Hamilton heavier than the Red Bulls (Singapore Grand Prix fuel strategies)
Sebastian Vettel will pit up to three laps before Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton is in a strong position heading into tomorrow’s Singapore Grand Prix as he is fuelled more heavily than the cars behind him.
Nico Rosberg will pit later than Sebastian Vettel, but both of them as well as Mark Webber will make their first pit stops sooner than Hamilton.
Here are the drivers’ fuel weights in full and my thoughts on the start of the race:
Fuel strategies
| Grid | Qualifying | Name | Weight | Fuel (kg) | First stint (laps) |
| 1 | 1 | Lewis Hamilton | 660.5 | 55.5 | 20 |
| 2 | 2 | Sebastian Vettel | 651 | 46 | 17 |
| 3 | 3 | Nico Rosberg | 657.5 | 52.5 | 19 |
| 4 | 4 | Mark Webber | 654.5 | 49.5 | 18 |
| 5 | 6 | Fernando Alonso | 658 | 53 | 19 |
| 6 | 7 | Timo Glock | 660.5 | 55.5 | 20 |
| 7 | 8 | Nick Heidfeld | 650 | 45 | 16 |
| 8 | 9 | Robert Kubica | 664 | 59 | 22 |
| 9 | 10 | Heikki Kovalainen | 664.5 | 59.5 | 22 |
| 10 | 5 | Rubens Barrichello | 655.5 | 50.5 | 18 |
| 11 | 11 | Kazuki Nakajima | 680.7 | 75.7 | 28 |
| 12 | 12 | Jenson Button | 683 | 78 | 29 |
| 13 | 13 | Kimi Raikkonen | 680.5 | 75.5 | 28 |
| 14 | 14 | Sebastien Buemi | 678 | 73 | 27 |
| 15 | 15 | Jarno Trulli | 690.9 | 85.9 | 32 |
| 16 | 16 | Adrian Sutil | 693 | 88 | 33 |
| 17 | 17 | Jaime Alguersuari | 683.5 | 78.5 | 29 |
| 18 | 18 | Giancarlo Fisichella | 678.5 | 73.5 | 28 |
| 19 | 19 | Romain Grosjean | 683 | 78 | 29 |
| 20 | 20 | Vitantonio Liuzzi | 656 | 51 | 19 |
Robert Kubica and Heikki Kovalainen should be able to use their longer first stints to pick up a decent points finish tomorrow.
Button is carrying almost 30kg more fuel than team mate Barrichello, but will be starting only two places behind him.
Estimated fuel use per lap: 2.533kg
The start
Hamilton starts from pole position for the third time in the last four races. Once again, with KERS at his disposal, he looks likely to be unbeatable getting away from the line.
Several drivers have been complaining about how dusty the track is the weekend. As the racing line passes down the odd-numbered side of the grid, it seems likely those drivers in even-numbered grid slots will be at a disadvantage.
That’s bad news for the Red Bull drivers. Rosberg will fancy his chances of getting past Vettel, and Webber will come under threat from Fernando Alonso.
Last year we saw Alonso purposefully use the run-off area at the entrance to turn one to avoid other drivers. But as the kerbs have been changed at the first corner, that may no longer be possible.
Aside from Hamilton, the other KERS runners are starting in the pack and will be hoping to pass some of the cars in front of them. Kovalainen will challenge the BMW duo, and Kimi Raikkonen should be able to pass Button and possibly also Barrichello.
How well the Brawns get away at the start will have a significant bearing on how this races changes the complexion of the championship. Certainly Button cannot afford to get involved in the kind of first-lap incident that ruined his race at Spa.
How do you think the Singapore Grand Prix will unfold? And who’s your tip for the win?
Update: Nick Heidfeld was found to be running underweight in qualifying and was sent to the back of the grid.
Singapore Grand Prix
Chaz said on 26th September 2009, 19:44
Lets just hope Lewis keeps it off the barriers this time…
Allie500 said on 26th September 2009, 23:19
Amen.
I’m thinking Hamilton, Rosberg, and Webber on the podium.
Bartholomew said on 26th September 2009, 19:45
Is Renault running KERS this weekend ?
Robert said on 26th September 2009, 19:48
No they are not running KERS
james_mc said on 26th September 2009, 19:51
Not according to the on-board graphics
richard s said on 26th September 2009, 19:47
always first with the weights (of the sites I look at anyway) Thanks alot Keith
JUGNU said on 26th September 2009, 19:48
Glock also did a good job. I think Toyota will get some points after some 4 to 5 races. good for them.
steve said on 26th September 2009, 19:48
interesting. Lewis must be thanking rubens now!
Donna said on 26th September 2009, 19:50
I think Trulli is 690.9 not 670.9 x
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 26th September 2009, 20:12
He is – fixed it, thanks.
Paige Michael-Shetley said on 26th September 2009, 19:51
Hamilton seems very confident in his comments. No reason to think that he isn’t the favorite for victory tomorrow.
slr said on 26th September 2009, 19:51
I think Rosberg and Alonso, could both get on the podium.
Ads21 said on 26th September 2009, 20:40
Thinking the same thing, barring some safety car mayhem Lewis has the win tho.
Brawn said on 26th September 2009, 19:52
I still think Vettel will be strong. gonna be interesting between the Brawns.
mm said on 26th September 2009, 21:32
Buttons is going to be faster than Raikkonen but he will get taken by him at the start which could cause problems.
Buttons probably just hoping Barrichello doest get any points this weekend then it won’t matter what he does.
Red Bull (if they have tidy races) could come right back into the fight. However then with only 3 races left and 14 or more points to catch by 3 drivers on Button it gives one of them a good chance of catching Button if the Red Bulls are back on form.
James G said on 26th September 2009, 22:09
Yes, but it also gives them a chance of taking points off each other. Given that, bar two weeks ago, he hasn’t been driving particularly well, I think it might be his saving grace.
marc said on 26th September 2009, 19:52
heavier + kers + good car + lewis must be a winner..if he crashes like in monza ill cry :( im hoping fisi will get up a few positions and maybe into points!
I wonder if rubens was told to crash just to let lewis infront! ( im kidding…i bet rubens wants to kill lewis)
steph90 said on 26th September 2009, 19:53
Good day for Glock. This may be Fernando’s best chance of a podium and I hope he gets it. Kimi would be expected to move up a few places if he gets good start and uses kers well. Thought Rubens would be heavier, seems they expected more from their cars. Don’t understand Liuzzi’s fuel. Happy with Buemi for str, just a shame car isn’t better. I hope Robert Kubica really pushes tomorrow.
Ned Flanders said on 26th September 2009, 22:04
I think Liuzzi is hoping to ‘do an Alonso’ and pit just before a safety car. Expect to see Adrian Sutil have an ‘accident’ on lap 18.
djdaveyp said on 26th September 2009, 19:54
If barrichello ruined his gearbox in his crash, does he get a second gearbox penalty?
VXR said on 26th September 2009, 20:08
Yes.
djdaveyp said on 26th September 2009, 20:34
Well being a button fan, and he needs all the help he can get at the moment, I hope rubens needs a new gearbox.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 27th September 2009, 10:06
Barrichello doesn’t need a new gearbox after his crash, so he only loses five places on the grid.
DMW said on 26th September 2009, 19:54
If Vettel got his lap its likely he, or Webber, take pole. Given where the Brawns are that had to sting. Kofailainen disappoints again. At least 4 of the cars ahead should not be there . His defenders always complain that he is given the “inferior” fuel strategy by being heavier. (Ask Hamilton about whether being lighter is always better.) But in those cases, as here, as in Monza, that fuel strategy gives him a strong hand at the end of Q2, which he invariably turns to jokers.
mm said on 26th September 2009, 21:34
At Monza Heikki should have won… I think he should now focus on enjoying his last 4 races!
Patrickl said on 27th September 2009, 7:42
You do realise that Q3 was cut short by a crash? All drivers were still holding out for their last run.
NDINYO said on 27th September 2009, 11:03
they were holding out for the last 26 seconds? i dont think so.
Tom Watson said on 27th September 2009, 11:31
Obviously not, they wouldve been on or about to start their last flying lap.
Matt said on 27th September 2009, 12:24
There were drivers on their flying laps when the crash occured. Thats one improvement that could be made to the timing data – not just listing where the drivers are in the order, but something to signify they are on-track, like in cricket they use the asterix * to show who is on strike
mp4-19b said on 26th September 2009, 19:55
This seals it for hammi I think. Poor pity that kovi didn’t get to complete his lap.
Shagrathian said on 26th September 2009, 19:55
It looks like we can see a podium like 2008 but a reverse version.
LAK said on 27th September 2009, 1:16
Good point Shagrathian! I do think Alonso and Nico will try their best to get up there and prove that they can win on merit..
A Vettel win will make the championship battle more interesting..
It’s funny how everyone is almost a 100% sure that the SC will come out. Can’t blame anyone specially since there has already been two red flags.. Just hoping that the SC won’t have anything to do with Hamilton, Button, Barrichello, or Vettel..