"MY comments seem to have become a major news story!"

That was opening quip from Christian Horner, the team principal for Red Bull racing, in his e-mail to yours truly.

The Red Bull boss wrote in to clarify the brouhaha over his own comments last weekend.

Then, Horner suggested that an MRT train passing underground might have generated static to surge Mark Webber's mean machine at Turn 13, just outside Fullerton Hotel.

Nein, said SMRT, who explained that the nearest track, running from Raffles Place station, is at least 200 metres away.

Associate Professor Seah Kar Heng, from the National University of Singapore's department of mechanical engineering, agreed that the sheer distance meant that the malfunction was unlikely to be caused by a passing train.

The academic, who contacted The Straits Times to share his views, also added an important piece of information: The cars gearboxes will have sufficient shielding against electro-magnetism and static.

Some of Assoc Prof Seah's former graduates were picked as scrutineers for the Force India, Toro Rosso and... Red Bull teams.

Scrutineers are officials who are appointed to inspect and ensure that F1 cars adhere to safety and race regulations.

An expert, who has experience building race cars, dismissed Red Bull's claims as "ridiculous" in a phone call to this reporter.

"That's bull,'' a friend of mine, an F1 nut, texted, obviously punning on the team name.

In other words, it was virtually impossible for an MRT train to derail Webber's car.

One vibe that I got was how some teams wanted to stir controversy after the race was done and dusted.

Like Ferrari supremo Luca di Montezemolo, for example.

The Italian, who watches the races from the comfort of his home near Bologna, labelled the Singapore race "a circus" after Felipe Massa's pit-stop disaster and Kimi Raikkonen crashed out at the tricky Turn 10 outside Singapore Cricket Club.

That prompted Singaporeans to bite back at di Montezemolo with letters to The Straits times condemning his insulting remarks.

Even Formula One Management boss Bernie Ecclestone chipped in, countering that if the Singapore night race was a circus, he thanked Ferrari for "supplying the clowns".

Let's be honest.

Ferrari was failed by trying a newfangled "traffic light" system instead of the traditional "lollipop". The gadget wrongly signalled Massa to proceed with the fuel rig attached to the car.

Quite rightly so, the team will now revert to the conventional "lollipop" to avoid further embarassment.

As for Raikkonen, the Finn stumbled at the bumpy turn and spun out of control.

But 14 other drivers coped with that and completed the 61-lap race on the night the Prancing Horses felt like they were donkeys.

Singaporeans have every right to be proud of the night race, which received near universal acclaim for the spectacular show. They just don't like people to rain -- or pour cold water -- on their parade.

It's funny how Ferrari never raised a hoot when Massa qualified on pole while Raikkonen sat comfortably in third. They let fly only when both drivers failed to bring home the bacon.

But let's hope this whole episode will close and let the disappointed teams regroup and rethink their strategies for tackling the Singapore circuit next year.

For all the beautiful night lights and the breathtaking city skyline, there is no escaping the fact that this is a most demanding track that requries every once of effort and concentration from the drivers.

Hopefully, Red Bull and Ferrari will take note and come back as stronger challengers.

Perhaps, a diet of sour grapes and humble pie might help.