(Infiniti Red Bull Racing)
Reigning world champions Infiniti Red Bull Racing head to the Singapore Grand Prix next weekend looking to close the 182 point deficit to rivals Mercedes AMG Petronas. The Milton Keynes based outfit are the only team other then Mercedes to have Grand Prix this season with Daniel Ricciardo taking victories in Canada, Hungary and Belgium.
Speaking as part of their preview to the event race team manager Jonathan Wheatley was asked:
1. How difficult is it to keep everyone on European time for the Singapore GP? Do people slip into local time?
The flights actually work out in our favour in that respect, because the flights come in in the evening, the guys get there and can have a big night if they like for their first night in Singapore and they don’t actually have to go to bed until 6 or 7 o’clock in the morning. I never thought as a Team Manager I would say to my guys to stay out until 6am, but they very quickly deal with it and personally, I don’t get any jet lag there at all. I also thought that the light would have a big effect on your body clock but as long as the curtains are dark enough in your hotel room you’ll be fine.
2. Is it true that hotels alter their housekeeping routines to accommodate race teams?
They do. We have asked our hotel to do that again this year. But the best thing is to put a “do not disturb” sign on the door, because someone will make a mistake at some point. Even if it’s just returning laundry. The hotels are really great there though. They work with us, but it still helps to put the sign on your door.
3. Does the pit stop routine differ in any way due to it being a night race e.g. do the crew need different visors, is visibility compromised in any way?
We always supply the pit crew with dark, light and poor visibility visors anyway. Because of the event schedule it is a hugely popular event and it is actually difficult to get the pit stop practices in at a normal time, due to the support races. We end up practicing in day time when actually you would rather practice at night. But night is morning and morning is night, so it all gets a little bit confusing. It hasn’t affected the performance up until now, but we do have to turn down the lights that the driver sees in the pod, because otherwise he would be driving out, seeing red lights burning in the back of his eyes.
4. How is the humidity level in Singapore compared to other hot weather venues? Is it an easier or more difficult environment than say Sepang or Budapest?
Singapore is just a wonderful place, but yes it is incredibly humid there. The best way to get to the circuit from our hotel is to walk, so really you are out in the sun from the moment you wake up. It gets very very hot at track as the garages aren’t air-conditioned. The offices are, but it never seems to be strong enough. The guys work under extraordinary circumstances there. It is very much like an oven in the garage and we have to be very careful with their nutrition and their hydration.
5. What are your own hints and tips in regard to getting the Singapore race weekend right?
The first thing to do is having a great first night in Singapore and have a really good sleep. I always find myself waking up earlier, which would probably be 4am in Europe, but I tend to go to the gym and then spend a little bit of time by the swimming pool, which is quite an unusual thing, so very refreshing compared to other races.
Infiniti Red Bull Racing did a fantastic job last season as Sebastian Vettel took every race win from the Belgian Grand Prix to the final race in Brazil so the German will be hoping that he can be competitive this season too particularly with his new chassis in Singapore.
© Ben Johnston 2014
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