The Singapore Grand Prix - Qualifying Formula 1

You know what, the cars on track will be louder and larger than that

one! It is a reminder, that toy car, that this race isn't just about the

money flooding into this island at the moment, but it is also about

inspiring the next generation of young drivers here in Asia.

Alongside me is David Coulthard and Eddie Jordan. Two months and two

days this season is over. There is a feeling of electricity in the air,

isn't there? There is. We saw what happened to Red Bull, we saw what

happened to McLaren. They have to get their act together. This is

where all the teams push like crazy to go on to try and win this

Championship. David, you know over the years that this is a tough race

to compete in? It is. It is tough on everyone. It is tough on the

mechanics, on the engineers. This will be a real test of the

reliability of these cars. That has started to show in the last couple

of races. What a hard place to do it here. The driver will be pushed

to the limit. It is a good example that the boys at the front are

trying to get the nth degree out of these cars at the moment. Whether

it is securing the agreement for Formula One, whether it is securing

the future of certain circuits - everything has to be decided in the

next eight weeks. It is great? have just heard about Singapore,

five more years here. It is one of the treasures. The agreement is

agreed. It will be announced shortly. That is another issue out

of the way. Things are in place. love that! The men who are in the

hunt for the Championship will know that the next seven races, in the

that the next seven races, in the next nine weeks, will determine

everything. The push to the finish in Brazil on 25th November starts

You know what - it looks magical from the sky! Eddie, in all the

years you have been involved in Formula One, you have seen circuits

come and go. Rarely has a new track captured people like this one?

were all hugely sceptical when we heard about night racing. That was

new territory. We often ridicule them for doing strange things.

Bernie has unbelievable vision. To come here to put on a show better

than anywhere else in the world, Singapore has done it. You drove

here once and thought, "I'm going to retire so I can enjoy the

parties in Singapore!" There is a big party scene here. I can hear

them still going at 4.00am in the morning! You were at the party?

was in bed! That is not the David Coulthard we know. Thank you(!) In

terms of - Bernie was almost crazy to bring us here under the lights.

They are almost four times stronger than the lights at a football

stadium. This backdrop is spectacular. It is. It is a true

spectacle. In less than an hour, the cars will be under the lights

looking to claim pole position and pole is so important around this

street track. Despite the great things about Singapore, yesterday

the provisional calendar for 2013 the provisional calendar for 2013

was released. This is how it looks. The one big headline in terms of

the races, if you have a look at Race 8, we will be going to New

Jersey. However, when this was released, three of these were

subject to confirmation. There's been plenty of questions about

whether New Jersey will be ready. We can understand that. South Korea,

Race 16, plenty of questions about their financial muscle and whether

they can continue to afford to be in Formula One. What about

Singapore? This was also subject to confirmation. It transpired they

were deep in negotiations about extending the contract here. Well,

moments ago, there was a big announcement. We are staying here

for a little bit longer. Lee caught up with the Deputy Chairman of the

Singapore Grand Prix. You have signed a five-year deal.

What was hanging in the balance. What was hanging in the balance.

It's been done this minute? This is Saturday. We have been working on

it since Friday - Thursday. There was just little detailing. We had

to make sure we had the right time to announce it. Tonight, 7.00pm,

was the perfect time for us to announce it. There was a lot of

hard work. As you know, we have a very good working relationship with

Mr E. He was able to smooth the way for us a little bit. So it was a

joint effort to get it done so quickly. Tell us - this has been a

relatively new race in Formula One terms. It has become a very

important one. How important is it for Singapore? Well, I think the

branding is very important. In the five years we have been doing the

Grand Prix, we have put Singapore on the world map, you know. It is

from a little red dot, to a big great dot. You know how small

Singapore is. Will we see any changes to the track over the next

few years? We are looking into it. I think a little change will

obviously be good, it will improve the race. Every year we have to do

better. We will do some changes, but they won't be major. The track

has run very well. I don't see where we can change tremendously.

Thank you very much. Well done. Thank you.

The ever-evolving Formula One merry-go-round keeps on turning.

You can see how much effort they go to to make this place look special.

This does more for Formula One than Formula One does for it. How hard

would Singapore have been working to thrash out a deal for them

rather than Bernie Ecclestone? course, Bernie is saying to the

teams, "Hey, it is my obligation to get you as much working capital as

you can get." I wouldn't want to be too long in a big fight with Bernie.

He comes out winner more often than not. David, you will be back here

in 12 months for the Singapore Grand Prix. There was a mention

about changes to the track. Would drivers like to see some things

altered? The Grand Prix Drivers' Association said they felt it was

at its limit because of the heat in the cockpit and the humidity. Now,

you could argue - and I would say that a Grand Prix should be

challenging mentally and physically - so it should be like every other

race. The only thing that needs changing is the Mickey Mouse

chicane. It is a botched corner to fulfil the run-off they have in

that area. Everything else is fantastic. What would you do there?

I would make a 90-degree left- hander. You could do that. We have

seen cars go off there and it is not elegant to see a Grand Prix car

bouncing over high kerbs at 90mph! Whatever was going on, there were

sparks flying here at the circuit as they thrashed out that deal with

Bernie Ecclestone. That is not the only place sparks have been flying

this weekend. Long before qualifying gets under way, the cars

have been on track and they have been very busy indeed.

Practise on Friday began in damp daylight. Mercedes were off the

pace. Fernando Alonso was fourth while both McLarens were on the

pace. Lewis Hamilton beaten by a few hundredths of a second by

Sebastian Vettel who won from pole position here 12 months ago. Second

practise was held at the same time of night as the race will be. Bruno

Senna clipped the wall and ended his session. Hamilton was trying

hard on the super-soft tyres. Most teams experimented with both grades

of Pirelli. Sebastian Vettel set the pace after a positive day for

some, less so for others. I think most importantly the car seemed to

work on either tyre. Not entirely happy with the balance on the softs.

The lap was not great. A lot of front locking. We have been trying

to find a balance and it is still not there. The guys have done a

great job. Feels a lot different to the last race where we had a lot

less downforce. It's great to be able to throw the car around a

little bit more. Practise three took place earlier today and Sergio

Perez slapped the wall in the Sauber, but Sebastian Vettel

maintained his 100% record of topping every practise session, one

that was brought to an early conclusion by another wall-slap,

this time the Caterham of Vitaly Petrov.

We will speak to Bruno Senna in a moment. It shows you, David, when

they start trying to push to get some qualifying lap times in, it is

still a slippery track? On any Grand Prix track, that lap is the

first time go as fast as that. You open your DRS on a hot lap, who

knows what is going to happen. have been told that Vitaly Petrov's

car will be ready to take part in qualifying. Bruno is over here.

Lovely to see you. We went to Chinatown at 4.00am and you were

having some food. We exist in European time out here in

Singapore! It must be a strange experience for you to be eating

meals at such odd times? It is a bit of a different experience from

everything else. You have to keep yourself entertained otherwise it

is difficult to stay up until 6.00am. Psychologically, you start

to feel a bit tired, a bit sleepy. So it's what you have to do. Good

food? Yeah. Are you under pressure for your seat next year? I think

everybody who doesn't have a contract for the following year is

under pressure. My objective is to do the best job I can right now and

we will see what happens. We saw a number of drivers drop the ball in

free practise three, you got it out of the way on Friday. Unfortunately,

I lost a long run yesterday. Not an ideal scenario. I was coming on a

good lap and you are pushing the limits. Sometimes you make a

mistake. I thought I was going to get away with that. I had a gentle

nudge on the wall. It was a concrete wall and that damaged the

car. Today, I was equally confident. I was close to the wall in many

places. It's going better. I think we have found a bit more in the car.

Hopefully, it will be tough to be When you think about Williams or

other chains, how crucial is that to get that qualifying on Saturday

sorted? It is important to get it sorted but finishing in the points

consistently is also important and getting everything right in

qualifying is a bit of a learning curve and I think sometimes I have

not got that quite right. But in the race it is important to show

good performance and I have shown good performance in many races and

it's good to score more points, obviously, but putting everything

together in the first four years is at stake thing to ask. And there

are still seven races to go and I hope that I can have a nice end to

the season and just be more chilled. I know you are confident of making

the top 10 this weekend so fingers crossed when qualifying gets going.

One of the reasons Bruno has been catching his team-mates is

consistency, including last time of Jenson Button. He is off, onto

the grass. But in having a go for second place. He has it complete.

Side by side! And Sebastien Vettel is still just ahead as they come

down the pit lane. He is on the grass! And he gets back on. He will

be even more angry, now. That was a scary ride. The McLaren has a

problem, Jenson Button is out of the Italian Grand Prix. Here comes

Perez. He has got himself side by side with Kimi Raikkonen. Lovely

move. That was such a late moment. Great stuff from Perez. Perez looks

like he is going to go past. Very sensibly, he will not get involved.

TEAM RADIO: Stopped the car! Sebastien Vettel is out! He has had

a moment coming out of that chicane. Webber is cruising. He isn't going

to get the points. Short shifting his way home. Lewis Hamilton wins

the Italian Grand Prix but Perez has been the start, finishing in

second for Sauber. How incredible was that? Very different experience

here in Singapore or and under the lights this is a good example from

And this is one of the latest and greatest. Let's look at the

standings after that last race. It is an exciting time for the drivers

and constructors. McLaren have picked up three when's recently and

without anyone since July, Fernando Alonso has only had his lead cut by

three points in the last two races. Jenson Button's realistic hopes

disappeared in Italy. Kimi Raikkonen, in the hunt on his

return. Red Bull picked up no point in at Monza for the first time in

73 races and Mercedes, 5th place in the championship, they are under

threat from Sauber. If Sauber can take Mercedes, that would be quite

the story? There would be a lot of crying and gnashing of teeth in

Stuttgart. Sauber are one of the darlings of Formula One and he is

finding another gear. He has great young drivers and it is so exciting

but also invigorating and this is making the championship so

interesting. Fantastic for Sauber but not so good for Red Bull and we

want to find Christian Horner. He is always busy. Do you want to

speak to us? Christian, what have you done since the last race? What

have you done to make sure you will be in good shape? We obviously had

a good look at what was feeling and we worked with Renault to find some

solution to understand the problem and hopefully not see it again.

You're amazing in Singapore. Can you recreate that and go on or is

it to far ahead of you? Seven races to go. Both drivers are still very

much in this championship and we need a good result here and we're

just going to go for it. We will attack every race every weekend and

get the most we can. You have been going for it so far, Sebastian

Vettel topping every session in practice. The first time since

China last year. The car looks great and Jenson Button says you

are the biggest threat to pole position? But Farran looks strong,

practice does not mean a great deal until the end of Saturday afternoon.

And I am sure there was something that Jenson Button will be strong

and Lotus will be there and Fernando Alonso, he is always

strong here. The drivers enjoy the track, Sebastien has always

excelled here. Hopefully we can have a strong afternoon. You have

to win here? We need to beat Fernando and Lewis Hamilton and

Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen...! We need to get a

great result. We just have to have a very strong again. Sounds like it

will be tough but good luck. Red Bull are strong, according to

McLaren. Mutual appreciation. David is with Martin what Marsh. You have

been in the air conditioning. It is hotting up? Seven races to go. You

have won the last three races. Pressure must be building? This

championship is yours to win or lose. We have had three great races

and three when's. This is the road course and we have not been as

strong as he wanted to on these circuits but hopefully we can put

that right this we can. This is the time when the driver knows, Mark

was incredibly lucky this morning in my opinion. But anyone, that

hard bang on the barrier, and you're out of qualifying. And the

championship can slip away. We are in for a fantastic season with

seven races and great circuits. Probably, it will go down to Brazil.

That sort of the season. And the tension will be sky-high. In the

meantime, anybody who makes that's it and makes a mistake, be it the

man with the wheelgun or the man with the tyres in his hands or the

mechanic build in the car, that can cost the championship. It is tense

but exciting. The mentioned everyone except the management.

Presumably they are devoid of any blame?! If it is any of the above,

the management take the blame and usually get fired! You have been

there for many years. Why have the Curran not been so strong on the

straight circuits? We have just been... We have been overheating

the rear tyres. That was low attraction. Putting too much

surface heat into the rear tyres. We think we know that and we will

find out and put that to the test and we have been working hard on

looking after the rear tyres. In the last three races, we have been

bringing more downforce to the car and we have better traction here

and perhaps in Monaco. So, I think Red Bull have got the step here and

Mercedes and Ferrari look strong. Fernando looks strong. It will be a

really tight session. I do not know who welcome out on top. Our men are

capable of being a the front row but so are others. But the others,

who is the most likely to join you in the top three? Sebastian Vettel,

you must look at the statistics. Three practice sessions and he has

been quickest in all of them. It doesn't take a genius to say that

he looks very strong. Fernando Alonso is the other one. Those are

the men who will be competing with Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton

for the front row. But also, as you know, it is very easy to get the

traffic and hit some barrier and not even be there at the end. Q 3

is very tense. You can just make that slip and the weekend is a

disaster thereafter. We wish you a pleasant ease and -- pleasant

evening. In just over 90 minutes, the answers to these questions will

have been realised, whether it is McLaren, Red Bull or anyone, they

wonder that the points will be awarded at the circuit but perhaps

the championship will be won and lost back at the factory. They are

constantly update in the cars with the push to the final season. Let's

get a close-up look at what the teams are doing to be champion...

The development off the track has been just as important as on the

track. Mercedes came along with that revised package and got more

wing elements on the front wing, back in a list that order package

was there and they lost detail on the side parts, going on to the

diffuser details. These are those, the hot air going into the rear

tyres, that seals the diffuser. Creating more downforce and under

acceleration. To enable Fernando Alonso to hang on to that lead,

Ferrari brought to a more wings. But it does not create as much

downforce. This one, more downforce, so were on the straight. When you

put one of these on to the car, you must balance that with the front

wing. Look at this assembly, the rear flap is adjustable and they

are just ankles a degree for the front wing flaps so the mechanic

knows which angle to set to get the balance. Which development will

work? We will have to wait until Sunday afternoon. They are working

really hard to make sure these cars are ready for the fight for the end

of the championship and this weekend the drivers are also

working hard to make sure they are cool under the heat. Let's look at

some of these goodies. First, let's go back in time. This is the way

they were cooling drivers back in 1978, the year that I was born. And

these photographs provided by Terry Anderson. James Hunt's McLaren.

Cool water being pumped through to the driver in the cockpit. That was

a small box at the back of the car. This is one way. How about this?

Gary, in the pit lane, pouring cold water on to the overalls of James

Hunt to make sure he does not get hot. How things have changed. Can

you explain the stuff we have got to? You were involved when these

updates were happening all the time. How important was it to stay cool?

Crucial. The average internal temperature is 37 degrees and the

drivers will be at 40 degrees during the race, that would put

most people in hospital. Here we have some dry ice. Below the

temperature of freezing. Hold your hand out... No, thank you! So cold

and that is down the side of the seats, cooling the kidneys. But

Rosenthal, you will hold that. The drivers will have that on the grid.

Robert around the neck. And of course, you can see Jenson Button

were in this, this is full of dry ice packs. When he puts that on, it

draws the heat from the body, to maintain the core body temperature.

Did you not invent that? I did but Jarno Trulli has taken the credit.

They would take as much fluid as they can, drinking six metres on

Sunday morning, a lot of that passes through the system but lots

will be retained and the flowers don't get that. Many are sweaty,

you still get that cobble when you give the girls on lovely flowers?

And there are real. When running the team, how much did you cared

about the drivers staying cool? They must have been saying, this is

too hot and you just want a performance and.? There were a

couple of things. The cockpit was much more open. Now, there are

different structures and different things and we were less concerned

about the driver as such because he was much cooler but the radiator

was taken away and the hot air was taken away so he would get that

cold air. It is much more difficult now. It is more enclosed and the He

process within the car is hugely demanding for the driver. We are

standing out here and we're wearing a short-sleeved shirts and we are

sweating. Paul di Resta last year, we shall see him on the track later,

and asked about the drink. How nice as this? He said, 20 laps, that is

like a hot cup of tea. They don't have that trick system. This is

just one that McLaren drivers use walking around. Half a litre, ate

their lucky. Because that is wait and 10 kilos will cost three-tenths

of a second round a lap. The teams do not want that. The driver is to

be strong and fit but that is why they do all of that triathlon

training. They get out early to do the training in the heat of the day.

To make sure they can handle that for two hours. How did Adrian have

reacted to it you said you wanted one gallon of water? Out of my

office! What is it really like in the cockpit? We can speculate. What

does it feel like? In the summer, when you think, that is enough. And

other people out there and you feel that you don't want to be the first

person to leave. It is at that point, when it is just enough, but

you have to stay with that for the next hour. You would not do that

for the fact that it was the carrot for winning the Grand Prix. And

You better put them back in JB's room!

Plenty still to talk about before qualifying gets going here. Here is

Lee McKenzie with the latest Fernando Alonso has been talking

about who he thinks will be his team-mate next year and what skills

he would need to bring to the job. We need to have a driver that

respects Ferrari, that respects the tradition of this team and that we

work for the team, for the red cars. If the team decides to change

Felipe, someone that arrives has to be better than him. His good friend

made a winning return to rallying two weeks' ago. Last weekend, he

crashed out in the Italian Dollomites. If he wants to come

back to Formula One, you cannot be in hospital and then jump in

Formula One, you need to wake up your driving skills. Despite being

on the podium three times this season, one person who has been

ruled out of the Ferrari job is Sergio Perez. Now the rumour mill

links him to McLaren. They are rumours. Every time I do a good

race, they put me with a different team. The most important thing is

to keep focus for the next race. After neither Red Bull finished in

Monza and Sebastian Vettel experienced his second alternator

failure of the season, the current World Champion is not letting the

thought of failure play on his mind. I can't control it. I wish I could.

I can't. I think in the end these things happen. If I win, it is not

me winning, it is the team winning as well, so it is us. We didn't

finish last race. We are trying to make it better this race. Lewis

Hamilton is still smiling after winning last time out in Monza. Now

he is ready for a very different challenge in the heat of Singapore.

You have to be so focused. Mentally it is draining. I have never gone

out after winning the race here. Just destroyed, mentally and

physically. I want to enjoy rather than go crazy afterwards! Jenson

Button, who is keen to revive his Championship chances, came out here

earlier to acclimatise and do some heat training. I have been out

cycling with the national team here, which is great fun. It was a

surreal experience riding along and there's 80 monkeys dotted along the

road and an A pache flies over. 2008 saw the deliberate accident by

Nelson Piquet Junior. Now, on Italian television, he has a new

How many times have you uttered the words "you're fired"? Not as many

times as him! Romain Grosjean is alongside us now. Before we get on

to talking about racing here. What was it like having to sit out the

Grand Prix in Monza? The most exciting weekend of the year for

sure. It was not easy. We have seen a few things. The team have been

working. It is good for me. learned a bit about the car. The

FIA did because they wanted you to learn a bit about yourself. What

did you learn from having to sit out that race with regards to your

performances this year? Was it a harsh punishment? It was hard. We

accepted it. That is the end of our answer. You know, you always learn

when you have a hill that comes in front of you, when you go to the

top, you are stronger on the other side. We are coming to a circuit

where a high downforce and the walls are threatening. Can you

perform well here? It's not an easy track. We have been struggling a

bit on Friday. Hopefully, it will be better. We are trying to find

solutions, which is not always easy. Let's hope it's going to be good.

We hear very much - and I have experienced how hard this track is

physically. What is different about this circuit compared to Monte

Carlo? The humidity and the heat is very hard here. We need to be

careful with the kerbs. It is very hot in the car. That will be very

hard for the whole race. It is a tough race here for the drivers, as

David knows. Welcome back to Formula One. You are in good

company. When they all returned, they all scored points in the first

race back? Hopefully. Before we let you go, 2013, plans for next

season? What is the latest? 2013 is still a while ahead. First, we

focus on what we have to do here. knew that would be the answer! Good

luck in qualifying. The reason why I asked that question is because

this is the time of year when people really start to talk about

next season, which feels like the perfect time to gaze into the

Singapore is one of the great financial centres of the world and

should come as no surprise therefore that this is the centre

of the driver market. The permutations and combinations of

driver line-ups next season is enormous. Only Red Bull, the top

team, have announced theirs. That offers opportunities to teams and

drivers alike to maximise their drivers alike to maximise their

positions. Does Michael Schumacher hold all the cars? Until he decides

what he is going to do next season, he certainly does. If he were to

retire, the ramifications would 20 Days after I reported that Lewis

Hamilton was in discussions with Mercedes, still nobody has denied

the story. I now believe he has two firm financial offers from Mercedes

and McLaren on the table. A move to Mercedes would suit him and his

management team. It offers the perfect opportunity to turn him

into a global name. Where does that leave McLaren? Who will fill

Lewis's seat? Nico Hulkenberg has been linked with a move from Force

India. Perhaps Sergio Perez, Sauber's hot shot, is the man most

likely to replace Hamilton. I heard Martin Whitmarsh describe the drive

of Perez in Monza as "sensational". He comes with the support of a

billionaire Mexican. There are not many teams brave enough to turn

that down. What has to be remembered about Ferrari is that

Fernando Alonso is absolute number one. This is how they have raced

for decades. The number two driver plays a supporting role. Has Massa

done enough to save his seat? Two results in Monza and Spa. Was that

enough to make his team bosses happy? Alonso has stated that Massa

is still the man. Remember, the slower your team-mate, the faster

you look. If Massa were to leave, Sergio Perez is very high on

Ferrari's list. Another name, a bit of a surprise, been out of Formula

One for over a year, Adrian Suttel could be ready for a comeback. Have

Williams got something up their sleeve? He's been faster than

Maldonado in the majority of free practice sessions this year. I

believe Senna will make way. If that wasn't enough, it is now ch

time for teams and drivers. My sources tell me we will be a lot

wiser after Wednesday. The message is clear - nothing else

comes close to a drive in Formula One. Eddie, it all becomes clear on

Wednesday. You don't commit to which Wednesday? I'm not going to

which Wednesday? I'm not going to say which Wednesday either. There

are very strong meetings and meetings were held last week with

the advisory board and the board of Mercedes. It is a crucial time for

them. We know the agreement has been signed. I don't want to steal

their thunder. What needs to happen is what happens to their driver

line-up. What you are saying is, you think on Wednesday Michael

Schumacher's future will be decided and that will filter through

Formula One? We have been told that we would know by early October. I

think it might be brought forward. Too many people need to slot into

positions. Right, Wednesday. Make sure you are near a computer

screen! From a man who has had a great career in Formula One -

Michael Schumacher, not Eddie Jordan - to two guys desperate to

get into Formula One. Strong seasons for the both of you. Max,

your year has resulted in you wearing the Marussia top. You get

to drive the car on Friday. What did the team notice in you that

brought that deal? I think we started at the start of the year as

being in the Marussia team. My qualifying speed has been quick. F1

teams like the know the driver is quick. Then we have had some really

good race results with two wins and two poles. A combination of that

combines to the result of wearing the shirt. It is only your second

in GP2. You have had a strong year. Are you itching to get into Formula

One as soon as possible? I think everyone in GP2 is itching to get

into Formula One. There's a lot of people that have tested the car and

there's a lot of reserve drivers in GP2. I want to have my chance. This

year, I have had a good year. Probably not enough to get into

Formula One. Maybe for me another year in GP2. Guys, I know both of

your fathers quite well. How important is it to have some

financial backing behind you in a moment like this, where you need

that extra push? It is a big help. I don't think many people come into

F1 now without backing. You have to have the talent and the backing now.

It is a complete must now, I think. So it's nice to have something

there. You need big backers to get you any further. It is one of the

questions - have you got money to come and race in F1, that is the

way the sport is going? Yes. You need talent and the guys in GP2,

everyone is very good. The guys at the top are all good. At the moment,

you need financial backing. That is the way it's been for a few years.

Obviously, it depends and some people get certain deals and I

guess it depends on the team and negotiations. I think it's a shame

it's gone that way. Ultimately, you see some drivers that could be in

F1 and are not. At the same time, that's how it's got to be. Yeah. It

will be lovely if the sport was about your talent and not about

your financial muscle. We have discussed drivers moving around.

These are two faces who we hope will be moving into a Formula One

race seat very soon. Good luck for the race tomorrow. Actually, the

reason why they feel if they get into Formula One they are entering

a sport that isn't going to take their life is because of the amount

of incredible work that's been done in the last 30 years to make

Formula One a much safer sport. Plenty of that credit goes to a man

who was known down here as "Prof". In the entire history of motosport,

no-one has been liked, respected and valued more than Sid Watkins.

Professor Sid Watkins OBE was not only one of the world's leading

nuerologists but a passionate motor racing enthusiast whose knowledge,

influence, leadership and determination turned a viciously

hazardous sport which claimed many lives a year into one of

comparative safety. When Jackie Stewart crusaded for greater safety,

the general attitude was, if you can't take the heat, keep out of

the kitchen. He was vilified for his valiant efforts. The tide

turned when Bernie Ecclestone asked his friend, Sid Watkins, to do

something about it. Working tirelessly, Sid transformed the

medical scene. Proper facilities at the circuits. Helicopters to

transport the casualties. Sid himself, sitting in a medical car

in the pit-lane at every Grand Prix, better crash barriers, better

helmets, safer cars and circuit designs and so much more. The death

rate plunged and so many drivers owe him their lives. Asked Martin

We were so lucky as a sport to get hold of someone like that. I have

so many good memories, professionally and off the bridge

at -- off the professional side. Enter 1003 I had an accident in

Monaco and the first person I saw was said and then use a his big

smile, you felt more at ease. liked to drop some whisky so he was

a good bloke. Sydney was everyone's friend in Formula One. A warm-

hearted and kindly man who loved his cigars, whisky and fishing, he

had a highly developed sense of humour. Why do you persist in

wearing that Ms Siobhain cap, I once asked. To wind up Bernie

Ecclestone, who wants everything to be perfect, was the reply. Did you

have a favourite? Her I'll always remained absolutely neutral, except

when I punch you in the belly after you had your appendix out. Sydney

warmed every word he was and he made his world a better place. I am

sad of such a wonderful man no longer being with us. I am so sad

for his charming wife and his family. And for all of us who were

so lucky and privileged to have known him. What are heart-warming

consolation is that he left the sport he loved him so much better

shape than he found it. Professor Sid Watkins, who the sport will

forever be indebted to. Jackie, you have also done much for safety.

Give us some idea of what the sport was like in 1965 when you first

climbed into the cockpit? I wish we had said Watkins back in 1965

because the struggle to get safety was enormous because the

establishment were against it and I had a steering wheel but as Anna

Tait to it because in those days they were not retractable. The

scars - aka the cars, the fuel tank and the fires were horrendous and

the number of deaths was horrendous. If you race for five years in my

time, there was it two out of three chance you're going to die. When I

retired from the sport, and continued for a little bit on

safety but said Watkins picked up. Do you think the drivers don't

fully respect that and they take too many risks because safety is so

good? There is no doubt that there is an element of comfortable living

and they have never seen this sort of accidents and they have never

been to those memorial services or to those funerals and they have

never seen her mother, father and the sister and the girlfriend and

the children. If that was to happen, and I hope it never does, but 18

years, five months and something like 17 days since we lost the life

of a Formula One driver is an incredible testament to the

management. But I believe there are liberties being taken on the track

today that should not be taken and I think the penalties that the

governing body should hand out for those errors and the manner in

which some of these manoeuvres take less there's a reason to be

concerned and therefore I think if they were to readjust themselves to

the potential of what can happen, it would not be a bad thing. Sidney

Watkins, it is normal at this time of loss that everybody will find

the good, but I think you could put into words what kind of a man he

was. Putting aside is where Conservative. Said Watkins, we must

send sincere condolences to Susan and the family and I saw him the

day before he died. I went to see him in hospital. And I went to the

funeral, just managing to get over here. The feeling in that church

was amazing but I think when we stand for one minute's silence

tomorrow, we are going to have a very strong feeling about him.

There is nobody in this paddock that was not helped in one way or

another, whether it was a driver or something to do with safety or with

the illness of the mechanics and their families and children, said

Watkins was always there. Much loved by this community of Formula

One, particularly. But that was watered down to other farmers and

the medical facilities we have on the track today, he is responsible

for that. And what he has done for the sport can never be forgotten.

And the love that he has given out to so many people, and he had a

huge sense of humour. He loved his wind and his whisky and he loved a

very good laugh. Thank you so much for sharing his memories and we

extend our thanks to you for all the hard work you have put pen to

make this a much Supersport. We send our condolences to the family

of Sidney Watkins and the greatest legacy is to make sure that the

quest for safety never stops. Enjoy the qualifying session and when we

talk about safety in Formula One, it is a modern drivers and the

tracks that many are kept so saved by the work that has been done in

the past so when they take to the track shortly, they know they can't

attack this all the way. Let's meet Paul di Resta. Can this be you're

Singapore? I would like to think so. We will try to pick up with the

qualifying in Monza. They treated us well last year. There is quite

this long run to the first corner and this tight section. Walker us

through this and tell us about what she will be looking for.

biggest thing is how I late you are on the brakes. The run to the next

corner isn't where you will be the hero. Quite tricky in the first lap.

You don't want to be stuck on the inside in turn number one. There is

REM and if that does not happen, turn number three is one of the

slowest on the track. Very demanding on the tyres and I think

the degradation will be the main focus. Before this leads you into

the city. The exit on to her number three. You disappear into the city.

This is one of the widest points on the track. The challenges of the

straight circuit, concrete walls, how do you feel the conference on?

The it is confidence, building that slowly through the weekend so when

it comes to the point when you want to maximise that, it is there. But

it is tricky. There are some barbs. It will put some shocks through the

car. And this week track is very dirty. You have normal road cars

throughout the year. What amazes me about straight tracks is you have

the barrier over there and a racing line into this corner, literally,

the apex is against the concrete wall. It attacks the senses. When

you first get into the grand prix car, you can see that sensation, it

only comes through time and experience because everything is

coming quicker. You are never sure how close you are but the

boundaries keep moving up, the more track time you get. Another unusual

aspect of this race is the drivers will tell his right over there. We

are just below were we'll we'll all be staying. And the circuit goes

under the grandstand. You are passing under the fans. You don't

want to run off going underneath the rub. You can feel the

vibrations and the noise of the car disappearing underneath. But there

are still quite a bit of the laps still to go. A normally and will

wrap up by wishing you luck. Presumably, you are hoping to

improve on the 6th place finish last year. But I think what would

be nice it is if you look down the barrel of the camera and say

whatever you would say to all of your fans... It is more important

to the fans of Formula One, come and enjoy the experience and

Singapore. It is a great event, we are on the European times and, in

the dark. They has led to get you for qualifying but you could still

make it for the race tomorrow and now the man who runs the Italian

team. Arguably, the quickest car in Monza. Three days of testing, are

you happy? I have to say that from what we have seen yesterday and

this morning, or this evening, I don't know the time...! I think

that I can see Red Bull and McLaren in very good shape, we are there,

but who knows? I think that as we always say, when the race is over,

that will be the story. How soon will we know the driver line-up for

next year? Eddie, you know far better than anyone else! As we

always say, there is no rushing into that decision. He will decide

those things and then we will not follow the speculation... We will

pay attention. We will follow the decision and not the speculation.

We shall see how things pan out because qualifying is so important.

The last three races have been won looking stunning in the Singapore

night sky but for the drivers, this is one of the toughest tracks in

the calendar. Qualifying for round 14 of the championship takes place

for the 5th time under the floodlights. The first of three

Asian events to be held over three weeks with Japan and Korea coming

up soon. Each one as crucial to the likes of Lewis Hamilton and

Sebastian Vettel as they try to close the gaps. No less than 23

corners to be a negotiated between the concrete walls and 10

kilometres of fencing that form the circuit, which runs along some very

famous roads. Raffles Boulevard, it passes City Hall and the old

Supreme Court between No. 9 and 10. Flashing past the esplanade Theatre

and concluding just beneath the giant observation wheel, the

Singapore Flyer. Stunning environment. And it is tough on the

drivers. And qualifying on a straight track means taking extra

chances? You have to go for that ultimate fast lap? It is as simple

as this, there is no room for mistakes. On other tracks you can

afford to say, I shall have this little journey of discovery and if

it goes wrong, I might lose that lap. But an know for the next time.

Here, you do not have that luxury. If it goes wrong, you will hit the

walls. We saw that this morning with some cars hitting the barriers

and damaging themselves I'm going out of the session. That is one way

to stay cool in this fantastic evening. It really is the biggest

challenge of the season. Anti- clockwise, that puts extra strain

on the drivers and throw-in that unity and 23 corners, 12 of them

below the 100 kilometres speed and there is lots to do. The infinity

sound cool on the top of that hotel. What an amazing place to watch the

qualifying. -- swimming pool. As you mentioned, we have seen some

people hitting the wall, Mark Webber this morning and Sergio

Perez, they have repaired his rear suspension. Also, Vitaly Petrov had

problems and that car has been repaired and Timo Glock had a

sensing issue. That seems to have been sold. Drivers have been kept

cool in the garage before the session gets underway. Gary

Anderson, it is sweaty in the pit lane, as you prepare for the start

of the session. Asked Amiss other cars, there were in the low

downforce and doing 200 mph. It is different you? For sure but I have

lots in any mechanics with the watering cans. Yes, high downforce.

There were group on the rear of the car, the better the traction. 23

quarters and 15 or 16 of those are traction events. Very difficult on

the rear tyres. Some tracks have problems with wearing on the front

tyres but here it is all about keeping those rear tyres working

well and alive. Going into Q1 in a moment. What are we looking for to

get those top 17? I would not be comfortable unless I had done 51.6.

We have got one driver, Jean-Eric Vergne, who always seems to be

hanging out the bottom. That would Tim -- that time would mean most of

the guys, they would not need to go on to those super soft tyres. This

session will be hectic. A it will be with all those cars out there,

24 cars battling for some space around the track, looking at Nico

Rosberg. That is interesting, it looks like he has done some laps

already, his face is red. His father was always red-faced when he

was in the racing car. Perhaps it is genetic. Some drivers sweat more

than others. Michael Schumacher used to annoy people by looking

like he had not even done the Grand Prix. But even this morning, he had

some sweat on his face. Mark Webber, and barring where he shot take the

journey after he retires! amateur astronomer. Christian

Horner, he is talking to him. He did hit the wall but he got the car

back out during that session so that was impressive. We were

talking with Gary before the qualifying, just that relative

strength of the rear suspension, of the Catcher In. And then taking

Vitaly Petrov back in bus-top and Mark Webber got out of his car and

then find out of course that he Nobody is rushing out on to the

track just yet. Fernando Alonso was third fastest this morning. I

wonder if he will be able to match the McLarens and the Red Bulls.

Alonso, the Championship leader, and two-times a winner here. He

does have a good record around this street track. The driver can make a

difference. Last year, on the grid, we saw two by two formations. Red

Bull were on the front row together. The McLarens were on the second row.

The two Ferraris were on the third row. A driver can make a difference

here, David? Street circuits, they say the driver...

TEAM RADIO: By the time you start your first flying lap, you have

probably lost five degrees on the front tyres, the rears two. After

that message, I think I would be ready to jump out of the car. That

was a -- an engineer who sounded very depressed.

Sitting in the cockpit, you can't see anything other than the tops of

your front tyres, so you are judging where the side of your rear

wheel is. That is what makes it more tricky. It is easier to drive

a street circuit in a touring car. Romain Grosjean is on track. We

heard from him. He is, of course, back after his ban at Monza. There

is Sergio Perez. One of the stars of Monza, that brilliant second

place that he earnt for the Sauber team, being up there on the podium,

three podiums he's had so far this year. It has been a stunning second

year of Formula One for Sergio Perez. They haven't looked as quick

here this weekend. Perez was only 18th fastest this morning and

Kobayashi was 14th quickest. He's gone out early in this session

because he did touch the wall and do some damage to the car. He is

out there on the prime tyres. You will see the red-marked super-softs

will show them later on in the session. They are a quicker tyre.

This is about catching up for lost time this morning. I suspect this

will be a run to get his eye in. The fastest part of the track,

where the DRS will be in operation in the race. They can use the DRS

throughout the track in qualifying. He comes down out of that section

into Turns 8 and 9. Then that takes him, as he comes through here, past

the City Hall and the Old supreme Court, the Padang area - a lot of

music concerts going on there. Into Turn 10 - in fact he doesn't

stkpwhrt he goes around the outside and they will have noticed that --

in fact he goes around the outside and they will have noticed that.

have seen a number of drivers doing that this weekend. One of the main

reasons is they have removed the exit kerb on the last part of the

chicane which put Kimi Raikkonen into the wall there a couple of

years ago. Taking away that kerb on the exit has allowed the drivers

that option. If they get it wrong, they can run round the outside. He

was able to get away with it there. Yes, that's right. He may well lose

the time that he gets as a result of that. Of course, once you have

done one quick lap, the tyres are not as good for the next one. Lewis

Hamilton is out and he is not wearing his yellow crash helmet.

He's got a special Singapore- coloured crash helmet for this

weekend. It features some of the colours of the Singapore flag.

Sergio Perez has gone faster on that 1:52.70. Jenson Button comes

out now. Interestingly, in front of Perez, Schumacher was the car

weaving around as he crossed the start-finish line. He is on his

second lap. That would suggest that he has had a mistake on his out-lap.

That's Perez missing the turn into the chicane. Maybe we will get a

replay. This is Raikkonen doing... Oh! That is down at Turn 7. One of

the prime places for overtaking. That is where the DRS zone will be

available in the race only. In this section of qualifying, they can use

DRS everywhere. There you see it popping wide-open on the rear end

of Fernando Alonso. Alonso is up on that on the split times, up by

three tenths of a second. We are yet to see the real stars of the

practice sessions which have been Vettel and Hamilton in particular,

Button has been looking good, Massa gets out of the way of his team-

mate. No problem there at all for Fernando Alonso. Going through the

area that we saw two cars hit the barrier this morning. That was

Perez and Webber. Or earlier this afternoon, I should say. Rosberg

has done three laps without setting a time. The Mercedes team - they

have either both been unlucky with traffic or they are running a

strategy of bedding in the tyres before going for it. I have no idea

why that might be. Maybe our man in the pit-lane might be able to shed

some light on that. Gary, let's come to you. We are seeing a lot of

initial running on the soft tyre. Some of these team also have to go

for the super-soft? Yes, there's 1.5 seconds difference between the

soft and the super-soft. That is a huge amount of time. There is no

way you can find that on the yellow tyres. I have no idea why they are

doing this. Maybe they got unlucky with traffic, or maybe they want to

get the balance into the tyres. Rosberg has an interesting moment.

He bounced over the kerb as you were speaking so that lap is over

for him. Let's - is this Rosberg? No, this is Jean-Eric Vergne. A big

lock-up from him? Yeah, unusually the outside, that was down into

Turn 7, the outside right, you would expect it normally to be the

unloaded tyre. This is Rosberg bailing out of Turn 10. Going to

the inside of that exit kerb to avoid any damage. We saw Michael

Schumacher in free practice. Lewis Hamilton locking up into Turn 1 and

bailing out of the corner. Anyone who has tuned in right now, you

will be able to see what Ben was saying. A different helmet for

Lewis this afternoon. More difficult to recognise him in the

car. He's dropped the famous yellow colours that were a mark of respect

to his hero, Ayrton Senna. Gary, we are watching a lot of front

locking-up here. What are your thoughts on that? It is difficult

to get the temperature into the front tyres. It is more to get the

grip of the front tyres up to the right level so you can use the four

of them altogether. Michael Schumacher has gone fastest in the

first section. After two laps, the tyres do settle down. Let's see how

the rest of the lap goes. That was the back end sliding. Michael

Schumacher was fastest in qualifying in Monaco. He's

attacking here. They haven't shown any great pace so far this weekend.

Are they going to surprise us? Let's see what the lap time is.

1:49.994. So he goes fourth quickest. A huge lock-up from

someone. It is Daniel Ricciardo. Resta going fifth fastest. He has

been going pretty well this weekend. Force India got both cars on the

fifth row here last year. Paul went on to get his best result, which he

has matched this year. Looking back at Pastor Maldonado, he is third

quickest. He's on a better lap - a good middle sector from Maldonado.

Fastest of anybody in the middle sector so far. He goes fastest -

1:49.40. We go on board with his team-mate, Bruno Senna. Great

images here. You get so close to the wall approaching the last

corner. You see a spike of oversteer. Opens his DRS. At this

stage of the qualifying session, that puts him four-tenths behind

his team-mate. Rosberg has gone fastest, a 1:49.4. A lock-up from

Lewis. Again, over the kerbs, Turn 10, the Singapore Sling! It should

be called Mickey Mouse, that is what it is! It's causing the

drivers all sorts of problems. Lewis Hamilton bailing out to the

inside having set the fastest first sector of anyone so far in this

session. You can see again, it was the outside tyre that locked up.

The McLaren chose - it always seems to be very sensitive on the front

axle. Michael Schumacher sparking his end plate coming through the

have to say that the track is obviously a lot cooler than it was

when they started free practice three. That means that the balance

that the drivers found in that session will have changed going

into qualifying. That explains why we are seeing multiple laps being

run on these tyres. They will get their eye in, found out where they

are and the next run will be with lower fuel and they will be hoping

to be able to deliver the maximum from those tyres on the first or

second lap. Felipe Massa attacking now in the Ferrari. Remember, you

have to get in the top 17 to qualify through to the next stage.

Not everybody has done a representative lap - that includes

Hamilton. He had to bail out as we saw a moment ago. Felipe Massa has

done a lap. He's currently eighth fastest. A lovely view down there

as the 1,500 lights show up the track surface through this Marina

Bay section of Singapore. Absolutely glorious view looking

down over the Ferrari of Felipe Massa. Up towards, up through the

right-hander at Turn 14, past the Esplanade Theatres on the right-

hand side. They turn on to Raffles Avenue several times. He ran a bit

wide there, out across the front of the Bay. Passes under the

Grandstand, which is why we lose the image slightly. He's a couple

of tenths quicker than his previous best lap, which has him sitting in

eighth place. The car gets out of the way. Let's see him finish the

lap. It will be an improvement. Takes him up to fifth place. A good

lap. Hamilton is on a flyer. Lewis Hamilton has gone fastest in the

first and second sectors. The time showing up as purple on our screens

which means he is faster than anybody else at this point. There

he is. TEAM RADIO: The front is locking.

The higher front tyre pressures will help. Here comes Hamilton. He

goes fastest. Still using the soft tyre. Not the super-soft. It is a

1:48.2. A second faster than Alonso. That is a megalap from Lewis

Hamilton. Jenson Button also using that same soft tyre. They will hope

not to have to use the super-soft. They want to save them for later on.

He is seven-tenths quicker. Third gear, fourth gear, he runs up to

the last turn. He's managed to pull it to seven-tenths quicker than his

previous best. This will be some way short of Hamilton. More than a

second away. At this stage, second place. Yeah, it is good enough to

go second. One second away from what Lewis Hamilton has done.

Hamilton really has put in a fast lap here. Take a look at the replay.

He was talking about lock-up? is what he said on his radio to his

team. They have responded. They think it will be tyre pressures.

They believe that too low on that front pressure and the car is

bottoming. Webber has split the McLarens. That is one Red Bull up

there. What's Vettel going to do? He goes second now! Look at that,

two-thousandths of a second slower than what Hamilton did. Who is not

safe? In the drop zone at the moment, we have Jean-Eric Vergne,

Kobayashi, Kovalainen, Glock and Pic and then the two HRTs of Narain

Karthikeyan and Pedro de la Rosa. It has to be noted, his team-mate,

de la Rosa, he has also done a run on the super-soft and he is a

what is your opinion on what we are seeing? Looking at it now, the

track's got a lot quicker. Lewis Hamilton's time, 1:48.2 on the soft

tyre. He found over a second on the better grip from the tyres. It is

difficult to get the fronts working. That is why Lewis is locking up the

fronts. You might have too much understeer on the super-softs! The

two Lotuss have gone out on the super-softs. So Kimi Raikkonen has

gone out on the softer tyre. You would have thought that Lotus would

have felt safe. Obviously they have another go. The track

conditions have changed, it is worth having a go. Exactly what

Gary was saying, the track conditions have changed and the lap

times are getting quicker. We do say this large track evolution

through these sessions, everything just gets more responsive as the

temperatures drop over the morning practice session, or the afternoon

and early evening session. But this is very significant that Lotus have

felt the need to go on Super soft early, that tells us there clearly

not feeling comfortable on the prime tyres. They don't want to

take any risks. They will want to track how that lap from Kimi

Raikkonen is going. That was a green first sector on that faster

tyre. That would not scared to match the very fastest of times. He

has a couple of tenths away from what Lewis Hamilton has already set.

Better see about sector two. Here comes Kimi Raikkonen, he needs to

get through into a queue to, that is a priority. Some of those boys

will be trying to get themselves enter those top 17. Kimi Raikkonen

did say he has gone fastest in the middle sector. He said they were

struggling. Surprising, when we have seen the pace of the score on

other straight trucks, like in Valencia, they had a very fast car.

We will see exactly tomorrow how fast the car is. Their strength has

always been their pace, being able to make their tyres last longer.

That puts Kimi Raikkonen fastest at this point. No big surprise, given

that he is on those super soft tyres, we expected that to be about

one second of a difference. Grosjean, he has gone fast as the

ball on the middle sector. Both Lotus cars looking safe. Sebastian

Vettel going out on the harbour of the two compounds. Very close to

the wall, as you can see. 48.2 already and he is improving on that.

Let us just say... That is a fraction quicker. That is all they

are going to get out of that. Hopefully, that will be enough.

Paul to rest are now going fastest. 1:48.0. Grosjean using those softer

tyres. Even quicker. 1:47.6. We are now actually seeing the Times

getting down to not quite the level in Q1 last year, we saw 1:46.3. But

much faster times. Again, the outside will, very unusual, we

would normally expect that to be the inside on the those loaded

tyres. That gets onto the white lines. The front left wheel locks.

You can see that he lost some lap time. As a consequence, you just

have to hold the brakes longer. Kobayashi, he had been in the drop

zone and he has dragged himself out. At the moment in the drop zone,

Petrov, Jean-Eric Vergne, Timo Glock, so Jean-Eric Vergne, you

would have expected him to get out of that. And this is his first time

here in Singapore. Mark Webber, currently 6th fastest, riding the

car around a little bit. Green, green in those first two sectors.

He will show some improvement. Four-tenths down to the fastest of

all, Grosjean. Let us see how much he loses. Qualified second to

Sebastian Vettel last year. 6th place at the moment, that should be

enough. On board of Bruno Senna. Currently in 15th place. He will

want more than that. Currently, ahead of Kobayashi and Danny

Arakawa. He should be safe. -- recorder. -- Ricardo. Kovaleinen

has told us several times that he thinks he is the fastest qualifier

in Formula One. Hopefully the team will develop the car. He has got a

pretty good record, here. The best results when he was driving for the

top teams. He qualified in 5th place back in 2008, driving for

McLaren. We are watching Jean-Eric Vergne, trying to drag himself out

of the props and. The chequered flag is out. Jean-Eric Vergne has

got there. Can he get back on the line? What a very good lap. He has

gone up under 7th place, pushing Kobayashi it out of the top 10. Who

can still beat him? Kobayashi is back in. He will not be any threat.

He has backed off. Bruno Senna is in that top 17. Disappointment for

Kobayashi. He will be hoping, as he watches the rest of this session,

and we can see Bruno Senna and Mark Webber getting out of the way. He

runs wide and hit the barrier with the right rear tyre. Let's go on

board. As he goes through turn No. 9. Onto the back straight.

Oversteer and it does not look like much from inside the cockpit but as

we saw from the external camera, that was reasonable. It was. Ever

so easy to just get carried away on the straight circuit. Just

finishing off the session and see how it works for the men towards

the back. Kobayashi is out. He is in the drop-zone. Vitaly Petrov,

just finishing off his lap. Going for the honour of the fastest

Caterham. Petrov comes across the line. Heikki Kovaleinen? Who will

get the honours? Petrov. Ahead of Kovaleinen. And Timo Glock, not

quite able to beat the kitchen ands. -- Caterhams. This morning, his

comments? I cannot repeat them. He was wearing so much on the radio.

The big surprise is that we have lost the Sauber of Kobayashi.

Sergio Perez has made it through. Kobayashi, what a qualifying

performance Super Ten in Belgium just a while ago, putting it on to

the front row. And he ended up in that big crash. Kobayashi, he joins

Petrov, Kovaleinen, Timo Glock, Charles Pic. All on the sidelines.

Bruno Senna makes it through. Having a look at the car to make

sure he is OK. That has been the story. As soon as you take

liberties around this track, it will bite back. We have captured

parole Bruno Senna hitting the walls. He probably feels punch

drunk at this stage. He was trying to figure out, how am I going to

get through the race if I had hit the wall that many times in

qualifying? Grosjean, having taken that band, sitting back in the

cockpit. And he goes fastest in that session. That will feel really

good. A it is just a fairy tail, he would never have expected that. The

length and breadth of this paddock would not have expected that. It

shows you, hopefully he has learned from his mistakes. TEAM RADIO:...

Thank you. Jean-Eric Vergne just feeding back to the team. Paul di

Resta putting in that great session and Kobayashi, second on the grid.

How things can change on different circuits. And here it is so

dependent on the tyres. Those boys in the front, going super soft.

That was surprising because you can see the Times that there was

Hamilton was doing all normal tyres. That is the way, as this Shashin

goes through, towards the end of the day, who will be on pole

position? It or not be Paul di Resta Grosjean. One of the top

three drivers, who we know are fighting hard. Briefly, we spoke

earlier about drivers looking to make their move into the big teams,

and lots of people talking about Sergio Perez. Not many people

talking about Kobayashi. Is he under threat? As things are

unfolding, he just does not seem to be... Of the sparkle that we saw in

years gone by, I'm such a big fan, but there is something lacking, it

is a lacklustre, I don't know. It might be that he has been outshone

by his team-mate. He does not seem to get those results that he

desperately deserves. Let's make our way around you. Here we have an

example of the kind of tyres they are using this weekend. And it is

worth pointing out to people who saw that Lewis Hamilton was not the

fastest man, he set his fastest lap on soft tyres and lots of men are

going out on super soft. He is sitting back in the garage and

saying, I have got something up nicely. I have got really good

tyres. Had he seems in the best position. Let's go to the

commentary box to get the thoughts of David Coulthard and bed Edwards.

As we check out these lovely tyres. -- Ben Edwards. David Coulthard,

who qualified in the Singapore night race, it's not difficult in

terms of humidity and heat because it is so short but it is still such

a difficult circuit to get used to. It is but the intensity of the

qualifying lap is when it hits you and the fact that the only do three

laps and then go back to the pits, it is when the heat radiates from

the cockpit into the driver. Although they do not have the big

fluid loss that you will see in the race, there will be lots of sweaty

men. This is intense stuff. As I said. You get that lovely air-

conditioned, true box but this is your first experience of Singapore.

The it is just fabulous, to see the lights of the city as the backdrop,

it is beautiful. I love the way the colours just bounce off the cars.

They look stunning under the It is one of the service that has

caught everybody's imagination and we are so relieved and happy that

they have extended this for five more years because everybody will

be overjoyed, not least the sponsors and the drivers. You can

see the drivers sitting in the garage. They have dry ice blowing

into the cockpit to keep them as cool as possible. That is what you

can see being held. You cannot see what was on the end of that, but it

is covering the driver. Tony Fernandez, one of the cool

customers in Formula One. His car is still struggling to get out of

to get underway in Singapore. Kimi Raikkonen, interestingly, first out

onto the circuit. The Lotus cars had to use the super soft tyres to

make it through into the top 17. Kimi Raikkonen has come out early.

His team-mate was very fast, the time that Grosjean did on those so

the soft tyres was 0.3 of a second faster than Sebastian Vettel.

Grosjean was half a second faster than Kimi Raikkonen. Gary, you said

the track was getting faster and faster. Now the targets are moving

into cute too. The it is very difficult. The track evolution must

be at least one second. To get through into Q1, you must be

looking at 48.5. It is one of those things, the guys in the front four,

they will set their times with super soft. That is a good

indication but I would not be happy if I did not do 48.5. There was

committed under DUP been to use its tyres so he has those on reserve. -

- Lewis Hamilton did not mean to use those tyres. All the way down

to six players, Paul di Resta, then Sebastian Vettel and Fernando

Alonso. TEAM RADIO: The real pressure is down. Thank you very

much for that. Coming back to the speed trap information. That is on

the start-finish in to turn number one. They will be doing faster

speeds into the braking zone. Just one of those peculiarities of where

they decide to stick the speed trap. The traffic of Singapore, it

continues, despite thousands of fans being here. The East Coast

Parkway, which goes over the top of the circuit, the Singapore Flyer,

that provides some wonderful viewing points. And that last

corner, coming past the pit lane, as we can now see Kimi Raikkonen

going on to the fast lap. Let's focus on that. We know that whoever

has gone out on super soft but he is also under investigation along

with Timo Glock, there was some impeding or along the line. The

stewards are looking into that. Let's watch Kimi Raikkonen and see

what the Slapper looks like. He has gone out. Just seeing how much more

life there is left in these tyres. Baby also to get some feeling for

the balance, there will be more confidence and how hard she can

push. This evil thing racetrack, very dusty off-line. Some areas

where you can exit that turns and it's all about how brave and close

you can get to the wall. Other areas, there is a lot of space. In

Monte Carlo you know that everywhere you will be touching

barriers and the apex. This place confuses drivers. You have a very

tight, so corner and that corner is the slowest turn on the track. 13.

And look at the Boulevard, it is the track. Out of Turn 14 comes

Kimi Raikkonen. Then a kink left at Turn 15. A tight right through 16

and 17. You were telling me earlier, David, that these left and rights,

they have a peculiarity to them, you have to compromise one to get

the second one right? It is the difference between the apexes and

the chicanes that makes it so difficult. A short chicane, you can

just focus on the braking, bang over the kerbs and hit the throttle

over the exits. Let's go onboard with Grosjean. This is down... He's

spun and hit the wall! Oh. There must be damage to the left rear.

He's managed to keep it going. That was down into Turn 14. As far as I

could see, just carried a bit too much speed on the turn-in phase.

Got wide. A lot of dust on the wheel. Having looked like man most

likely to lead the Lotus team after the first part of qualifying, I

would be surprised if there is not damage to the rear of the car.

That's right. Romain Grosjean - look at Fernando Alonso on the

attack. This is a fast lap from Alonso. He goes quickest - 1:48.058.

Faster than Raikkonen. Perez is third. A big lock-up behind Alonso.

That was Hulkenberg. But should have got away with it. Mark Webber

is on the super-softs. He didn't use them in the first session. This

must be a new set of the super- softs. Indeed. If you can make out

on the right-hand side of his dashboard, he is running three-

quarters of a second faster than his time from the first session,

which was a 1:48.7. That is what Alonso has done at this stage of

the session. Let's see how the rest of the lap evolves. A bit of

oversteer on entry to Turn 20. Loses a bit of time on exit. How

brave can he be on the throttle and DRS? Across the line. Lost some

time there. Second fastest. Sebastian Vettel has gone fastest

in first and second sectors here. There is Sebastian Vettel coming

through to the latter part of the lap now. Let's see. This is going

to be a big chunk faster. Hamilton is also on a good lap with a very

fast middle sector as well. As he comes out of the last corner,

surely quickest. Power drifting the car to the line. Although he is

fastest at this point, sorry, Ben, to have talked over you there, I

think he might have lost a bit of time on the run-out... Damage.

can see there Senna... He's bent something. Look at the car crabbing

down the pit-lane. Gary, you had a quick look at the Lotus earlier of

Grosjean. Now it looks like we might have damage on the Williams?

Yes. We are doing to see a replay now. -- we are going to see a

replay now. He smacks the right rear wheel. Yeah. That caused some

damage. That is the end of the show for him. Grosjean, when he came him,

I looked at the left rear wheel. The wheel wasn't moving around. He

might be lucky. Hamilton's gone fastest, a 1:46.665. We are on for

a tremendous tussle. Button is not quite there. He's done a 1:47.6. We

saw a good lap from Rosberg earlier on. Let's see what this can be for

Schumacher. Across the line, he is 11th. He is in the drop zone. Only

the top ten get through. Currently, that is Michael Schumacher,

Hulkenberg, Perez, Ricciardo, Vergne and Senna. Alonso gets

wheeled back into the pits, currently on a 1:48.0. A big gap

between himself and the times that Hamilton and Vettel are doing,

David? Yeah, early stages. He does have the opportunity to run again

and try and close that gap. Bruno Senna punches the car. That ends

what has been a pretty scrappy Singapore Grand Prix, it has to be

said. He seemed pretty chilled when we spoke to him in the preview show.

Disappointment. Is that the sign of the pressure showing as the second

half of this season, a critical part for him, when the team are

starting to look at what they are going to do for the driver line-up

next year? So much is about confidence. His confidence never

got on to a roll this weekend, with that incident in free practice on

Friday. Looking into the Red Bull garage. Red Bull seem to be on top

form. They don't have pole position sewn up by any means. They won't do

that until we get into Q3. All they are trying to do is get in the top

ten. Sebastian Vettel seems to be back at his best. He always goes

well in Singapore. Hamilton loves this circuit. It could be the dual

between the pair. -- duel between the pair. Gary, can you see these

times getting any faster? Are we at the limit now? I think 1:46.6 is a

pretty impressive time. I am sheer they are safe at that point. Di

Resta has done a 1:48.8. There is time to come from him which puts

Massa on the back row. Those - Rosberg backwards, they need to

have another run for me. They are under a bit of pressure. Raikkonen

could probably get away with it and relax a little bit. It's just - if

you hook it up here with 23 corners, you can gain so much time. If we

take Rosberg backwards, that means Maldonado, he could be in danger,

Felipe Massa, di Resta, Schumacher, Hulkenberg, Perez, Ricciardo,

Vergne and Grosjean. Senna can't play any more. So there is a lot

still to be decided here. Yes, just looking at the times they achieved

last year, I know it is not relevant at all to what is going on

this afternoon. They are a lot slower. This time last year, the

fastest time in this session was 1:44.9. They don't have the full-

blown diffusers, but the same kind of tyres of course. Some

improvements made around the track. They have moved some kerbs. So

quite a drop-off in performance year on year. 1.8 seconds on all

the sessions it seems to have been off the pace of last year. Gary, it

is interesting that loss of performance, isn't it? It is. All

the sessions have been about 1.8. It is because of this exhaust blown

diffuser. This is a typical track where it is the best asset. That's

what this circuit requires. So I would say the majority of that 1.8

is down to the change in regulations as far as what you can

do with exhaust outlets. It is the same for everybody. Romain Grosjean,

despite that contact with the wall earlier, the car seems to be fine,

he was fastest, remember, in the first part of qualifying. So we can

still expect something from the young Frenchman. He has been to

this Singapore circuit in the past when he drove for Renault. Had a

short race, in fact! Also had a crash in practice at the same

corner that Piquet had crashed at the previous year. Grosjean back

and on form this weekend. Let's see what he can do on this next lap.

The track beginning to get busier. What concerns me, David, as the

clock ticks down, you only need one car hitting the wall and you can't

come back out to play and that sets the times as they are now. Well,

that is exactly why these teams get out there early. We have seen on

other tracks, they wait till the very last moment - Sebastian Vettel

tends to cross the line with only a few seconds to spare to normally do

that one flying lap in qualifying. If you look at the history of this

racetrack, and going into tomorrow's race, we have a 100%

chance of a safety car based tonne previous four events here. We have

seen other sessions being stopped because of incidents in qualifying.

Let's hope this isn't one of them. We will find out who is worthy of

being in the top ten. Yes, the GP2 race earlier today, which was won

by Max Chilton, they had plenty of safety car episodes in that one.

Grosjean just building up here. We see he is still on his outlap at

the moment. He goes on to his flying lap. I believe he is on a

flying lap. He is only seven-tenths off the fastest time. Yes, sorry.

It would be a good outlap! This is an effort from Romain Grosjean. He

will get another couple of laps if he can make the tyres last. Let's

see where this puts him. Third. That is a great lap from Grosjean.

1:47.5. He's about a second, just under a second off the fastest,

that is Lewis Hamilton. Lewis sits in the cockpit of his car. He is

studying some figures there. Yeah, that's the fan blowing into the

cockpit. It is being passed through some dry ice which we showed

earlier in the show. That brings the temperature of the air down.

Paul di Resta has opened this lap quite nicely. A couple of greens,

so he is up on his personal best. He is looking like he is about

seven-tenths down on our fastest man at this stage. We will see how

he ends this last sector. Quite tricky through this last section of

corners. He goes underneath the Grandstand at Turn 18, 19. This is

where Bruno Senna touched the wall in free practice. Goes through 20,

21. This is where Bruno Senna touched the wall in qualifying.

Then this fastest corner on the lap, 22, 23, just one turn, uses all of

the width of the track. He gets fifth. That should be enough.

1:47.6. A similar lap time to what we saw Grosjean do. What about Nico

Hulkenberg? Both cars were in the top ten here last year. They are

evenly matched these two. Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta, very

good drivers, the two of them. Being mentioned by plenty of people

with regard to good seats for next year. Let's keep an eye on him.

was a second up. He's dropped a couple of tenths as he came into

the last part of the lap. So the two Force Indias looking

comfortable in the top ten. Mark Webber is eighth. Would like to

make that more secure. He's done a 1:48.2. His team-mate is in the

1:46s, so let's see whether he can get a little closer to Vettel's

time. It is a 1:47.5. So he goes into third place. In the drop zone

at the moment - Maldonado, Massa, Vergne - he has completed a lap.

Rosberg crosses the line, he is seventh. Maldonado is still out

there, Massa is still out there, Schumacher - Perez goes 11th. That

is not enough. Massa is 11th. It is not enough for his Ferrari to go

through. We are still waiting formal mall. He could be a threat.

We see Raikkonen go through. And Raikkonen - Maldonado has gone

fifth! Raikkonen goes 11th. Alonso has just improved. He needed that

to make sure. He's gone fifth. As we see Ricciardo coming through -

no way he could get in the top ten. He is 14th. Raikkonen has been

pushed out. Michael Schumacher is the only other one now who could

push Nico Hulkenberg out of the top ten. Hulkenberg - is he still on a

lap? He is eight-tenths quicker showing on his dashboard. That

won't be enough to get him into the top ten. Oh... He goes ninth.

in the top ten. Hulkenberg's not seen the chequered flag. He is not

on a good lap. Hulkenberg is out. So one Force India is in, that of

di Resta, followed by the two Mercedes, Schumacher faster than

Rosberg. Raikkonen, who is third in the World Championship at the

moment, Kimi Raikkonen is out of the top ten. Massa is out as well.

So another failure for Felipe Massa to get into that top ten. Let's

confirm those that are not making it through to the final part of

qualifying. They are Nico Hulkenberg, Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe

Massa, Sergio Perez... TEAM RADIO: Good job, Michael, that

is P9. He is through. The other three that

are not are Daniel Ricciardo, Jean- Eric Vergne and Bruno Senna.

JAKE HUMPHREY: Frustration for Kimi Raikkonen. They have impressed at

high-downforce circuits. Kimi Raikkonen couldn't get it hooked

EDDIE JORDAN: He couldn't get it hooked up. Romain Grosjean is on

fire and he is showing where the team could be. Raikkonen, it is a

pity. This is another man unter pressure. He may have the -- under

pressure. He may have the indignity of his team-mate winning the title

while he doesn't get a podium all season-long? He placed particularly

well in Monza, also in Spa. We need all the usual regulations. Before

we talk about the early drop out, Kobayashi, gets mentioned the last

session and the boys in front. Could we see the 4th pole position

for McLaren? They look for very strong and if anything, the car

looks very well set up for the rest. It is very Steph and they are on a

high. Nevertheless, I think this is the Red Bulls circuit and Red Bull

were just about get it in the end. You said that Lewis Hamilton was on

a high, Kobayashi is on a very bad blow. For the first time this year,

he has not made it through to the What was a problem? Through the

wake I struggled with the car. Myself, I cannot get comfortable

with this car. We did everything to make it right. I don't know, I

don't feel confident with the car. It was very difficult driving.

a great track if you are not confident. Where do you feel

nervous? Huge oversteer. I cannot Difficult session. And the same

applies to Bruno Senna. Sadly, he has managed to hit the wall, all

the way through from free practice, here... To both parts of qualifying.

It is a very difficult weekend. point to the fact that he is

driving like a man under pressure. And he is certainly feeling it. If

you are under pressure, there is very little forgiveness. He got

away with it this time because yesterday, his car was toppled. His

car is missing some suspension and it is to arrange. You believed that

he was the man that would make Williams next season. Is that based

on results? He is such a nice person and a good guy. But he has a

young understudy inside the tame who is already beating Maldonado.

He is young, he has been coached by Kimi Raikkonen. And Mika Hakkinen,

in particular. But all of the finish people are pushing for him.

One of the difficult things is when struggling on track, you have to

face the media. They call it the pen. And Bruno Senna is facing the

media. You have had some taps with the wall. How badly damaged is a

car? Not much damage but enough to stop it from running and

unfortunately that put me in a bad position tomorrow. Frustration,

just like Monaco, I started from the back and I'll have a good car

for the race. And will have to push very hard tomorrow to get points

out of this. Good luck. He has managed to pick up points in four

out of the last six races. Just four points behind Pastor Maldonado.

And he has picked up one when the season. He has some consistency.

That is a beautiful aerial shot and just behind the riding, you can see

the commentary positions on the final quarter. I imagine it is

pretty loud in there. And Lewis Hamilton gearing up for the final

part of qualifying. Let's get the Sebastian Vettel and Hamilton. As I

mentioned, Sebastian Vettel dropped some time on the last corner and

Hamilton kept it together and he had the honour of being fastest in

Q2. But there is that huge gap behind to the rest. On less they

were just cruising, I think it is looking back they will be playing

the chase for third place. Come on, divot. Give us the man for pole

position. Sebastian Vettel or Lewis Hamilton? I will wait until I see

the red light coming out. He is a master! Then, can you shed some

light? The boys are desperate to get this underwear? -- underway.

The final part getting underway. Nico Rosberg heading out onto the

track. Jenson Button is barely out. Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton and

some of them using the softer tyres rather than super-soft. Most of

those men going out on a super-soft tyres. Paul arrester, he qualified

well last year and he has another good opportunity to get into the

top 10. Fernando Alonso not on the circuit yet, and neither is

Grosjean. Or Maldonado. Those who chose not to go out on the option

tyre, it is both Mercedes cars. Perhaps we can get some words from

Gary. Grosjean, sitting in his car and focusing. Just one run in

qualifying. Presumably, not many of them have tyres left. It is one of

those situations. The tyres are to run in the last session, you must

start the race with them. So, both Mercedes cars were 9th and 10th

place in that session so they might be looking at going down to

tomorrow's race knowing that the soft tyre is more durable for the

early part of the race and with that heavy fuel load, you might try

our best on them by. Do the lap, then have someone crashes, we move

off the grid. TEAM RADIO: There are two McLarens ahead of you. That

gives them the option tomorrow and the opportunity to start with a

different strategy with softer tyres rather than super-soft.

Perhaps that is what Mercedes are playing at. On board with Nico

Rosberg. He does love the circuit, he had some good performances with

Williams. He qualified in third place in 2009 and second place in

2008. Michael Schumacher has never scored points on this track and

last year he went out and had a crash with Sergio Perez. They guys

going on to the lap. And DRS is in operation on some of them. They

might just be doing a lap to get the chance to stardom as tyres

tomorrow. Not bothering to deploy DRS. That would suggest he has not

tried to really set any lap time, here. Jenson Button and front, it

is wide open. That big gap in the rear wing. He sheds about 15, or

rants about 50 kilometres an hour. And the run-down in to turn No. 7.

Rosberg and Schumacher, on the harder compound. Button on the

super-soft, really going for it. To see if he can qualify on the front

row, perhaps take pole position. Bouncing over the first kerb. And

meanwhile, Hamilton has gone quicker than Jenson Button in that

first sector. He got away with that, bouncing, but that would make an

hesitate to go into full power exiting Number 10. As he goes along

this long, wide section across the water, down in to turn number 14.

Some understeer touching the inside kerb. Showing faster times. You can

see to the right, three tenths quicker than he achieved in the

previous section, which would give him a 47.3, and if he can maintain

that, there would still be the gap between him and Hamilton. So,

looking to find more than that. Hamilton has gone faster than

anybody in the middle sector. Jenson Button going to the top of

the times, presumably. Jenson Button fastest, 1:47.2. Hamilton

quicker. We are with Lewis Hamilton, looking over his left shoulder. The

final turns. Nice and tidy. And Hamilton goes fastest. 1:46.3. That

was very rapid. Sebastian Vettel not as fast. 1:47.6. Busy saving

something for the final run? Hamilton has often gone for it in

the first run in Q3 and then sits back to see if anybody can beat

that. Normally you put the big effort into the second run but on-

street tracks, that works. TEAM RADIO: We will get the car pulled

around for the second run. Hamilton ahead of Jenson Button then

Sebastian Vettel. Webber is back in the pits and Mercedes did not

complete a lap, so they have not actually done any time in this

session. Some changing of the tyres going on. They're changing the

tyres and I am sure they're putting on Superstock. At least this gets

you out of the traffic. -- super- soft. TEAM RADIO: Two-tenths faster

in secretary and four-tenths faster in a sector number three. We have

never had the repeat pole position winner in Singapore, the previous

four attempts, for different winners. Sebastian Vettel, Fernando

Alonso, Hamilton in 2009 and at the moment he is looking good. The

first year, Felipe Massa. Taking pole position for Ferrari. Hamilton

looking to be the first repeat when her here. Jenson Button brings the

car back into the pits and the clock is ticking away. They wanted

it that a relatively fast in-lap. With four minutes left. That does

not give them a lot of time. Romain Grosjean has come onto the circuit

as well. Waiting to see what rebel get up to. Mark Webber in the pit

lane. Just that one final run for him. Nobody else has but a time

when the board except for Hamilton, Jenson Button and Vettel. This

could be key for a Lewis Hamilton. Straight circuits can be

unforgiving, going into this last run could bring out the yellow flag