SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX
Venue: Marina Bay street circuit ** Dates:** 25-27 September 2009 Coverage: Live coverage of Friday practice, Saturday qualifying and Sunday’s race - which starts at 1300 BST - across BBC TV, radio and online platforms.Find full listings here
By Sam Lyon
**Lewis Hamilton laid down a marker ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix by topping final practice at the Marina Bay track.**The reigning world champion, whose McLaren boasted a new chassis following a wiring problem, produced a flying late lap of one minute 47.632 seconds.
With conditions again dusty, Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel ended second fastest ahead of Williams’ Nico Rosberg.
Rubens Barrichello could manage only seventh, with Brawn GP team-mate and title rival Jenson Button 14th.
And the drivers’ championship leader cut a frustrated figure at the end of the session, the Briton clearly unhappy with his car’s set-up just hours before the start of qualifying.
Not that there were any problems for the McLarens, with Hamilton topping the timings by 0.277 seconds from Vettel and team-mate Heikki Kovalainen fourth fastest in a time of 1:48.420.
606: DEBATE
“Is it just me or is Jenson always moaning about something or other on the car.”
**Desolation_row **
The BMWs, with new front and rear wings, a new diffuser, gearbox and sidepods, also impressed with Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld only just outside the top four.
Last year, Felipe Massa secured pole position in a time of 1:44.801, but that pace was never under threat with nearby construction works ensuring the track was covered in a concrete dust that caused all the drivers problems.
Following crashes for Romain Grosjean and Mark Webber of Renault and Red Bull respectively in Friday practice, concerns were aired in the drivers’ meeting about the grip and safety issues at Marina Bay, with Hamilton describing the track as “dangerous” and in need of a major overhaul.
And again on Saturday, the likes of Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen, Vettel and Webber all suffered grip and brake issues, particularly around the troublesome Turn 10, with it’s new raised kerbs.
Australian Webber limped around the circuit in a best time of 1:48.876 - 13th quickest - while Ferrari, who admitted to BBC Sport they could struggle to make Q3, saw Raikkonen and Giancarlo Fisichella finish 12th and 20th respectively.
Fernando Alonso, winner here last year, finished the session in 15th place as Renault look to put the recent controversy over Nelson Piquet Jr’s deliberate crash here 12 months ago behind them.