Lewis Hamilton, McLaren
2008 Qualifying - 2nd, 2008 Race - 3rd
“Last year’s inaugural Singapore Grand Prix was a real example of how to host a new Formula One race - fantastic facilities, slick organisation and a unique and interesting track that was not only fun and demanding but also really forced you to push to the limit and take a few risks to get the best from the car. I remember my race in Singapore last year was all about damage limitation - I was driving with one eye on the world championship and wasn’t going to take too many risks. I was happy to finish on the podium. This year, it’s very different - I know I’m out of the title hunt and I want to attack these last four races, pushing for as many victories as I can.”
Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari
2008 Qualifying - 3rd, 2008 Race - 15th
“I’m glad we’re going to Singapore. It’s a fantastic city, I like the food and I don’t mind that we race in the evening. Furthermore it’s another city circuit and the slower the circuits are this year the better we were. Just look at Valencia and Monaco - there’s no reason, why it shouldn’t be the same in Singapore. I still have a score to settle with this race. Last year, at the end of the race, I drove into a wall, when I was fighting for the fourth position against Glock. I really don’t like that memory. The first night race was great for all of us. Besides some parts of the run-off area the whole track is perfectly illuminated. There’s no difference to daylight. As on all tracks like this, overtaking is almost impossible. The KERS will be an advantage, but it won’t make the difference like it did in Spa or in Monza. If it’s true that the F60 is more competitive on slow tracks, then it’s also true that the other teams will show up with improvements; that’s why it will be more difficult for us. We have to try to use the package we have in the best way possible and we need to find the best set up. If we attain perfection, then we can fight for a place on the podium. This is our goal. We have gained a place on the podium five times in a row and as of the race at the Nurburgring I gained the same number of points as the leaders in the standings. Let’s hope we can proceed like this until the end of the season. It would be great keeping third place in the constructors’ championship, but it will be very difficult too. Over the last four Grands Prix we had only one car in the points, but now we also need the second car’s contribution. I’m sure that, thanks to his experience, Giancarlo can make it. I think that out of the four remaining races the one in Singapore will suit Ferrari the best. If we want to win we need to be more than perfect and need a little bit of luck. But after the win in Spa it would be fantastic to have this feeling once again.”
Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber
2008 Qualifying - 4th, 2008 Race - 11th
“I am very much looking forward to the Singapore Grand Prix. Everybody knows I am a big fan of street circuits. The track is very challenging; especially the last sector is very twisty with a lot of corners. As the circuit is not a permanent track, the grip level is very poor at the beginning of the weekend but improves from day to day. Drivers and engineers have to anticipate how the track’s grip level evolves set-up-wise and balance-wise. The team will bring quite a big update to Singapore. I hope our car will be more competitive and that we are able to surprise the competition with our pace. Last year the surface was very bumpy, maybe a little too bumpy at some places. Before the initial night session, there were lots of concerns among us drivers regarding visibility which did not prove right. Actually I was very surprised how well the light situation was managed.”
Jenson Button, Brawn GP
2008 Qualifying - 12th, 2008 Race - 9th
“Last year’s Singapore Grand Prix was an amazing experience and it really was one of the highlights of the year. Driving under the lights was great fun and the visibility was pretty good although some corners such as turns one and five were a bit dark which made it more difficult to judge your braking distances. The Marina Bay street circuit is pretty challenging and although it has a stop-start layout which isn’t usually my favourite type of circuit, I still enjoyed driving it. As last year, we will stay on European timing for the race weekend which means staying awake throughout the night and sleeping most of the day to ensure that we are alert and the body is ready to react in the right way for the evening timetable. I spent some time at the factory last week driving the circuit on our simulator which helps with the track layout, gears and downforce levels so we are well prepared and looking forward to arriving in Singapore and getting the weekend underway.”
Fernando Alonso, Renault
2008 Qualifying - 15th, 2008 Race - 1st
“I like Singapore because it’s quite challenging and there are some interesting corners like the high-speed chicane at Turn 10 where you have to carry a lot of speed and use the kerbs. Overtaking isn’t easy in Singapore, but there are some opportunities. The car is working well at most circuits so I believe we are competitive enough to get close to the podium, which has to be my target this weekend. Last year I decided it was better to remain on a European schedule rather than adjusting to local time so I will do the same this year as it’s the best way to manage my energy levels.”
Rubens Barrichello, Brawn GP
2008 Qualifying - 18th, 2008 Race - DNF
“The first Formula One night race in Singapore was very exciting last year and I’m really looking forward to returning this week. It’s always good to have new challenges and racing under the lights for the first time certainly provided that. I really enjoyed the circuit as it felt like a proper street circuit should with public roads, bumps, barriers and passing some of the famous city landmarks. It’s very narrow in places and you can feel quite enclosed particularly with the bright floodlights shining down. It’s a very slow track so you need a high downforce aerodynamic configuration on the car and with so many corners, you have to maintain your concentration at all times. I’ve had a great time over the last month with two victories so we’ve got some good momentum behind us going into the final four races of the season. I can’t wait to get back in the car and get on with the challenge.”
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