Monza] Ferrari was marginally the quickest race car, our car wasn't bad, Red Bull was a bit behind, but in Singapore all three of those positions could be very different."

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Fernandes calls for more cost-cut action

Lotus team boss Tony Fernandes says Formula 1 needs to remain vigilant about the cost of competing and can still do much more to make the sport more attractive to new entrants.

The FIA recently announced that none of the parties trying to enter F1 in 2011 had fulfilled its criteria, and potentially well-qualified applicants such as ART, Prodrive and Lola backed away from launching F1 projects because they did not feel it would be cost-effective.

After last year's swath of cost-cutting rule changes, more improvements are on the horizon when the Resource Restriction Agreement comes in for 2012, but Fernandes reckons there is still a need to fully re-assess the expense of running a team in the world championshop.

"I think Formula 1 needs to re-examine itself and the costs need to be kept in check," he told the official F1 website.

"Many of the technical changes that were brought in to reduce costs haven't done so, and in many cases they have actually increased costs.

"This won't encourage more new teams to come into our sport, so it's incumbent on all the teams to make sure they stay on budget, and that the whole sport works to keep the costs down over the long term."

Lotus is regarded as the most successful of the new teams, having been out-paced rivals Virgin and Hispania, and avoided the rumours of financial problems that have afflicted Hispania in particular - giving paddock insiders confidence that Lotus has a long future.

Fernandes said Lotus had kept to its budget perfectly, and that technical boss Mike Gascoyne deserved praise for this.

"The credit in our team has to go to Mike and the boys," said Fernandes.

"They said they'd have to spend a certain amount to get us to where we are now, and that's exactly what they've done.

"We've been on budget to the penny."

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[/b]Hispania mechanic to leave Hospital soon

The mechanic injured during Sakon Yamamoto's pit-stop in Monza just over a week ago still remains in hospital but is expected to leave shortly.

The team member was knocked down by Yamamoto's rear-wing as the Japanese driver left his pit-box. It's thought the mechanic was trying to check the radio link behind the driver's head which meant he was unseen by the Hispania driver.

However, the 'lollipop' man should have spotted the incident, which led to the FIA handing the Spanish outfit a $20,000 fine for unsafe release.

In a team preview of the Singapore GP, team principal Colin Kolles revealed that the mechanic will soon leave the Italian hospital he currently resides in.

"I would like to send all our support to our colleague that was hurt in the pit-stop. We know that he is supposed to go back home soon, and this is very good news for Hispania Racing, HRT F1 Team, who has been constantly aware of his progress."

MIKA: Is the lollipop man still employed with HRT?

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Hispania preview the Singapore GP

Dr Colin Kolles, Team Principal: "The Singapore Grand Prix has a very special atmosphere as it all happens at night. The 23 corners of the Marina Bay Street Circuit are mostly taken in slow speed. The drivers have to be concentrated as especially the last sector is very twisty and the barriers are close. We are looking forward to this special night race after having performed well at the European circuits. For the last five races oversea the team is highly motivated to achieve good results and to bring both cars to the finish line. On the other hand, and on behalf of the entire team, I would like to send all our support to our colleague that was hurt in the pit-stop. We know that he is supposed to go back home soon, and this is very good news for Hispania Racing, HRT F1 Team, who has been constantly aware of his progress."

Sakon Yamamoto: "It is my first race in Singapore and I am very excited to go there. I haven’t ever driven on this track, but I know the special night atmosphere from when I was there in 2008 as a test driver. As it is a street circuit, we might need high downforce for a good traction on the car. It is going to be a tough race for the car and physically demanding for the drivers as it is usually hot and humid in Singapore. We are confident for the race and we will try to do our best again."

Bruno Senna: "I am very looking forward to the Singapore Grand Prix because it is my first night race and everyone who has already been there has said that it is a great event. It seems that it is a very challenging and bumpy circuit with walls very close and many corners. The bumps and big braking areas mean that the car has to have a good stability from braking to turning into the corner. It can be a good weekend for our team and I hope to finish the race again."

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Force India preview the Singapore GP

Dr Vijay Mallya, chairman and team principal: We were of course all hoping to score some points in Monza, but we were very unlucky in qualifying and then the race. Yet with so much to play for in this part of the season we can't look backwards at missed opportunities: we have to look to making the most of the chances coming up. We've got a good package for Singapore that we have been working on back in the factory and the wind tunnel. Clearly it's a very different downforce level to what the last two circuits have needed, but we feel that we have a good compromise between speed and balance into the corners and are able to perform strongly on the high downforce tracks as well as the low. We certainly want to hang on to sixth in the World Championship, and not let Williams get past us. That clearly is a priority.

For personal reasons we'd love to do well in Singapore as well, there's a huge Indian community, a huge amount of excitement. The same holds good in Abu Dhabi for us. And now that the Indian GP has been officially announced, the whole region is full of excitement and buzz. Force India would love to score a result that consolidates our position in the championship on what we consider to be our second 'home' territory.

Adrian Sutil: Singapore is a real street circuit, like a cross between Valencia and Monaco. Some parts are very safe with plenty of run off - particularly in turn 1, 2 and 3 - but there are a lot of corners so it's challenging to drive.

As everyone knows, we'll be racing at night so the whole approach is different - we'll be sleeping during the day and racing at night. In the last two years it hasn't been a problem and this year it should be easier as you learn more about the technique every time you go. Racing under the lights is also absolutely fine. Last year they were very bright so although it felt like you were driving at night it was very clear to see.

Points have got to be the aim this time. Williams had a great event in Italy and really closed the gap to us, so we need as many points as we can. There are only a couple of overtaking places so qualifying is crucial and we'll be looking to get the whole package right from practice so we can optimise our position for the start. We've shown we have a car that's capable of getting into the top ten - we were only a few hundredths from Q3 in Monza - but we have to really nail it this time to give ourselves the best chance of points.

For the first time since Hungary we'll be running in high downforce configuration and we have some aero upgrades and bodywork updates we'll introduce specifically for the demands of the Singapore track. I'm really looking forward to it - we had a great race in Monaco and in Hungary we would have been in the points were it not for the accident in the pitlane. Singapore's not been the luckiest race for me in the past but this is my best chance to put that right.

Tonio Liuzzi: Monza was a real shame for the team as we missed out on more points, which was frustrating as we really believe the car was capable of seventh or eighth. All the same I don't have any regrets from the weekend as we had a few mechanical issues that we know we are on top of and are confident won't happen again. With this in mind we can go out in Singapore knowing we are still very competitive and can take the fight to Williams for sixth.

Singapore is up next and it's a circuit I enjoy. It's quite a technical circuit, with a lot of corners and tight bends. Some people compare it to Monaco, but there are some big differences: you cannot make mistakes at Monaco but at Singapore you often get a second chance as there is so much run off area. It requires a huge amount of concentration from both the driver and the engineers to get the right balance of high downforce and speed for some of the straights, but I enjoy the challenge and last year it was a good race for me.

The team is working hard and we will have another aero update ready for the car, so that is always a boost heading into a Grand Prix weekend, particularly when the field is so close now. I'll still try and make as big a difference as possible in the cockpit and do everything I can to make up for the points we missed out on in Monza. We've shown we are capable of scoring, the car is good and now everyone is particularly motivated to hang on to what we achieved in the first part of the year.

Paul di Resta, test and reserve driver: Unfortunately I won't be out in Singapore as it's such a crucial race for the team, with so much to play for in the championship and a few new parts on the car. All the same I'll be with the team the whole weekend and I'm excited about going there, as there will be some challenges I've not encountered so far this year. It will be another street track, and it will obviously be in the dark for most of the running so the whole approach to the weekend will be different.

Everyone says how nice it is, not only the circuit, but also the city so in some of the free time I'll try and do some exploring and get a feel for the country. I'm really looking forward to it and am going to try and help the team as much as I can over the weekend.

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Sauber appoint Gutièrrez as test driver

Sauber has today announced the appointment of 19-year-old Mexican Esteban Gutièrrez as its Formula One test and reserve driver for 2011.

He will get his first taste of the C29 at a test in November after the final race has taken place in Abu Dhabi.

Team principal Peter Sauber commented: "Esteban is extremely mature for his age, and it has been a great pleasure to have him with us a great deal of the time this year as an affiliated driver.

"The team was rooting for him during his intelligent fighting performances in the GP3 Series. We are confident he will continue to develop strongly. With his modest manner and keen desire to learn, he has also made himself very popular among the team."

As an affiliated driver, Gutièrrez has had open access to the Sauber outfit at several races, giving him plenty of experience with the team.

"I learnt a great deal about the professionalism and practical procedures in the Formula One team," said the Mexican. "Plus, in early September I had an opportunity to attend the team’s fitness camp with the two team drivers.

"Formula One is my ambition, and I’m really grateful to Peter Sauber for his confidence in me and my ability."

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Renault preview the Singapore GP - Q&A

How do you prepare for racing in Singapore?

RK: Singapore is one of the hardest races of the entire season. The circuit layout is very bumpy and you’re fighting the car all the time. You’re continually in the corners and the only place where you get a breather for a couple of seconds is on the start-finish straight. After this, you also have the strange timetable that means we work late, go to bed late and wake up in the afternoon. You don’t feel any difference during the race weekend itself, but each year it has felt a bit strange to come back to a normal schedule afterwards.

You enjoy street circuits. Are you looking forward to this one

RK: Yes. There are lots of bumps, kerbs, and bits of track where you have to keep some margin for mistakes because the walls are very close – especially in the last sector. I always enjoy driving there and, although the race is very long and demanding, it’s a good track for racing.

What do you focus on in terms of car set-up?

RK: The aero side is still very important but because it’s bumpy and there are many low-speed corners, the car has to be as good as possible in terms of mechanical grip. The behaviour of the car needs to be right: you’re often using the kerbs in the low speed corners, and limited for mechanical grip, so the car must be easy to drive and give the driver confidence to attack the kerbs, if you want to extract the maximum from the package. The other factor is that because this is a temporary circuit, the grip levels develop much faster and much more than on a permanent track. So you need to anticipate the track evolution and what it will change for the car balance.

You had an excellent weekend in Monaco. Can you repeat it in Singapore?

RK: I think we must be careful not to take anything for granted. It’s true that Singapore is the closest circuit to Monaco in the calendar, but Monaco was over four months ago. I’d like the car to be as competitive and easy to drive as it was back then, because it makes it easy for me to push straight away and easier for the engineers to work on extracting the final bit of performance. But things change quickly in Formula 1 and it may not be the case. My approach will be as usual: I will keep in mind that we are fighting in a very strong pack of cars, and lately teams like Williams have come very strong, so we need to wait and see. But I’m definitely looking forward to a good performance.

Vitaly, sum up your feelings after Monza…

VP: Monza was difficult for me because it was the first time I drove there in F1 and the first time with the low downforce. It was difficult to find the right set-up and we had some mechanical problems over the weekend. I didn’t feel 100% comfortable to be able to deliver a good result. The two important lessons I learnt from the weekend are first the experience I have drawn from racing on this circuit and the way the car is set up there. Secondly, I finished the race and that is always important so I can use the experience for next year.

We are starting the last leg of the season with five flyaway races and all the remaining circuits will be new to you. Does it represent a big challenge and do you enjoy discovering new circuits?

VP: It will be a new challenge for me. I don’t know these circuits at all so I will do the maximum to prepare for them. I have been watching videos of previous races and reading data. We also hope that our car will be much more competitive in Singapore and for the last few races. I look forward to racing there and to the challenge that lies ahead. There are a lot of difficult corners in Singapore and, from what I saw in the videos, the track is bumpy, the car is jumping a lot and it looks easy to lock the wheels.

Do you enjoy street circuits generally?

VP: Yes, and I like tracks where you need maximum concentration and where you cannot afford to make any mistakes. Street circuits also suit our car.

Singapore is a night race – is it the first time you will be racing at night?

VP: I have experience of racing at night because I took part in the GP2 Series night race in Qatar. So the night race won’t be a problem for me.

Have you been working on a specific programme to prepare for the race in Singapore, in extreme hot and humid conditions, plus working at night and sleeping during the day?

VP: The conditions are the same as we had in Malaysia. I’m training and will maybe go to the sauna a few times. We obviously can’t simulate the same weather conditions here in Europe. I like the fact that we will be working at night and sleeping during the day – I actually think that I will be able to sleep more! I will arrive in Singapore as early as possible to adapt and start living in race weekend conditions: going to bed late at night and getting up late in the morning.

What are your hopes for Singapore?

VP: My objective is to fight in the top 10 and to get into Q3. Our objective remains to try and beat Mercedes. It will be a challenge because everything will be new for me, but it will be a challenging weekend for everybody.

Robert’s Guide to Singapore

Singapore is one of the toughest weekends of the season in all aspects. You are driving at night and having meetings very late in the evening, so the way we are working is very strange and the hours are completely crazy.

The approach I took last year to the unusual schedule meant that I was going to bed very late – about four in the morning. After I went to sleep, I would wake up about three or four in the afternoon. But what is strange is that you don’t really feel the effects of this unusual routine – probably because the adrenaline and concentration is so high when you are at the track. It’s only after the weekend you feel a bit strange.

I think the Singapore circuit is very demanding, especially physically because there are no long straights and so many corners. And because the speed of the track is very low, the race is very long – something like an hour and 50 minutes of driving, which is really demanding. And you are constantly going from one corner to the next on a track that is quite bumpy. Even though there is quite a long straight after Turn 5 going down to Turn 7, there are so many bumps that you have to hold the steering wheel quite tight.

The end of this straight into Turn 7 is probably the best place for overtaking, but you need to get a good run out of Turn 5. However, the problem is that there are so many bumps offline and it’s very easy to lose the car. Although last year the bumps were better, the main problem with street circuits is that offline there is very little grip. The cars are going through the braking points all weekend, laying down rubber on the racing line, but as soon as you go offline to overtake, there’s a lot less rubber and often a lot of dust so it’s very, very tricky.

The turn 10 chicane is in many ways a strange corner, but also an amazing corner. It’s really very, very tight and a small mistake costs a lot because there are high kerbs. And we’ve seen some cars clipping the kerbs and launching in the air, especially the first year we raced there. I think everybody is now taking a bit of safety margin in this corner because it’s so easy to get it wrong and the price for a mistake is really expensive.

The last corner, is one of the trickiest parts of the lap, but fortunately there’s quite a big run-off area. The corner is quite long but actually the apex is very, very short. The first bit is your apex point and from then on you are on full throttle. If you pick up some understeer, you’re glad of the wider track, but the exit kerb is a bit bumpy and it’s very easy to lose the car.