singapore grand prix singapore grand prix formally formula grand prix formula motor race held september singapore fifteenth race formula season singapore grand prix held formula world championship lap race won ferrari driver started pole position finished second teammate held maintain start line advantage lap started fought teammate retain start position remained round pit stops team opted pit early allowing ahead hamilton race deployment safety car crashed lap hamilton retired collision shortly race restarted lap maintained lead remainder race despite pressure race second consecutive victory fourth season started pole position win italian grand prix weeks earlier win meant moved second place world drivers championship points leader hamilton retirement meant slipped second place finish moved fourth ahead championship red bull extended lead points ahead ferrari points races remaining season report background singapore grand prix fifteenth round formula season taking week break previous race italy event held singapore september grand prix contested teams drivers teams known mercedes ferrari williams force india lotus virgin tyre supplier brought different tyre types race dry compounds super soft options medium wet weather compounds intermediate soft compounds denoted green stripe walls wet compound tyres identified green line central groove rules races stipulated cars use types tyre race driver wet weather compounds driver limited sets dry tyres weekend race driver led drivers championship points ahead second points points hamilton teammate fourth points fifth points leading championship points ferrari second points respectively mercedes points contended fourth position ferrari won previous fourteen races season victories taken button hamilton twice finished second place times twice finished singapore critical race championship drivers chance lead victory situation difficult allocation engines following italian grand prix replace place grid penalty rivals untouched engine reserve set target score points singapore acknowledged car fastest field felt needed season remaining races stated expecting singapore tough weekend retired event felt time driver clinched championship crashing lap italian grand prix hamilton said push hard stay running championship race comes making sure finish races important singapore win hamilton felt favourite win singapore grand prix viewed spanish driver main rival drivers championship shared team principal button believed extra advantage teammate contention title resurfaced turns seven turns thirteen seventeen drivers complained following singapore grand prix singapore adjusted allow gradual curve exist enabled safer exit drivers outside wall turn brought closer race track cover half drain previously exposed cars pit lane resurfaced allow exit drivers rejoining circuit hamilton vocal critic circuit condition described dangerous remained uneven said singapore worst corner driven formula despite safety modifications organisers introduced new machine clean surface track drivers problems dusty slippery track surface previous year race days practice session drivers expressed concerns low visibility caused rain showers combined circuit lighting driver changes heading grand prix announced team drivers tenth race season replaced weekend team reserve driver suffering food poisoning journalists noticed seemingly healthy suggesting dropped sponsorship reasons instead team principal confirmed arrangement race return cockpit dropped replaced test driver drove team change poor performance relative teammate knowledge teams modifications cars preparation event williams revised wings revision designed separate separate channels directing outside car tyres design friday practice sessions vertical slots rear avoid creating vortex operated planes previous design debuted qualifying race addition team revised allow better management section williams design debuted time designed tyre act like took air improve efficiency practice qualifying sessions practice sessions friday saturday held main sunday race friday morning afternoon sessions lasted ninety minutes session held saturday morning lasted hour practice session initially held wet track clear sky earlier day left standing water parts circuit high humidity slowed drying process conditions meant drivers intermediate tyres dry tyres utilised session closing minutes set fastest time session late lap tenth second faster second briefly quickest set lap lap fastest ahead button rounded session fastest drivers second practice session track damp sections set fastest time night lap super soft tyres finished second fastest lap button drove aggressively battled fastest time ended quickest lap half second pace fourth fastest ran wide turn quick lap slid access road corner stalled attempting rejoin track abandoned car requiring push ferrari away track hamilton fifth sixth seventh places mercedes drivers eighth tenth ahead separated force india launched air hit singapore left suspension broken landing requiring miss half session left rear tyre contact barrier avoided major damage car fined attempted drive pit lane damaged car stop safe position circuit rain hit circuit saturday afternoon ending hours session started resulting damp patches circuit air temperature remained hot different sections circuit dried different rates making difficult drivers tell precisely wet dry certain corners teams ran intermediate tyres switching super soft tyre session progressed drivers ran deep turn fastest driver session time set minutes hour period time tenths faster championship rival hamilton fastest second fifth ahead completed ahead qualifying driver right rear tyre got white line singapore spun later brushed wall entering bridge final minute stopped car causing yellow flags shown drivers unable improve lap times limited time available qualifying session held saturday afternoon split parts ran minutes eliminated cars finished session eighteenth lower qualifying second qualifying lasted minutes eliminated cars finished positions seventeen final qualifying determined positions tenth decided pole position cars competed final qualifying session allowed change tyres race started race fitted tyres set quickest lap times held dry weather conditions fastest sessions clinched second consecutive pole position lap time set run session restricted timed lap second session engine mapping problem meant ferrari immediately programmed engine discovering issue joined row grid recorded lap seconds pace felt taken pole position gap following brushed wall exiting singapore hamilton qualified happy starting position despite losing track final sector running teammate button tow button secured fourth pushed hard final session meant slight damage rear tyres run tyre temperature section second run managed fifth admitted struggling find good rhythm driving circuit qualified sixth mercedes drivers took seventh ninth ahead believed performed better qualifying practice session felt soft tyres lacked grip satisfied qualifying performance mercedes drivers separated faster happy lap time despite car sliding lack grip rounded qualified eleventh fastest driver advancing final session best time seconds slower pace second session time followed backed run second session described car balance like night day demoted positions grid williams team changed gearbox race consequence inherited 12th position having pushed hard set option tyres lost control car went deep braking heading turn corner damp earlier rain shower right rear wheel hitting wall crash meant took qualifying ahead slower lost large grip got stuck traffic took 14th ahead fellow 15th problem brakes run second session managed 16th quickest drivers unable advance qualifying eleventh row grid filled took 23rd unable set timed lap gearbox seized warning forcing stop circuit ferrari chose replace engine gearbox precaution engine change ninth season incurred place grid penalty started 24th position penalty race race began utc conditions grid dry cloudy race air temperature ranged track temperature rain predicted race drivers started super soft compound tyre started pit lane team discovered leak car red lights went signal start race maintained pole position advantage heading corner attempt pass button got early advantage teammate hamilton hamilton fought retain place fell sixth eighth place passed start german regained sixth position lap field early momentum broken attempting overtake force india cars turn seven hit rear damaging wing subsequently went rear end wall causing wing damage car pit stop replacement wing end lap pit stop race medium compound tyres pulled inside circuit lap turn left rear suspension damage resulting contact wall retirement triggered deployment safety car required push car away track running driver pit medium compound tyres safety car period lap told enter pit lane assuring right decision questioned drivers rear chose pit racing resumed end lap safety car pulled pit lane immediately pushed hard passed tenth position line cars began form began pull away set consecutive fastest laps passed turn ninth lap seven attempt reclaim ninth heading turn seven wheels contact drivers went circuit lap managed ahead taking advantage pass driver caught lap passed mercedes driver lap turn ran wide told team cool brakes lap continued extend lead got ahead eleventh place laps later started pull away queue ran wide turn seven lap lose positions passed sector track twelfth lap traded fastest laps pushed hard efforts build sufficient lead maintain second positions pit stops passed lap eliminating queue cars lap leading seconds turn seconds hamilton button fourth seconds seconds fifth changed engine settings higher speed attempt past decrease time gap hamilton lap avoided barrier entry turn eighteen lap later hamilton told increase pace 24th lap try stay ahead pit stop phase car large rear super soft compound tyres began deteriorate causing lap times drop leader pace drove pit lane pushed mechanics lotus garage retire hydraulic issue lap hamilton scheduled stop tyres lap emerged eighth position simultaneous pit stops following lap retained lead despite pit crew completing pit stop avoided drove away second gear newer tyres provided grip recorded faster lap times close time gap came slower cars attempted pass outside lap contact subsequently hitting barrier damaged losing control rear end crashed exit turn wing knocked entering corner slow react buried nose barrier alongside incidents called race second safety car period allow removal cars circuit racing line pushed garage retire hydraulic problem lap safety car pulled pit lane end lap race resumed leading hamilton got run caught lined overtaking manoeuvre driver overtook boulevard straight right tyre hit hamilton left rear tyre turn seven escaped significant damage hamilton tyre pulled circuit retire second consecutive race feel vibrations end tyre contact hamilton pushed millimetres normal mounting rim button drew closer managed maintain good pace lap went rear end pit lane replace damaged wing creating sparks dragged surface track retired hitting barrier button urged mechanics lap push tyres older gradually closed gap ninth mistake lap allowed momentarily advantage fought retained ninth position sustained right rear lap pit stop lap rejoining 13th reduced gap second lap pair continued trade fastest lap time started slow circuit drove pit lane retire later confirmed retirement result issue car hydraulic system advantage having newer tyres gave grip able short work teammate holding queue cars space laps continued pressure race leader closing laps pair began encounter slower cars contact final sector lap lotus driver spinning quick avoid head collision car suffered cracked fuel tank pressure release valve pit lane rear lotus catching fire final turns aborted pit entry car consumed fire stopped main straight got car fire members williams team handed fire racing line yellow flags final corners instead safety car deployment drew tenths second final lap started came drivers managed past maintained position heading final sector track yellow flag car meant final chance overtake final corner denied took flag lap win race seconds ahead secured leading entire race pole position fastest lap career achieved feat hungarian grand prix seconds ahead button fourth took positions held final sector track eighth ninth line tenth finished lap despite retirement classified finishers post race drivers appeared podium collect trophies later press conference said victory meant lot remain contention thanked team efforts weekend added ferrari cent season remaining races said battle remained tight despite scoring points drivers previous races said hoping mistake acknowledged difficult overtake circuit said attempting overtake final stages race chance winning race hoped remaining tracks suit car stated happy place finish said entire race weekend toughest year said feel comfortable weekend staying composed certain sections race win regarded best formula career formula driver described races drivers elevate separate plane rivals reminded japanese grand prix won year world championship main rival said little right wrestle performance magnitude ferrari found level day eventual conclusion championship favour points said performance singapore showed equally championship victor espn listed races driving ferrari immediately investigated accident hamilton lap took action hamilton later reviewed incident video adamant fault saying second consecutive stated contact nearly forced retire compared accident hamilton collision italian grand prix felt hamilton given space agreed decision director tyre development stated lucky finish left hand high speed corners installed track tyre moved frequently lost pressure admitted lucky tyre lasting long distance accident lap investigated took action deciding racing incident felt late hoped better finishing position said happy race singapore enjoyed second half race bbc team principal highly critical arguing german driver sacked mercedes prevent slaughtered event unable win race mercedes team principal came defense said team happy contribution criticised decision stop car pit straight caught fire argued irresponsible defended action arguing safe drive lotus fire voted moment year readers magazine december awards held london given second time penalty deemed gain advantage taking outside line turn seven lap demoted eighth tenth promoted ninth eighth tenth ninth following protest force india issued second time penalty deemed gained advantage corner cutting ruling meant demoted tenth moved eighth inherited ninth force india withdrew appeal penalty following decision williams technical director said team accepted judgement elected examining video collision stationary admitted fault retirement believed late reacting accident felt accident consequence race place finish allowed increase lead world drivers championship victory allowed second place points hamilton retirement meant slipped place points second place finish resulted moving fourth place ahead button strong finish allowed draw ahead points ferrari remained points points mercedes increased points advantage thirty races remaining season classification qualifying notes given place grid penalty changing gearbox italian grand prix failed set lap time stopping circuit qualifying session ferrari replaced gearbox engine ninth season qualifying qualified failing set time race notes adrian seconds post race illegally gaining advantage turn seven lap following protest force india seconds post race illegally gaining advantage started pit lane following leak race championship standings race bold text indicates theoretical chance note positions included sets standings
2010 Singapore Grand Prix