Round 15: Singapore Grand Prix

I think I finally have to face the cold, hard truth: there’s a real chance Kimi isn't going to pull off this championship defense 😢 😁

And honestly, this absolute disaster unfolding at Ferrari is getting harder to ignore by the day; if they keep messing up like this, we might actually find ourselves spiraling all the way back to those dark days of the early '90s. 🙄

feraltrucker5 said:I suppose I have to come to terms with the reality that Kimi might not actually defend his championship title 😢 😁

And this absolute mess over at Ferrari just keeps getting worse by the day. At this rate, we'll be regressing all the way back to those struggling years in the early nineties. 🙄

Unless, of course, some new Schumi shows up out of nowhere to save them...

Morgan Murphy7 said:Don't mess with me. 😁

You’d have to admit, Rosberg really played that loophole in the rules perfectly. 🙏

What hole? Everything was done by the book. Alonso just saw an opening and took it. 😬 Pit stop, then go call Piquet. Seriously, kid, just go kiss the wall already.🤣 Renault actually pulled off a podium finish. Honestly? Brilliant tactics and some seriously clever loophole hunting. 🙏😬

Honestly, this rule is just stupid. It couldn't be any more moronic if they tried.☕ What kind of twisted logic is it that you can't hit the pits while the SC is out? Probably some safety nonsense.🙄 I mean, it’s probably way safer to just sit there and wait for your pit stop + 10 sec rather than actually trying to drive on the track like everyone else. 186 milesChecking the gap while they're circling behind the SC at 100.☕

Besides, it all comes down to tactics. If Kubica had just hit the pits when Rosberg finished, he still would've taken the penalty, but at least he wouldn't have spent three miserable laps trailing that truo car only to end up with the exact same penalty anyway.☕

rustystag7 said:Whatever, they can all say whatever they want. I don't care about the rumors or the conspiracy theories—I'm watching what actually happens on the track.
Honestly, I think this season has been pretty legit. Trust me, I'm only watching this because I'm stuck in a massive slump and some crazy fan convinced me to follow along.

Look, I’m totally fine with taking shots at Massa. You really think I’d want some random underdog driver just stumbling his way through a field full of these overpriced pricks? Please.

Look, if they didn't give Mass any kind of compensation, that's on them. Personally, I'm against these late-race penalties. I was against it back when Hamilton collided with Kimi in the pits, too—it wasn't intentional. 🤷

Look, let's be real: the FIA definitely leans toward Ferrari. That’s just facts. But I don't buy this nonsense that they're actively trying to screw everyone else over just to hand Ferrari a win. Honestly, those conspiracy theories are just plain stupid.

I'm probably going to end up like Massa again this season—doing the absolute best job on track, only to get screwed over. He’s easily the fastest guy out there, and honestly, it would be a total injustice if he didn't walk away with the championship. 🤷

It’s only fair that Hamilton gets his due. Victory stripped away. Cutting the chicane.🙄 It was the exact same thing when Massa was shoving Kubica off the track for an entire lap, cutting through every single chicane on the circuit. It was just as fair then, wasn't it? No penalties.☕

It’s only fair that Kimi... No penalty. When he slammed into Sutil—who was basically having the race of his life and sitting pretty in fourth—it would’ve brought him a mountain of cash and maybe even landed him a better seat in F1. Plus, his team is absolutely starving for money, so honestly, I can't say it's unfair that he didn't get penalized.🙄 Is it even fair that it's Hamilton? Got hit with a penalty. Did he just gun Kimi in the pits? If we’re being fair, let's hand out a penalty to Rosberg too.☕

It’s only fair that Massa didn't get it. No penalty at all. When he flew past Sutil in the pits (the first time), it was just as fair for Massa to get hit with a penalty. pit stop + 10 sec For flying off right in front of Sutil (again), wasting fuel all over the pit lane, and putting a whole bunch of drivers and mechanics at risk? Yeah, that’s fair.🙄 It’s only fair that Heidfeld got that three-place grid penalty. He was just heading into the pits like anyone else, but since Rubens happened to be right behind him at that exact moment, Nick gets the blame. He made a total mess of that pit entry, so he deserves the penalty.🙄
Look, Kubica and Rosberg diving into the pits under the SC was way more dangerous than Massin’s absolute clown show with Ferrari. That move definitely deserved a penalty. Pit stop + 10 sec. penalty. 🙄

All that matters is that it's fair.

I'm rooting for STR.☕ Watching all this unfold from the sidelines is honestly exhausting. It’s painful watching the championship fight like this. I’ve said it before: the FIA should just hand the Constructors' title to Ferrari at the start of the season, along with the Drivers' title too. Then, they could give Ferrari a week to sit around, think about it, and decide which of their drivers is actually taking the trophy home this year. Once that's done, maybe the FIA can stop being such a pain so we can actually enjoy the rest of the season and watch the fight for second place without all the nonsense.

It’s honestly ridiculous how they manage to completely blow it at the end of the season.👎👎

John Bennett4 said:Hamilton might be talking nonsense sometimes, but at least he's honest—he hasn't lost his touch professionally.

As for Massa, if what you're saying is true, he might as well try acting. Maybe he can snag an Oscar since he’s clearly not winning any championships...

He could play some cocaine smuggler, maybe? White powder in the fuel tank, speeding across the border... something like that.

Honestly, screw him... Massa probably only got his F1 shot through some connection in Brazil... because let's be real, he isn't some generational talent. Put him in a Renault or a BMW and he won't do anything better than their regular drivers. If I remember correctly, that's exactly what happened to Barrichello after he left Ferrari... nothing! Zilch!!

Morgan Murphy7 said:And then I remember—he was actually sitting in dead last by lap 14... 🙏

He climbed 19 spots without even making a single overtake!

Pure driving masterclass—seriously, wow.

He still has the nerve to claim he deserved the win, even though just a few weeks ago he was attacking Hamilton, saying he only won because of luck.

If clearing 19 drivers out of the way isn't pure luck, then I honestly don't know what is.

Bradley Nelson2 said:Alonso was definitely the fastest... especially through that first turn 🤣

Wait, wasn't that when he illegally grabbed the spot by cutting the chicane?

Gary Palmer8 said:Wasn't that the moment he gained an unfair advantage by cutting the chicane?

Here we go,

It feels like they're looking for any tiny excuse to call a penalty these days. Every little thing is scrutinized. 🙏

Gary Palmer8 said:Wasn't there that instance where he grabbed an illegal position by cutting the chicane?

Give it to the king 🙏

Whenever I recall how much he whined back during the Schumacher era—his final season, specifically—claiming the FIA was out to get him, or suggesting they were being far too lenient with "Schumi" after this guy beat him three times straight...

🙄

Morgan Murphy7 said:here he is

honestly, even the tiniest little thing gets under my skin these days—it's exhausting 🙏

And man, he was so adamant about Lewis Hamilton getting rightfully penalized at Spa—now he's acting like it's fine since they've clarified the rules on it, and suddenly he's winning the race!

dustyhound said:it's just how things are with the king 🙏

When I look back at how much he used to whine during the Schumacher era—specifically that final season—claiming the FIA was out to get him or that they were playing favorites with Schumacher after losing to him three times straight...

🙄

Sure, the fact that he's a bit of a crybaby is pretty much an established truth at this point.

But it’s also a reality that more and more people are starting to admit: he really is the best driver in Formula 1 right now.☕

Gary Palmer8 said:And listen, he was so adamant about Lewis Hamilton being fairly penalized at Spa, yet now he’s celebrating a win because the rules were clarified in that regard.

Well, if you really want to go down that road, fine.

Yes, he did cut the chicane.

But we are talking about the START of the race.

When you have ten cars all trying to squeeze through a chicane at once, there simply isn't enough room for everyone to play nice.

We see this exact same thing happen at every single race, and frankly, no one ever gets penalized for it.🙏

Morgan Murphy7 said:It’s all well and good to call him a complete idiot—that part is pretty much common knowledge at this point.

But the fact that he happens to be the best driver in Formula 1 right now is a reality that more and more people are forced to acknowledge. ☕

I won't ever live that down. I mean, seriously—you're going to tell a seven-time World Champion that the FIA should just go easy on him? 🙄 This guy was already out there winning races while Fernando Alonso was still learning how to ride a bicycle...
☕

Morgan Murphy7 said:fine, if you really insist

Yeah, he cut the chicane

but we're talking about the START of the race

You've got ten cars all trying to squeeze through that chicane—there simply isn't enough room for everyone

We see this exact same thing at every single race, yet nobody ever gets penalized for it 🙏

Of course there won't be a penalty for cutting the chicane if, by exiting the corner, he allows the driver he was actually attacking to pass—essentially, he’d be punished for something he didn't even do... 🙄
It was chaotic and difficult to judge, but I find it baffling that they didn't at least put that controversial situation under investigation...
The funniest part for me is how Blazic always describes Fernando Alonso as "temperamental"🙄 I wonder why, truly... it must be because of that famous instance where he waved from his car at the driver he'd been stuck behind for several laps and couldn't overtake. Very temperamental indeed.🙄

rustystag7 said:No, no, don't get me wrong, I think Fernando Alonso is a legend and I’m stoked he won...

I just meant that there's at least half the crowd here rooting against someone rather than actually rooting for anyone...

And honestly, I really don't get what the thrill of winning is. Take me, for example—I'm a huge Felipe Massa fan, so if Lewis Hamilton is looking fast, I'm basically praying his engine blows up just so Massa can slide right past him...

A win doesn't taste sweet to me if you weren't truly the best.🤷

To be totally real, when I look at who's actually competing with Massa, I'm thinking Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Räikkönen, Heikki Kovalainen, and maybe Robert Kubica....

Everyone else is driving cars that are way too slow to be serious contenders. Of course, Alonso is the man, though, and if luck is on his side, he might end up behind the wheel of a Renault next season.🙏

I don't get why you used an engine failure as an example when that wasn't even what happened here. Massa had a bad pit stop, but the pits are part of every single race—it's how drivers gain or lose spots when they can't make moves directly on the track. That exact same pit crew might be the reason Massa wins the next race. Everything happens so fast, which is why mistakes happen; I'm pretty sure things would go smoothly if the mechanics had thirty seconds to refuel instead of seconds. Maybe the lollipop man takes an extra second to signal, but hey, it's a choice the team makes. So, I wouldn't call it a "misfortune" that would somehow invalidate the win for Alonso or the Renault fans. They should celebrate just as much as if Massa's mistake hadn't happened.

I just can't get on board with you downplaying this win. Alonso was the best out there in Miami, just like Vettel was the best in Monza. Even if they aren't sitting at the top of the standings and aren't driving the absolute fastest cars, they nailed those two races perfectly. They used their skill, their pace, and the track conditions to earn a well-deserved victory. Those wins might even mean more than Massa's or Hamilton's because they pulled them off in significantly worse cars. And if they don't mean more, they definitely taste sweeter.

In terms of the final standings, the people competing with Massa are exactly who you listed. My only disagreement is Kovalainen, since he's never going to be better than Hamilton, so he's not really a threat to Massa. But that doesn't mean they can't be the best on certain tracks by handling specific circumstances well, having the smartest team calls, or having the tightest pit crew. Is the "best" only the guy who hops into a car that's 20% faster than everyone else and cruises twenty seconds ahead of the field without hitting a single bump?

dustyhound said:Of course they aren't going to penalize someone for cutting the chicane if they end up letting the guy they squeezed out pass them on the exit. Otherwise, they'd actually have to hand back a position, which nobody wants to do... 🙄
It was total chaos out there and super hard to judge, but I seriously don't get why they didn't at least put that messy situation under investigation...

Man, you clearly missed the point of what you tried to emphasize by rephrasing Morgan Murphy7's post to make it look obvious 🤣
Let me lay it out for you one more time... this happens in every single race. Nobody ever gets penalized or forced to give a spot back for cutting those first two chicanes right after the start, and it's never even an investigation matter.

P.S. What about that BMW that cut ahead right behind Fernando Alonso? That doesn't bother you? 🙄

stormybadger8 said:It’s only fair that Lewis Hamilton had his win stripped for cutting the chicane🙄 just like how it was perfectly fair when Massa was shoving Robert Kubica around for an entire lap and cut through every single chicane on the track, and back then it was also totally fine that there were no penalties ☕

It's just as fair that Kimi didn't get penalized after he slammed into Adrian Sutil—who was having the race of his life and sitting in 4th place, which would have netted him a mountain of cash and maybe a better deal in Formula 1, while his team is drowning in debt—so yeah, it's just as "fair" that there was no penalty🙄 but it's equally fair that Lewis Hamilton got penalized because he bumped Kimi in the pits; I mean, if we're being fair to the bitter end, let's just go ahead and penalize Nico Rosberg too☕

It's fair that Massa didn't get any penalty at all when he spun out in front of Sutil in the pits (the first time), and it's just as fair that Massa got hit with a pit stop + 10 sec for spinning in front of Sutil (the second time), for wasting fuel in the pit lane, and for endangering a whole crowd of drivers and mechanics—that's all perfectly fair🙄 likewise, it's fair that Nick Heidfeld got a three-place grid penalty, because he was just pulling into the pits normally, but then Rubens Barrichello happened to end up behind him, so Nick is clearly to blame and definitely deserves the penalty since he made such a clumsy entrance into the pits🙄
Of course, the overall reckless move by Robert Kubica and Nico Rosberg entering the pits under the SC is way worse than that tragicomic mess from Massin and Ferrari, and that absolutely deserved a pit stop + 10 sec penalty 🙄

But hey, as long as everything is fair

I'm rooting for the Street crew☕ and I'm watching all this objectively from the sidelines, and honestly, it hurts my soul wondering who's going to take the championship, but I already said it once: the FIA should just hand the Constructors' title to Ferrari at the start of the season along with the Drivers' trophy, and then let Ferrari take a week to think about it and decide which of their drivers they want to win it this year, and then they can stop screwing around so the rest of the season can actually be driven normally while people fight for second place

The next beer is on me 👍

Edward Howard2 said:I don't really get why you used an engine failure as an example when that wasn't even what happened here. For Felipe Massa, it was a bad pit stop, but look, pit stops are just part of the game. It's how drivers gain or lose ground when they can't make moves directly on the track. That exact same pit crew might be the reason Massa grabs a win at the next race. Everything happens so fast, so mistakes are bound to happen—I'm pretty sure if those mechanics had like thirty seconds to refuel, nothing would have gone wrong. Maybe the lollipop man takes an extra second to lift the sign, but hey, it’s a safer bet, and honestly, it’s just a team call. So, I wouldn't call it some "accident" that should take away from the fact that Fernando Alonso and the Renault fans should celebrate this win just as much as if there hadn't been any "bad luck" for Massin.

I just can't wrap my head around you downplaying this victory. Alonso was the man in Singapore, just like Vettel was the man in Monza. Even if they aren't top-tier on the season standings or driving the absolute best cars, they nailed those two races. They drove flawlessly, played their cards right, and used their skill and the track conditions to earn that win. To me, those wins might actually carry more weight than anything from Massin or Lewis Hamilton because they pulled it off in significantly worse machinery. And even if they don't count for "more," they definitely taste sweeter.

As far as who Massin is actually competing against in the final standings, I'm mostly with you, though I wouldn't say Kovalainen belongs in that conversation since he'll never be better than Kimi, so he's not really a threat to Massin. But that doesn't mean those are the only guys who can step up. You can find greatness by reading the situation perfectly, having the smartest team calls, or just having the best pit crew in the business. Is the "best" really just whoever sits in a car that's 20% faster than everyone else and cruises past the guy in second by 20 seconds without hitting a single bump?

I think you totally misread what I was getting at...

My post wasn't about the specifics of last race; it was more about the general vibe of following Formula 1—you know, that mindset where you root for Massin and just hope Lewis Hamilton's engine blows up...

Generally speaking, I'm on the same page as you, but I can't agree with that last bit about who's the best...

Personally, I feel like Ferrari and McLaren are running basically the same cars right now; it's all just tiny little details at this point...

Ferrari's tactics are a total mess, and they brought in a driver who doesn't seem to care about anything. His teammate is basically outshining him, and honestly, I'm kind of loving it...

Of course, a huge chunk of the fanbase hasn't caught on yet and still spends their time talking nonsense about Kimi, Robert Kubica, and the rest of the crew who aren't even in the title fight...

There's forum chatter, and then there's reality. And the reality is either Massin or Kimi is going to take it, provided nothing crazy happens on track like it did last time...

When it comes to the cars, you know as well as I do that while the car matters, it isn't everything. If it were all about the machine, Kimi and Alonso would have been champions last season. This year, on paper, Kimi should be winning it in a tight battle with Lewis Hamilton, but we see how that's turning out...

Massin is driving incredibly well—I have to admit, even I didn't see that coming. He's driving like a champion. Their tactics are trash and their pit stops are terrible, so whatever he wins, he wins on his own merit. He's outperforming everyone, and for me, he's the standard for what a teammate should be...

Apparently, Kimi just can't get his tires up to temperature.🙄, I mean, obviously Felipe Massa can handle different cars 🙄

stormybadger8 said:It’s only fair that Lewis Hamilton lost his win for cutting the chicane🙄 just like how when Massa was muscle-ing Robert Kubica around for a whole lap and cut through every single chicane on the track, it was also totally fair that there was no penalty☕

It’s fair that Kimi didn't get penalized when he slammed into Adrian Sutil—who was having the race of his life and sitting in 4th, which would've brought Kimi tons of cash and maybe even a better deal in Formula 1, while his team is starving for money—yeah, it’s just as "fair" that there was no penalty🙄 but it’s also just as "fair" that Lewis Hamilton got punished because did he slam Kimi in the pits? If we're being fair to the extreme, let's go ahead and penalize Rosberg too☕

It’s fair that Massa didn't get any kind of penalty when he spun out in front of Sutil in the pits (the first time), and it's also fair that Massa got a pit stop + 10 sec for spinning in front of Sutil (the second time) for wasting fuel all over the pit lane and endangering a whole bunch of drivers and mechanics, so that's fair🙄 likewise, it's fair that Nick Heidfeld got a 3-place grid penalty, since he was just doing a normal pit entry, but at that exact moment Rubens Barrichello ended up right behind him and Nick is to blame for that, so he definitely needs to be punished because of that messy pit entry🙄
Of course, the general dangerous move by Kubica and Rosberg entering the pits under the SC is way worse than Massin and Ferrari's tragicomic little drama, and that definitely deserved a pit stop + 10 sec penalty 🙄

But hey, as long as everything is fair

I’m rooting for the Street circuit☕ and I’m looking at all this objectively from the sidelines, and yeah, it hurts my soul thinking about who’s gonna be champion, but like I said once before, the FIA should just hand the Constructors' title to Ferrari at the start of the season and the Driving also, and then let Ferrari take a week to think about it and announce which of their drivers is going to grab it this year, and then stop screwing around so the rest of the season can actually be driven normally and people can fight for second place in the standings

look man, I’ll tell you straight up and I’m asking you to please look at the situation realistically, not just as a fan...

it’s fair that Hamilton lost his win because he didn't have the guts to wait and go through properly....
just saying, I like the kid and he's even more of a favorite than Kimi, but that doesn't change the fact that he made a mistake and he has to face the consequences....

and you know yourself that in that split second, if he had exited the corner normally, he would've been behind the car like any normal exit, but instead he was already alongside him coming out, so that's an unfair way to gain an advantage....

this has nothing to do with Ferrari or McLaren anymore, it’s just about his own screw-ups...

I should mention the FIA let him slide on that mess in Monza because they felt he deserved a break since he's a master driver, but honestly, I'm starting to worry he's gonna become a total jerk, and that's just unnecessary....

So, this whole thing about closing off the line when passing someone and just not leaving any room in the recent seasons... I'm just saying, they didn't used to do it like this. Sure, it happened before, but I was watching some old overtaking clips recently, and the real pros? They always left a gap for the car coming through....

Regarding Robert Kubica and Felipe Massa at Monza—if you're talking about that shove, Massa let him through because he cut the chicane, so I think that settles that part right there. 🤷

As for Kimi getting bumped by Adrian Sutil, in my opinion, there shouldn't have been a penalty there, just like how there shouldn't have been one for Lewis Hamilton bumping Kimi in the pits...

If you remember, I was actually the biggest advocate for not penalizing the guy in the pits because he couldn't avoid him—you could tell he was trying... Man, there's definitely some unfairness in those two cases, I'll be honest about that, but nothing more...

And that incident where he went off track ahead of Sutil? That isn't Massa's fault, it's the mechanics. From what I read on an American news site after the last race, the issue was actually dangerous driving through the pit lane, not the off-track excursion....

It just feels wrong to penalize a driver for a mistake made by the crew. Take points away from them in the Constructors' Championship, hit their wallets or whatever, but don't punish the driver for something they didn't even do. 🤷

That’s just my take, and it’s staying that way, because this isn't about it being Ferrari specifically, it's about actual logic....

I'm reading through these posts now and people are acting like Massa is to blame because of the mistakes in the pits, but looking back at the whole season, I don't see any actual mistakes on Massa's part.

And yeah, I'll say it again: I think everything comes down to the individual. If you spin five times on a wet track, that's on you. But the pit wall provides zero help with strategy, because honestly, what Ferrari is doing with their strategy is just a joke.

McLaren is absolutely destroying them out there.