Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix - A Thrilling Experience
by S G Prabhu, Singapore
Pics: Cadman Kee, Singapore
Singapore, Sep 29: The Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix 2010 witnessed 80,000 odd fans packed around the 5.073km long Marina Bay street circuit. With a record sell-out of over 244,000 tickets for the three-night-long Grand Prix, the Singapore F1 has surely gone up a notch. The F1 race held recently was highly thrilling with five drivers in fray for the 2010 Championship.
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso pipped Sebastian Vettel in the Singapore Grand Prix by two tenths of a second for the fourth victory of this F1 season, also the 25th victory of his career. Alonso also set the fastest lap of the race recording 1:57:53.579. As for Ferrari, it was its fourth victory of the 2010 Formula One season.
Fullerton Hotel in the GP circuit background
Concert at the Padang
Vintage Queens ready for the ramp walk
The 82-year-old Rolls Royce Connaught Tourer
Crowd engrossed in watching the GP race
Force India – Mercedes, in action
Force India – Mercedes
Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel tried to fight off Alonso all the way to the checkered flag. Vettle’s teammate Mark Webber finished third. McLaren’s Jenson Button and Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg came fourth and fifth respectively. Adrian Sutil finished eighth and brought Force India back among points. The final placing was altered slightly on Sunday which moved Sutil to the ninth position with 20 seconds added to his race time by the race stewards. Till now, Sutil has amassed 47 points and stands at 9th position in the overall drivers' standing and Force India is placed sixth in the constructors’ championship with 62 points.
Sutil's teammate Vitantonio Luizi crashed out delivering a big blow to Force India’s chances of improving its position this season. Last year’s GP winner, Lewis Hamilton of McLaren was unfortunate to crash out of the Sunday’s race.
The roaring sound of the cars, the electrifying excitement and the glitzy entertainment events were worth every penny spent on the once-in-a-year event.
Not only the fast cars, but also world renowned singers kept the audience enthralled. As part of the events, singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, rapper Missy Elliot, the rock band Daughtry and pop singer Adam Lambert entertained the packed crowd at the grounds of Singapore Cricket Club, also called as The Padang.
But people in India need not fret at being unable to enjoy Formula One live. Come 2011 and India will see Formula One debut in her own backyard. With a brand new Formula One track, Noida will play host to the Indian Grand Prix. Aside from the fun and excitement, Indians will be eagerly looking forward to see Force India reach a podium finish.