Singapore Grand Prix Formula One 2008 Night Race

Prior to watching the race, I wasn't a big fan of F1. I just couldn't understand the essence of cars running around and around in how-many-laps. Ever since, my dad incessantly watched F1 at Star Sports and he just kept appreciating the race. I asked him what's the significance of watching F1, if they just go round and round. He said "I have a passion for speed. I want everything fast. And you know that whenever we go for out-of-town long trips, I want to step on the gas and drive for 200 kph" (oh yeah he did that a lot of times.... crazy right?). He's a big fan of McClaren Mercedes because he has a great bond with the car and it hasn't disappointed him eversince.

Hungarian Grand Prix 2007

When I found out that I'll be going with my dad to Singapore, I had to do a little research about F1. I was just amazed on how a lot of companies spend their millions for this race, since it's the most watched sporting event in the world. History shows that the roots of Grand Prix racing was back in the 1920's-1930's. After World War II, like in 1946 or something, Formula One was established. Thanks to Google and Wikipedia, I got familiarized with it and equipped with such information.... But the information kept on going as I arrived in Singapore....

The drivers were really cute and some of them are hot! Lewis Hamilton (McClaren Mercedes), Fernando Alonso (ING Renault), Nico Rosberg (Williams-Toyota, whose dad's an F1 racer) and Kazuki Nakajima (Williams-Toyota, whose dad's also an F1 racer) are boyishly, bring-home-to-mommy cute. Felipe Massa (Ferrari) has an enigmatic mystique. Nelsinho Piquet (ING Renault), Adrian Sutil (Force India) and Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari, whose paid like $51 million per year, considered as the highest paid driver after Michael Schumacher) are so hot! More reason to be excited about F1. Because they have sex appeal, rich and excellent drivers, they even have groupies. And I thought groupies are for rockstars... apparently not. Hehe!

As mentioned, a lot of bucks were spent on this event. ING's sponsorship cost 40 million Euros. That's just ING... What more for those companies like SingTel and Bridgestone??? Hmmm do the math...

So yeah here we were in the Grandstand, seated infront of the Pitstop and close to the tracks.... sweet!! Some people shared that the pit stop was like an operating room. The targeted 8-second pit stop thingee done by the team constructors is the ultimate teamwork ever. Altogether, they change the tyres and fill-up the cars. You would expect that it's gonna be all dirty will the oil spills and the bolts & nuts would be all over the place, but everything was clean and in order.

Talk about ultimate teamwork!

When the race began, it was an ear-drum-explosive experience! The cars were running at 300-350 kph, they just "vroomed" the night away. The cars were running so fast, I kinda got a stiff-neck as I rapidly looked at each or a few number or all the cars from left to right.

Daddy and I looked so excited here at the Qualifying Round...

My zoomed-out shot of Team McClaren

Team McClaren drivers

Team ING Renault's Pit stop

Team Ferrari

Sebastian Vettel of Team Scuderia Toro Rosso, who's about to ride his car

You know what, after watching the race, I considered it as the most dramatic sporting event. You know why?

• Fernando Alonso, who was last at the Qualifying Round (his engine just died in the middle of Round 2), started at the last place but won the Singapore Grand Prix. Talk about "revenge is sweet!"
• It wasn't Ferrari's night. Felipe Massa got a drive-through penalty and Kimi crashed at his few last laps.
• 5 cars, including Kimi's, crashed. Nelsinho Piquet, one of the hot drivers, was the first driver that got crashed.
• Even if Lewis Hamilton finished 3rd place, he's still number one in terms of ranking and he's part of McClaren Mercedes

After the race, everybody including myself rushed onto the tracks, had their camwhorage moments and tried to get the feeling of the tyre tracks, the pit stops, the walls where the 5 cars crashed and the 3,000,000 watts of lights.

Next F1 will be in two weeks in Japan, then in China and last race will be in Brazil. I guess in those race I think I'll just watch it on TV.