Drivers and teams start adjusting to new radio rules
Friday 19 September 2014 17:09, UK
Fernando Alonso set the pace in opening practice for the Singapore GP on Friday, as drivers adjusted to new rules prohibiting certain types of radio messages.
The rule changes, which have been revised by the FIA after teams raised concerns on Thursday, mean that messages explicitly concerning driver performance are now forbidden.
Radio traffic pertaining to car performance will still be allowed until the end of the season, but even though that compromise gives teams, drivers and the governing body rather less of a headache, it wasn't necessarily all plain-sailing.
"You're 1.2 seconds faster, Nico," the Championship leader was told after he moved top of the times about half-an-hour into the session. "I don't want to know, thank you,” was Rosberg's polite, and correct, response.
The Mercedes driver might have got it right but Jean-Eric Vergne found it more difficult to shake off old habits. “Is anyone improving after the first timed lap?” the Frenchman asked a little later. “Just keep pushing,” was all the Toro Rosso engineer would say.
Vergne clearly took the advice, ending the session sixth fastest. But it was Alonso who was fastest of all, on a track he hopes will put Ferrari back at least somewhere in the mix after a difficult home race two weeks ago.
The Spaniard ended the session 0.122s fastest than Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes with Rosberg's sister car just 0.027s slower, suggesting that another tight battle lies ahead for the Silver Arrows.
Alonso's intervention aside, it seemed business as usual for the title leaders, although there was a slight hiccup for Rosberg in the opening moments when his car's right-hand mirror worked its way loose.
Next up were the Red Bulls, with Sebastian Vettel heading Daniel Ricciardo - the defending World Champion albeit about 0.7s slower than Rosberg on a track where he has dominated in recent years. He would suffer an engine failure late in the session, but will not take a penalty as it was not his race unit.
Behind Vergne came Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari with the top ten completed by Jenson Button (McLaren), Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso) and Sergio Perez (Force India).
Kevin Magnussen's McLaren was 11th while Williams - at a track they don't think will suit them as well as Monza did - were further back, with Felipe Massa 13th and Valtteri Bottas 15th.
The 2014 Singapore GP is live only on Sky Sports F1 this weekend. Our race-day coverage begins at 11.30am on Sunday with lights out at Marina Bay at 1pm.
