"Cato Batista" 22/09/2013 1:19:54 ID #488

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

As the script had it, VET grabbed pole pretty much uncontested.  After outpacing the pack by nearly a second in Q2 he opted to do just one Q3 run that nobody could match even as the track went faster towards the end.  GRO got very close on his last flyer and then ROS, but in the end his overconfidence paid dividends as he was able to save a set of options for tomorrow.

WEB was as fast as his teammate in the first 2 sectors but VET’s amazing speed in turns 21-22 was way above everybody else. HAM couldn’t find his set-up to display his usual fireworks around here and will start 5^th sharing third row with MAS who out qualified ALO. McLaren has 1 car in the top 10 thanks to BUT; the only surprise on the day came from rookie GUT who reached the shoot-out for the 1^st time.

 

CFA scores were bad as usual, this time it was WEB who trashed our best efforts. His RB9 was supposed at the front, instead we were left with a large left-column of 1 point marks for 17 of us.  No winners of losers, just a missed opportunity. Thanks Mark!

 

The grid

VET  ROS  GRO WEB  HAM  MAS  ALO  BUT  RIC  GUT (RAI 13^th)

 

The super-soft tyre has proved to be far more durable than was expected and will be the favored race tyre making the by-the-book-strategy a 2 stopper for the 61 laps, but this place is very punishing and accidents are inevitable in such a long, tiring race. Places are going to be lost or found when the Safety Car shows up to interrupt the activities, fast thinking by the engineers in the pitwall and of course the racecraft and experience of the best drivers will produce the results tomorrow.  It’s too bad Lotus star driver RAI has been sidelined with back injury, he’s never been particularly good around the Marina Bay circuit in the past, and now his participation is even in doubt for tomorrow.

 

Except the most audacious of our colleagues (or the desperate ones) we have a clear pick for 1^st place, the hard work will be coming from the remaining five.  Let’s see what you think.

 

Cato – VET ROS ALO WEB GRO BUT

 

Good luck, enjoy!