Ferrari Chief Unhappy With Street Races

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has labelled the street circuit used for the Singapore Grand Prix – F1’s first night race – as a ‘humiliating’ experience for the sport.

The Singapore race was moved to a night time schedule to appeal more to European TV viewers with the difference in time zones allowing the race to be screened in primetime in Sunday afternoon as opposed to the early hours of the morning.

The race was also moved to the streets of Singapore to make for a more attractive spectacle.

However Montezemolo believes that the whole scenario did nothing for the sport as a test of driving experience with the safety car coming out at numerous junctions slowing the race down.

The Ferrari boss said: ‘When we race on tracks which should be used for the circus, anything can happen. This is humiliating for F1 and it is an aspect I want to talk about with the other teams in the next few weeks.’

Montezemolo, appointed this month as the first chairman of the F1 Teams Association, said before the race that street circuits, with their lack of overtaking opportunities, were not the way forward for the sport.

Renault’s Fernando Alonso took victory at the Marina Bay circuit but Ferrari drivers Filipe Massa slipped from pole to 13th and Kimi Raikkonen crashed out.

F1’s first night race drew rave reviews from spectators but drivers complained about how bumpy the track was, particularly off the racing line, which made overtaking difficult on a street circuit hemmed in by barriers.

As well as the established circuit through the centre of Monaco, a further street race is planned for the introduction of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix next year.