2009 Singapore Grand Prix

The 2009 Singapore Grand Prix, otherwise known as the 2009 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix, was the fourteenth round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore on 27 September 2009.'14. Singapore 2009', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/singapour.aspx, (Accessed 23/03/2020)Matt Salisbury, 'Hamilton dominates for Singapore success', crash.net, (Crash Media Group, 27/09/2009), https://www.crash.net/f1/race-report/152805/1/hamilton-dominates-to-secure-singapore-success, (Accessed 23/03/2020) The race would see Lewis Hamilton claim victory from pole position, as his main rival for the race win Sebastian Vettel was penalised with a drive-through penalty.
Ahead of the race all of the attention would be on , who received a two year suspended ban from F1 on 21 September 2009 as a result of an FIA investigation into the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.'Renault handed suspended F1 ban', bbc.co.uk, (British Broadcasting Company, 21/09/2009), http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8266090.stm, (Accessed 23/03/2020) That investigation centred on allegations from Nelson Piquet, Jr. that he had been instructed to deliberately crash in the 2008 race, and hence allow teammate Fernando Alonso to claim victory.
In response Renault announced that they would not contest the results of the investigation, as they dismissed Flavio Briatore (who received a lifetime ban from F1) and Pat Symonds (who was slapped with a five year ban). Alonso and Piquet, the latter having been dropped by the team ahead of the 2009 European Grand Prix, were not punished for their involvement, although Renault's two major sponsors ING and Mutua Madrileña both cancelled their contracts with immediate effect.'Renault suffer twin sponsor blow', bbc.co.uk, (British Broadcasting Company, 24/09/2009), http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8273965.stm, (Accessed 23/03/2020)
Into the race weekend itself and Hamilton would emerge on pole position in qualifying, beating Sebastian Vettel to top spot by three tenths of a second. Nico Rosberg was a surprise third for ahead of Mark Webber, while Championship leader Jenson Button could only muster twelfth.
The start of the race saw Hamilton make a good start to claim the lead, while Rosberg streaked past Vettel on the clean side of the grid. Alonso would try to lunge past the German racer later around the opening lap, only for it to be blocked and Webber to pass the Spaniard off track at turn seven, with Timo Glock following him through.
The early stages saw the order quickly settle, although Webber was instructed to let Alonso back past by the FIA, resulting in him dropping behind both Glock and the Spaniard. Otherwise, the race would turn into something of a procession, with Hamilton, Rosberg and Vettel evenly spaced at the head of the field, while the were both out of the points.
Vettel was the first of the lead trio to stop on lap seventeen, while Rosberg stopped a lap later but crucially crossed the white line at pit-out, earning him an immediate drive-through penalty. That ruled him out of the long term race picture as Hamilton came in for his stop on lap twenty, before an accident brought out the Safety Car.
The cause of the SC would be a collision between Adrian Sutil and Nick Heidfeld, after Sutil had spun trying to pass Jaime Alguersuari at turn fourteen. The German racer was subsequently handed a $20,000 fine for dangerous driving, while several drivers including the Brawns made their first stops.
The restart would see Hamilton and Vettel sprint clear at the head of the field, exchanging barrages of fastest laps as Rosberg slipped to the back after serving his drive through. That left a heavily fuelled Glock in third, with the second round of stops commencing when Vettel made his stop on lap 39, although a mistake on the pit limiter meant he was given a penalty for speeding in the pitlane.
However, 's race was about to go from bad to worse, as Webber suffered a brake failure and crashed at turn one, although there was no need for the SC to be deployed. Regardless, McLaren and Toyota would pit their cars, while Vettel damaged his car kerb hopping trying to compensate for his drive-through.
Once Vettel served his penalty the race was over, with Hamilton cruising through the closing stages to claim victory ahead of Glock. Alonso was third and controversially dedicated his podium finish to Briatore, while Vettel fended off a late charge from Button to secure fourth. Button himself would suffer from a brake issue late on but had enough to keep teammate Rubens Barrichello at bay for fifth, while Heikki Kovalainen and Robert Kubica claimed the remaining points.
==Background==
Victory for Rubens Barrichello left the Brazilian racer fourteen points off the lead in the Drivers Championship, and signalled his intent to challenge for the title. Indeed, second for Jenson Button in Italy had reduced the damage to his lead, moving him onto 80 points for the season. Behind Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber were still in the hunt in third and fourth, while Kimi Räikkönen in fifth was mathematically out of contention, for he could not beat Button even if he won all four remaining races.
At the conclusion of the European phase of the season it was who were in command of the Constructors Championship, as their Italian one-two moved them onto 146 points. were still in second, but had slipped 40.5 points behind with 76 points left to fight for in the final four rounds. Behind, were officially out of the fight in third, but had a fair advantage of fifteen points over in fourth.
===Entry List===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Lewis Hamilton 	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-24 	 	FO 108W 2.4 V8 	
2 	Heikki Kovalainen 	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-24 	 	FO 108W 2.4 V8 	
3 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F60 	 	056 2009 2.4 V8 	
4 	Kimi Räikkönen 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F60 	 	056 2009 2.4 V8 	
5 	Robert Kubica 	BMW Sauber F1 Team 	 	F1.09 	 	P86/9 2.4 V8 	
6 	Nick Heidfeld 	BMW Sauber F1 Team 	 	F1.09 	 	P86/9 2.4 V8 	
7 	Fernando Alonso 	Renault F1 Team 	 	R29 	 	RS27 2.4 V8 	
8 	Romain Grosjean 	Renault F1 Team 	 	R29 	 	RS27 2.4 V8 	
9 	Jarno Trulli 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF109 	 	RVX-09 2.4 V8 	
10 	Timo Glock 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF109 	 	RVX-09 2.4 V8 	
11 	Jaime Alguersuari 	Scuderia Toro Rosso 	 	STR4 	 	056 2008 2.4 V8 	
12 	Sébastien Buemi 	Scuderia Toro Rosso 	 	STR4 	 	056 2008 2.4 V8 	
14 	Mark Webber 	Red Bull Racing 	 	RB5 	 	RS27 2.4 V8 	
15 	Sebastian Vettel 	Red Bull Racing 	 	RB5 	 	RS27 2.4 V8 	
16 	Nico Rosberg 	AT&T Williams 	 	FW31 	 	RVX-09 2.4 V8 	
17 	Kazuki Nakajima 	AT&T Williams 	 	FW31 	 	RVX-09 2.4 V8 	
20 	Adrian Sutil 	Force India F1 Team 	 	VJM02 	 	FO 108W 2.4 V8 	
21 	Vitantonio Liuzzi 	Force India F1 Team 	 	VJM02 	 	FO 108W 2.4 V8 	
22 	Jenson Button 	Brawn GP F1 Team 	 	BGP 001 	 	FO 108W 2.4 V8 	
23 	Rubens Barrichello 	Brawn GP F1 Team 	 	BGP 001 	 	FO 108W 2.4 V8 	
Source:'Singapore 2009: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/singapour/engages.aspx, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'Singapore 2009: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/singapour/engages.aspx, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'Singapore 2009: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/singapour/engages.aspx, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'Singapore 2009: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/singapour/engages.aspx, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'Singapore 2009: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/singapour/engages.aspx, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'Singapore 2009: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/singapour/engages.aspx, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'Singapore 2009: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/singapour/engages.aspx, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'Singapore 2009: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/singapour/engages.aspx, (Accessed 23/03/2020)
==Practice Overview==
==Qualifying==
===Q1===
===Q2===
===Q3===
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Team 	 	Q1 	Q1 	 	Q2 	Q2 	 	Q3 	Q3 	Grid
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Team 	 	Pos. 	Time 	 	Pos. 	Time 	 	Pos. 	Time 	Grid
1 	1K 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	 	1 	1:46.977 	 	4 	1:46.657 	 	1 	1:47.891 	1
2 	15 	Sebastian Vettel 	 	 	7 	1:47.541 	 	3 	1:46.362 	 	2 	1:48.204 	2
3 	16 	Nico Rosberg 	 	 	5 	1:47.390 	 	1 	1:46.197 	 	3 	1:48.348 	3
4 	14 	Mark Webber 	 	 	11 	1:47.646 	 	2 	1:46.328 	 	4 	1:48.722 	4
5* 	23 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	 	6 	1:47.397 	 	7 	1:46.787 	 	5 	1:48.828 	9*
6 	7 	Fernando Alonso 	 	 	14 	1:47.757 	 	6 	1:46.767 	 	6 	1:49.054 	5
7 	10 	Timo Glock 	 	 	15 	1:47.770 	 	5 	1:46.707 	 	7 	1:49.180 	6
8 	5 	Robert Kubica 	 	 	9 	1:47.615 	 	8 	1:46.813 	 	9 	1:49.514 	7
9 	2K 	Heikki Kovalainen 	 	 	8 	1:47.542 	 	10 	1:46.842 	 	10 	1:49.778 	8
EXC† 	6 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	 	4 	1:47.347 	 	9 	1:46.832 	 	8 	1:49.307 	20
11 	17 	Kazuki Nakajima 	 	 	10 	1:47.637 	 	11 	1:47.103 	 	 	 	10
12 	22 	Jenson Button 	 	 	2 	1:47.180 	 	12 	1:47.141 	 	 	 	11
13 	4K 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	 	3 	1:47.293 	 	13 	1:47.177 	 	 	 	12
14 	12 	Sébastien Buemi 	 	 	12 	1:47.677 	 	14 	1:47.369 	 	 	 	13
15 	9 	Jarno Trulli 	 	 	13 	1:47.690 	 	15 	1:47.413 	 	 	 	14
16 	20 	Adrian Sutil 	 	 	16 	1:48.231 	 	 	 	 	 	 	15
17 	21 	Jaime Alguersuari 	 	 	17 	1:48.340 	 	 	 	 	 	 	16
18 	3K 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	 	18 	1:48.350 	 	 	 	 	 	 	17
19 	8 	Romain Grosjean 	 	 	19 	1:48:544 	 	 	 	 	 	 	18
20 	21 	Vitantonio Liuzzi 	 	 	20 	1:48.792 	 	 	 	 	 	 	19
Source:'2009 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/856/singapore/qualifying.html, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'2009 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/856/singapore/qualifying.html, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'2009 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/856/singapore/qualifying.html, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'2009 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/856/singapore/qualifying.html, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'2009 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/856/singapore/qualifying.html, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'2009 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/856/singapore/qualifying.html, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'2009 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/856/singapore/qualifying.html, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'2009 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/856/singapore/qualifying.html, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'2009 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/856/singapore/qualifying.html, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'2009 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/856/singapore/qualifying.html, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'2009 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/856/singapore/qualifying.html, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'2009 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/856/singapore/qualifying.html, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'2009 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/856/singapore/qualifying.html, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'2009 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/856/singapore/qualifying.html, (Accessed 23/03/2020)
*K Indicates a driver was equipped with KERS during the session.
*Bold indicates the fastest driver's time in each session.
** Barrichello was given a five-place grid penalty for a gearbox change prior to qualifying.
*† Heidfeld was excluded from the session for being underweight during qualifying and served a five place grid penalty for a gearbox change.
===Grid===
** Heidfeld started the race from the pitlane.
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	1K 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	61 	1:56:06.337 	1 	10
2 	10 	Timo Glock 	 	61 	+9.634s 	6 	8
3 	7 	Fernando Alonso 	 	61 	+16.624s 	5 	6
4 	15 	Sebastian Vettel 	 	61 	+20.621s 	2 	5
5 	22 	Jenson Button 	 	61 	+30.015s 	11 	4
6 	23 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	61 	+31.858s 	9 	3
7 	2K 	Heikki Kovalainen 	 	61 	+36.157s 	8 	2
8 	5 	Robert Kubica 	 	61 	+55.054s 	7 	1
9 	17 	Kazuki Nakajima 	 	61 	+56.054s 	10 	
10 	4K 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	61 	+58.892 	12 	
11 	16 	Nico Rosberg 	 	61 	+59.777s 	3 	
12 	9 	Jarno Trulli 	 	61 	+1:13.009 	14 	
13 	3K 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	61 	+1:19.890 	17 	
14 	21 	Vitantonio Liuzzi 	 	61 	+1:33.502 	19 	
Ret 	11 	Jaime Alguersuari 	 	47 	Brakes 	16 	
Ret 	12 	Sébastien Buemi 	 	47 	Gearbox 	13 	
Ret 	14 	Mark Webber 	 	45 	Brakes 	4 	
Ret 	20 	Adrian Sutil 	 	23 	Damage 	15 	
Ret 	6 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	19 	Collision 	PL 	
Ret 	8 	Romain Grosjean 	 	3 	Brakes 	18 	
Source:'Singapore 2009: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/singapour/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'Singapore 2009: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/singapour/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'Singapore 2009: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/singapour/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'Singapore 2009: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/singapour/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'Singapore 2009: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/singapour/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'Singapore 2009: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/singapour/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'Singapore 2009: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/singapour/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/03/2020)	Source:'Singapore 2009: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/singapour/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/03/2020)
*K Indicates a driver was equipped with KERS during the session.
==Milestones==
* Lewis Hamilton claimed his eleventh career victory.
* claimed their 164th win as a constructor.
** secured their 77th win as an engine supplier, and this was their 60th win for the partnership.
* Timo Glock claimed his third and final podium finish.
** This was also Glock's final points finish.
* Fernando Alonso secured his only podium finish of .
** This was also the only podium finish for as a constructor in 2009.
* Last points finish for Heikki Kovalainen.
==Standings==
The Championship picture had not changed too drastically as a result of the Singapore Grand Prix, with Jenson Button retaining a fair advantage of fifteen points. Rubens Barrichello was still his closest challenger, while Sebastian Vettel had remained in the hunt with three rounds to go, although he faced a huge deficit of 25 points. Mark Webber, meanwhile, was officially out of the fight in fourth on 51.5 points, while racer winner Lewis Hamilton had moved up to sixth.
In the Constructors Championship had inched closer to their maiden Championship at their first attempt, moving onto 153 points with three rounds to go. had, however, retained a slight hope of challenging for the title on 110.5 points, but would have to outscore Brawn by seven points in Japan to remain in the hunt. Behind, had just kept at bay to hold third, while had remained in fifth.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Jenson Button 	84 	
2 	Rubens Barrichello 	69 	
3 	Sebastian Vettel 	59 	
4 	Mark Webber 	51.5 	
5 	Kimi Räikkönen 	40 	
6 	Lewis Hamilton 	37 	1
7 	Nico Rosberg 	30.5 	1
8 	Fernando Alonso 	26 	3
9 	Timo Glock 	24 	3
10 	Jarno Trulli 	22.5 	2
11 	Felipe Massa 	22 	2
12 	Heikki Kovalainen 	22 	2
13 	Nick Heidfeld 	12 	
14 	Robert Kubica 	9 	1
15 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	8 	1
16 	Adrian Sutil 	5 	
17 	Sébastien Buemi 	3 	
18 	Sébastien Bourdais 	2 	
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	153 	
2 	 	110.5 	
3 	 	62 	
4 	 	59 	
5 	 	46.5 	
6 	 	30.5 	
7 	 	26 	1
8 	 	21 	1
9 	 	13 	
10 	 	5 	
Only point scoring drivers are shown.
==References==
Images and videos:
*
References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:Singapore Grand Prix
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:2009 Grands Prix
Category:Formula One races in Singapore