[Official] Rate the Grand Prix: Singapore Grand Prix 2018

[Born Racer]

What score does the 2018 Singapore Grand Prix get from you?

[GT6]

Very poor race to be honest with a very silly Perez being the only real excitement, so gave it 3

[Aysedasi]

Yep, really very dull (and yes, I did drop off several times). Not really much to see after the opening laps and Max's pit stop other than Perez continuing to outstay his welcome in F1.....

[bjohnsonsmith]

Lewis called Singapore, Monaco on steroids. From his perspective I don't doubt him but as a race, it was far from it. 3.

[E.B]

I gave it a generous 3. I watched the race in a bar and almost fell asleep.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by E.B

I gave it a generous 3. I watched the race in a bar and almost fell asleep.

I thought alcohol was a sedative?

[steve_r]

4. circuit needs a rethink.

[gert]

A very generous 1.

[jimclark]

Being from the days where second might be a lap behind the winner, I gave it a 7 as I usually do. I save higher (or lower) for those really special occasions.

'In my 60s and still have an attention span of more than an apple and wonder why so many expect a nose to nose race all the time or else consider the sport rubbish.... We're still seeing the best minds building and developing the best machines; and the best teams and drivers getting the most out of them. Of course on most days the racing won't be close. On many, the fields will be spread out. As they should.

The fields are closer than ever and there's still complaining. I don't understand....

Wanting contrived "exciting racing" all the time, all one needs to do is watch NASCAR, IndyCar, or BoPed sportscars. A shame that many want not to see the best shine in favor of supposed "excitement". Isn't that nearly exciting as "scripted" entertainment one can find in the theatre or on the "tube"? I guess I answer my own question.
Of course, to each his own.

[TrapezeArtist]

Originally Posted by jimclark

Being from the days where second might be a lap behind the winner, I gave it a 7 as I usually do. I save higher (or lower) for those really special occasions.

'In my 60s and still have an attention span of more than an apple and wonder why so many expect a nose to nose race all the time or else consider the sport rubbish.... We're still seeing the best minds building and developing the best machines; and the best teams and drivers getting the most out of them. Of course on most days the racing won't be close. On many, the fields will be spread out. As they should.

The fields are closer than ever and there's still complaining. I don't understand....

Wanting contrived "exciting racing" all the time, all one needs to do is watch NASCAR, IndyCar, or BoPed sportscars. A shame that many want not to see the best shine in favor of supposed "excitement". Isn't that nearly exciting as "scripted" entertainment one can find in the theatre or on the "tube"? I guess I answer my own question.
Of course, to each his own.

As soon as I voted (7) and saw the results pop up, I thought "Here we go again".

It wasn't wall-to-wall excitement but the only really tedious bit was watching them go round behind the safety car. Max v Seb was good. Perez enlivened things (but shouldn't have). Sirotkin gave us a brilliant defensive drive (I hope all the DRS-knockers were pleased with that). The blue flag drama spiced up the question of the lead for a while. There was mixed tyre strategy and we were wondering which would work. And then there was the sheer spectacle of watching some of the best drivers in the world driving between walls with such precision.

[ggreen29]

Originally Posted by jimclark

The fields are closer than ever and there's still complaining. I don't understand....

Wanting contrived "exciting racing" all the time,...

So little passing, so much complaining about drivers who wouldn’t pull over and let their betters pass. Seb on better tires and arguably a better car couldn’t pass Max, and seemed to give up on the idea after a few laps.

F1 contrived is already here with DRS and tires designed to fall off prematurely.

Baku had good racing, this course somehow didn’t.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by jimclark

Being from the days where second might be a lap behind the winner, I gave it a 7 as I usually do. I save higher (or lower) for those really special occasions.

'In my 60s and still have an attention span of more than an apple and wonder why so many expect a nose to nose race all the time or else consider the sport rubbish.... We're still seeing the best minds building and developing the best machines; and the best teams and drivers getting the most out of them. Of course on most days the racing won't be close. On many, the fields will be spread out. As they should.

The fields are closer than ever and there's still complaining. I don't understand....

Wanting contrived "exciting racing" all the time, all one needs to do is watch NASCAR, IndyCar, or BoPed sportscars. A shame that many want not to see the best shine in favor of supposed "excitement". Isn't that nearly exciting as "scripted" entertainment one can find in the theatre or on the "tube"? I guess I answer my own question.
Of course, to each his own.

But I think you miss the point. When you and I started watching racing, we could see the drivers working the wheel. The cars slid around, rather than steered around corners, they drifted instead of power over steered, there was less reliability. These and many more reasons go to explain why the racing is just plain tedious today. But I and many others more qualified than me, have been saying this for ages.

The majority of comments from Goodwood related to how much sliding we saw. And it was noticeable (at least to me) that the Can Am cars with their rudimentary aero actually moved around much less.

[chillibowl]

6 for me. for me it was the best thing on at 7am so i it worked. plus the cars just look fantastic under the lights.

sporting wise...one of the title protagonists had a pretty average day so that wasnt great for the race but the aftermath of it, the analysis over the next two weeks, and its implications for the remainder of the season still means we have something to talk about.

for me that aint bad imo but i can appreciate that elevated expectation/hype can often lead to disappointment when the battle doesnt play out as advertised. no doubt i fell victim to that as i had hoped the Ferrari would pose more of a threat here.

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

But I think you miss the point.

'Not missing any point at all. The races were even less '"exciting" (close) back "in the day", but it hooked me because I knew it was the top echelon. It seems now, many (most?) haven't a clue and need the "excitement' of "close" racing rather than seeing the best perform (again, engineers, designers, fabricators, mechanics, and drivers), be it close racing or not.
I wish to continue watching supremacy and who will knock them down next.
Like I said, there's other forms of racing that lower the bar, have at it and leave F1 to the the best.

[TrapezeArtist]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

But I think you miss the point. When you and I started watching racing, we could see the drivers working the wheel. The cars slid around, rather than steered around corners, they drifted instead of power over steered, there was less reliability. These and many more reasons go to explain why the racing is just plain tedious today. But I and many others more qualified than me, have been saying this for ages.

The majority of comments from Goodwood related to how much sliding we saw. And it was noticeable (at least to me) that the Can Am cars with their rudimentary aero actually moved around much less.

Yes, everything at Goodwood is good to watch. If only someone could think of a way to un-invent downforce.

I would still love to see all aerofoil sections banned and something regulated into the floor to totally negate ground-effect. Sadly I know it won't happen and the rule-makers will just tinker around the edges of the problem.

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by TrapezeArtist

If only someone could think of a way to un-invent downforce.

I would still love to see all aerofoil sections banned and something regulated into the floor to totally negate ground-effect. Sadly I know it won't happen and the rule-makers will just tinker around the edges of the problem.

'Don't know about unscrambling the eggs, but, mandated super hard tires would negate the downforce. No pit stops required (as in days of yore), four wheel drifts, opposite lock, and longer braking distances would result. 'Ain't gonna happen either, I'm afraid.

P.S. Can we reinstate manual gearboxes while we're at it? I know....never happen.

[EffectiveSprinkles]

Originally Posted by TrapezeArtist

Yes, everything at Goodwood is good to watch. If only someone could think of a way to un-invent downforce.

Dear lord will this stupid myth never go away

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by EffectiveSprinkles

Dear lord will this stupid myth never go away

No. it's true, Goodwood is great to watch.

[Racing Harz]

1.

[Peter Mallett]

I gave it two since based on JC's comments above, it was close down the field but the top six did little to spice things up. Have to say Lewis was superb and deserved the win but as Max said in the post race chat they had, Lewis simply controlled the pace.

[jimclark]

"Lewis simply controlled the pace."

Simply? That's fantastic to watch. One of the best, in one of the best, doing the best. To witness excellence does not necessarily mean excitement.

[52Paddy]

Originally Posted by jimclark

"Lewis simply controlled the pace."

Simply? That's fantastic to watch. One of the best, in one of the best, doing the best. To witness excellence does not necessarily mean excitement.

Completely disagree. I watch racing to be excited. Seeing top drivers go head to head in the world's most sophisticated motors is what drives me to the armchair several Sundays every year. But seeing one of those drivers control the pace with ease while the rest of the field follow around in suit for the most part is totally boring. I watched the BTCC on the same day and was on the edge of my seat throughout. Good action. Without any action the sport is nothing. At least to me. If you enjoy watching a formation of no overtaking or battling then be my guest but I fell asleep.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by 52Paddy

Completely disagree. I watch racing to be excited. Seeing top drivers go head to head in the world's most sophisticated motors is what drives me to the armchair several Sundays every year. But seeing one of those drivers control the pace with ease while the rest of the field follow around in suit for the most part is totally boring. .....

A voice of reason in a desert of hyperbole.

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by 52Paddy

Completely disagree. I watch racing to be excited. Seeing top drivers go head to head in the world's most sophisticated motors is what drives me to the armchair several Sundays every year. But seeing one of those drivers control the pace with ease while the rest of the field follow around in suit for the most part is totally boring. I watched the BTCC on the same day and was on the edge of my seat throughout. Good action. Without any action the sport is nothing. At least to me. If you enjoy watching a formation of no overtaking or battling then be my guest but I fell asleep.If you enjoy watching a formation of no overtaking or battling then be my guest but I fell asleep.

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

A voice of reason in a desert of hyperbole.

Over here we have IndyCar (identical chassis, bodies and choice of two engines; NASCAR pretty much the same cars, 3 engines);, and IMSA (sportscars with the obligatory BoPing). 'Very close "racing" but it damned well better be since innovation is disallowed. I know you've got the FIA/WEC with BoPing ('don't know what else). Doesn't that suit your craving for "scripted" excitement?

Expecting "the world's most sophisticated motors is what drives me to the armchair" to be close is shear folly unless you restrict that sophistication out of them to put on a show for you. It's already bad enough that one in pursuit is allowed, simply put, to open his wing, and the pursued may not. May as well go watch some more fiction in a theatre, no?

"Without any action the sport is nothing." I've been following for fifty years+ and know how close the races were prior (more finishers now on the lead lap than there were finishers;, many times not so long ago the cars were spread out by laps) and I've enjoyed. And lookee here....the sport is still here so I guess it ain't "nothing". Any more choreographing it will be nothing compared to what it was, showcase for, as you stated, the most sophisticated racing machines with the best teams and drivers performing on the real stage...not a scripted one. Again, as you say, at least to me.

"If you enjoy watching a formation of no overtaking or battling then be my guest but I fell asleep."
'Sorry to hear you fell asleep because you don't appreciate the excellence that we get to witness so many Sundays a year. When the bar is lowered for your excitement, I'll be sad that it's gone, but, at least, I will be able to sleep later on Sunday mornings as I won't be watching, as I don't IndyCar or NASCAR and rarely IMSA.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by jimclark

'Sorry to hear you fell asleep because you don't appreciate the excellence that we get to witness so many Sundays a year. When the bar is lowered for your excitement, I'll be sad that it's gone, but, at least, I will be able to sleep later on Sunday mornings as I won't be watching, as I don't IndyCar or NASCAR and rarely IMSA.

That's the problem though JC - we don't all have the same definition of excellence. If I were aesthetically minded, I could rate each race a 9 or 10 as all of the cars are lovely pretty colours and are beautifully clean.....