Battle By The Bay
The stage is set for the ultimate grandstand finish as Felipe Massa qualified for pole position (1:44.801) in the starting grid of the world’s first night race tonight, followed by Lewis Hamilton (1:45.465) and defending world champion Kimi Raikkonen (1:45.617).
Singapore’s debut on a racing calendar that draws an estimated 500 million viewers per grand prix could not have been better scripted. Besides going into the history book as the venue for the world’s first F1 night race, the SingTel Singapore grand prix could be where the 2008 World Championship was won – or lost.
McLaren driver Hamilton lead the current standings with 78 points and Ferrari’s Massa is just one point behind. With four grands prix in the season remaining – Japan, China and Brazil are next after Singapore – the drivers’ Championship is balanced on a knife’s edge.
If Massa takes the chequered flag tonight, and Hamilton finishes second, the lead will change hand with the Brazilian’s turn to carry a slender one-point advantage. With overtaking chances at a premium at the tight Marina Bay street circuit, the initiative rest with Massa tonight and expect him to pull out all stops
The season has come to the boil at the perfect time for Singapore Grand Prix. A night race that none of the competitors has faced, on a street circuit that has never been raced on. Whatever happens, the race will be a bright spot on the Formula One circuit.
Gentlemen, start your engines!
[...] highly anticipated Battle By The Bay between Filipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton in the inaugural Formula One night race did not materialize [...]