Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
THE defining moment of the first-ever night race in Formula One history sadly took place in the pit lane.
If Felipe Massa racing away with the hose pipe still attached to his car was comical and a costly error, the sight of Ferrari mechanics carrying the offending piece of equipment on their shoulders a few minutes later was quite the opposite - it resembled a funeral procession minus a dead body.
The Singapore Grand Prix, therefore, was a complete blackout for Ferrari while Renault's Fernando Alonso dazzled under the floodlights and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton surged ahead in the championship race extending his lead from a mere point before the race to a morale-boosting seven with three more to go.
The driver's championship race thus took another dramatic turn and a few more twists may be in store as the pressure piles on. Singapore was just the beginning and a perfect start to the home run of an exciting Formula One season.
The city-state of 4.8 million people provided the right mix of glamour and gumption with the colourful skyline and the sinuous urban street complementing each other on a perfect night for the 800th Grand Prix in the history of Formula One.
The night race typically highlighted many familiar but rarely accepted facets of Formula One. That Formula One is indeed a team sport topped the list. The Ferrari crew was reminded of this amid gloom while the success of the Renault team can be attributed to this very fact. For the other eight teams it was an unscheduled but a timely wake cup call.
It was also quite dramatically proved that it is just not enough to have the fastest car on the track to win a race. It was evident that the two Ferraris were the quickest, yet it all proved meaningless and, more pertinently, pointless in the end. A team which should have collected 18 points and remained in the lead is now behind in both the drivers and constructors championship.
Renault, on the other hand, underlined the essence of planning and strategy. Luck favoured them too as a tragedy for Nelson Piquet, who destroyed his car in a crash on the 14th lap, was converted into a triumph for Alonso. It was teamwork of a different kind.
Because Alonso had made his first pit stop just before the crash as part of an aggressive first stint and it proved decisive for it gave him a clear edge once the safety car came on and the others rushed into the pit lane. This triggered a panic situation and the Ferrari pair suffered the most.
At this moment, a faint smile on Renault boss Flavio Briatore's face said it all. He masterminded his team's victory with the air of a 'second' in chess during a world championship match and Alonso was his Grand Master making all the right moves. The only thing the famous duo forgot was to say 'check and check mate' at the end of it all.
With this victory Alonso has bounced back in style. It ended a poor series of three retirements and six races without a point or a podium finish.
The Spaniard may be out of the race for the title, but the sparks he provided in Singapore should augur well for not only his future but also that of Renault.
At the other end, the title race looks set to go to the wire. Hamilton is seven points clear of Massa in the driver's race while a mere point separates leaders McLaren and Ferrari in the constructors table.
With a maximum of 30 points at stake, only five drivers are in contention. But Kimi Raikkonen (57) and Nick Heidfeld (56) will need a mathematical miracle to upstage the frontrunners with just three races left. On the other hand, Robert Kubica (64) will be the dark horse while Hamilton (84) and Massa (77) will duel for the Formula One crown.
So, tighten your seat belts, the most exciting chase is just about to begin.
