2009 Singapore Grand Prix

Championship standings

Button leads by 14 points from Barrichello, with Vettel 12 points behind the Brazilian and 26 behind Button. Räikkönen has scored three quarters of his 40 championship points in the previous four races. Brawn lead the Constructors’ Championship on 146 points, with Red Bull 40.5 points behind on 105.5.

Previous race

Barrichello won at Monza for a Brawn 1–2, the team’s fourth this season. Hamilton crashed into the barriers at the exit of the first Lesmo on the final lap while trying to pass Button, bringing out the safety car. Räikkönen inherited third behind the two Brawns. Webber retired after being spun by Kubica on the opening lap; both Kubica and Hamilton are mathematically eliminated from the championship after this result.

Between-race developments

The FIA World Motor Sport Council convened to rule on allegations that Renault instructed Nelson Piquet Jr. to crash deliberately at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix to aid teammate Alonso. Renault admitted the crashgate scheme under team principal Flavio Briatore and engineering director Pat Symonds. Renault received a two-year suspended ban from Formula One. Briatore was banned for life from all FIA-sanctioned events; Symonds received a five-year ban. Both had already left the team before the hearing.

On the eve of the race weekend, ING and Mutua Madrileña terminated their sponsorship deals with Renault with immediate effect following the crashgate verdict. Renault removed the sponsors’ logos from their cars.

Track changes

The Marina Bay circuit has been reprofiled at turns 1, 2, 3, 13, and 14 to aid overtaking, and at turn 10 where high kerbs caused accidents in 2008. The pit lane entry and exit have been moved, with cars now entering before turn 22 and exiting after turn 1. The changes increase the circuit length by six metres.

Practice

Barrichello topped FP1 ahead of Button. Grosjean caused the session to be stopped after losing control at the same corner where Piquet crashed in last year’s race — the corner at the centre of the crashgate controversy. Webber crashed heavily at the pit straight in FP2, depositing debris across the track; he later finished the session sixth. Vettel topped FP2. Hamilton led FP3. Barrichello spun and hit the wall in Q3, causing a red flag; the session was restarted but there were only 26 seconds remaining, leaving the grid set from the pre-crash times. Hamilton took pole; Barrichello starts tenth after a post-qualifying gearbox change incurs a five-place penalty.