From GMM
Kimi Raikkonen almost sat out the Singapore grand prix weekend with a back injury, it emerged on Saturday.
So serious was the problem that Lotus briefed reserve driver Davide Valsecchi to prepare to step into the Finn's car.
But Raikkonen did manage to practice and qualify on Saturday, although he admitted that before arriving at the street circuit for the day's action, he doubted he would be able to.
"This morning it was very difficult," he is quoted by the German broadcaster
Sky, amid a fraught and tense weekend after he revealed he decided to leave Lotus for Ferrari in 2014 because he hasn't been paid.
Sky said Raikkonen is suffering from a pinched nerve; an injury he has had before.
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| Kimi Raikkonen, Signapore GP (Photo: WRi2) |
"At breakfast I thought I wouldn't be able to drive," he admitted.
Raikkonen was given pain killers and underwent treatment by doctors and a physio, and the 2007 world champion said "it worked".
But he wasn't at 100 per cent, particularly in morning practice where he therefore struggled find a good setup for qualifying.
He qualified just 13th, while in the sister car Romain Grosjean was third.
"In the afternoon it was not really ideal, but at least the car is on the grid. For tomorrow we will see," added Raikkonen.
Because Raikkonen qualified the car, Valsecchi or another reserve is no longer allowed to step in to substitute.
From GMM
Melbourne is closing on a new deal to secure the future of the Australian grand prix.
Race boss Ron Walker is in Singapore this weekend, where according to the Herald Sun newspaper he met with Bernie Ecclestone and negotiated the terms for a new contract.
"The deal is pretty much done," said a source, "and will now go to the (state government) cabinet for approval."
The current contract expires in 2015.
"We would support the grand prix - we would like (to keep) the grand prix - but not at any price," said premier Denis Napthine, who won office in March.
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) only needed one run in Q3 to secure pole position ahead of the 2013 Singapore Grand Prix.
Mercedes' Nico Rosberg came close to beating Vettel, but ultimately had to settle for second. Romain Grosjean (Lotus) stormed to third, ahead of Mark Webber (Red Bull) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes).
Felipe Massa, who will be replaced by Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari at the end of the season, proved quicker than Fernando Alonso, as the pair lines up sixth and seventh. Jenson Button (McLaren), Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso) and Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber) completed the top 10.
Unlike his unusually faster teammate, Nico Hulkenberg didn't make it to Q3. He lines up 11th on the grid.
Charles Pic edged Giedo van der Garde at Caterham. Jules Bianchi (Marussia) settled for 21st ahead of his teammate Max Chilton, who brings up the rear.
Before qualifying, Vettel had also topped the last free practice session, from the same men who starred in qualifying. The order that time was Grosjean second fastest, followed by Rosberg, Webber and Hamilton. Raikkonen (Lotus) failed to crack the top 10 on both occasions, as he went from 12th in FP3 to 13th on the grid.
The times in FP3 showed Mercedes struggled less compared to Red Bull on the medium compound than it did on the supersoft.
Qualifying results* - Singapore Grand Prix (Marina Bay street circuit)
1.Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'24"841 - Q3
2.Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'42"932 - Q3
3.Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'43"058 - Q3
4.Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'43"152 - Q3
5.Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'43"254 - Q3
6.Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'43"890 - Q3
7.Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'43"938 - Q3
8.Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'44"282 - Q3
9.Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'44"439 - Q3
10.Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - no time - Q3
11.Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'44"555 - Q2
12.Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'44"588 - Q2
13.Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'44"658 - Q2
14.Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'44"752 - Q2
15.Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'45"185 - Q2
16.Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'45"388 - Q2
17.Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'46"121 - Q3
18.Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'46"619 - Q3
19.Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'48"111 - Q3
20.Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'48"320 - Q3
21.Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'48"830 - Q3
22.Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'48"930 - Q3
*Unofficial timing
A joint venture of a Banco Santander unit and Chrysler Group was accused in a lawsuit by Ally Financial of violating a copyright on loan forms to avoid a $150 million accounting penalty.
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Fiat has named Chrysler Group manufacturing head Scott Garberding as its global chief purchasing officer. Chrysler has named Mauro Pino head of manufacturing in North America, replacing Garberding. Both appointments are effective immediately.
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