Should Singapore have a team in F1? (deadline: 24 Sep, 9am)

[tnppostman]

The Malaysia-backed Lotus F1 Team have been granted entry into Formula 1. A partnership between the Malaysian government and several Malaysian entrepreneurs, the team will begin racing next season. Three other racing teams were also granted entry to race next season.
With that in mind, should Singapore have a team in F1?
We have our own "home track", and there's plenty of support, as you'll see in the crowds over the three days of the Singapore Grand Prix. Having our own team in F1 will give neutral fans a team and drivers to cheer for and support.
Maybe for once, there will be a Singaporean presence at the highest level of a sport!

Readers, what do you think? Should Singapore enter a team in Formula 1? Would it be a good investment or just a waste of money? F1 fans, would you root for a local team? Non-F1 fans, would a Singaporean team spark your interest and get you to watch the races on television?

Please sign off with your full name, age and occupation.

[Mohammed Shaifful Bin Mohd Noor]

Yes we can if we have financial backing.I don't think we can find sponsors who can put tons of million of dollars on F1.It's better we find a singaporean driver first then we can start dreaming of owning a F1 team.

Mohammed Shaifful,30,surveyor

[Sufian]

Why should we always follow Malaysia's footstep? Not afraid later their minister blame us we 'kaypoh' ? (Remember food fight claims) Our very own professional drivers are not well-sponsored, so what are the possibilities of our own team?

[David Chew]

This one I think you should ask Mr Teo Hock Seng, Chairman of Tampines Rovers and Singapore F1 circuit committee. Tampines Rovers is my favourite hometown team and this man has been influential ever since he took over Tampines Rovers football club years ago. A bottom team club to a top three in the S.league. Others like us should have no problem joining since many of male Singaporeans love to race.

[Toh Zhi Hua]

I'm against the idea of having a Singaporean F1 team. Afterall, Formula One is still not considered a very popular sport in Singapore yet. Look at the S League. Even though football is the most popular sport in the country, the number of fans who go to stadiums to watch the S League is even lower than that of English League Two. How many fans do you think a Singaporean F1 team will have?

Furthermore, do we HAVE talents who are good enough to be competing against the likes of Jensen Button, Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton? If we actually enter our own team and then do extremely poorly in the competition, foreigners will treat us as a joke rather than respect us. By the way, let me emphasize that i'm not one of those people who love to criticize Singapore. I would love to see Singapore do well in the global stage too, but we have to accept that we are not good enough in sports.

A Singaporean F1 team? Maybe in 20 years.

Toh Zhi Hua, 15, Student

[Anton Wibowo]

I strongly recommend our dear taxi uncles to take part in this. I feel that they can beat Schumacher on his best day! Go Singapore!

[Donald Chew]

I'm open to the idea of a home team. More Singaporean will be encouraged to support team singapore. It'll also create jobs and uphold our status internationally. In view of all the controversy and fall out of Piquet Jr with Renault, we may even get him onboard. That's part of propaganda and that serve as a platform to brood our own talents who are reportedly racing in feeder races in Malaysia.

Donald Chew , 37 , Educator

[K@i]

Having our “home track”, most people will expect us to have own F1 team similar to Malaysia.

Do we have the talent and resources that required for Singapore F1 team? If we have all the resources that we are required to build a team in F1, it will be a good news to us.

It will be a good investment if Singapore aim to increase the number of F1 fans and reputation in Asia.

I am not a hardcore F1 fan but I am sure that it will motivate me to support the local team and watch races frequently on the televison. Even though we may not perform as good as the european teams, it will be still exciting to have our own F1 team and try to compete against the giants in europe.

Chan Ka Wai, 21, IT Engineer

[Mulyadi B Ibrahim]

It depends ... Singaporean team with foreign engineers, managers, drivers then for me personally forget it ...

This investment will be a waste. To make it successful, we must earn it, not buy it ...

Other sports associations are still struggling, the money is better used to develop talents for swimming, table tennis and especially sailing.

Look, we have a young Singaporean go-kart driver creating waves in Malaysia. What are Singaporeans doing to help him?

[Adrian Lim]

It is highly unlikely that Singapore will have our own F1 Team. Simple reason: Money.

Do we have local MNCs that can fork out millions of dollars in sponsorship in the team? Is it worth it most probably our 'Team Singapore' would only appeal to the 5 million population in one of the world's smallest country? Malaysia had their own 'Proton', and had millions of Malaysian driving the 'Car with the Tiger logo'. Best of all, they had aquired the British Lotus group, and at least they could provide themselves with a decent engine.

Team Singapore is a bit far-fetch as of now... the closest we got would be Singtel, DBS, and perhaps Creative to call our own. And even if our biggest company would to combine, there is still a lack of financial power to form a competitive F1 Team, and being a true Singaporean myself, if we could not compete, then it's better not to send out a team.

[Chester Low]

SINGA LION is the name of the team in Formula 1.Excellent investment which attracts more Singaporeans to be F1 fans who would root for the local team by watching "live" either as stand spectators or on television.It will add another cap to be enhanced in The First World Class Country Category.

From: Chester The Great, Sweet 16, Joker And Manchester United Fan