Singapore GP: Is it Mercedes vs Red Bull or can Ferrari join fight?
Mercedes are prepared for a fierce fight with Red Bull at the Singapore GP but are likewise not counting out Ferrari, though the Scuderia think they will“struggle“ under the dazzling Marina Bay lighting.
Formula 1 is heading to Singapore for the marquee night race this weekend, even with each session live on Sky Sports F1, and Mercedes, after Ferrari’s back-to-back successes in the power-friendly Spa and Monza, expect to be better suited to this iconic road circuit – having won at similar low-speed, high-downforce paths this year.
But Red Bull are also perennial contenders at Singapore – ending there since 2009 – if they pushed Lewis Hamilton the manner in Monaco and Hungary 2019, together with Max Verstappen on rod in Budapest.
Hamilton, who holds a lead to the championship heading to F1 2019 seven races, has had good struggles with Verstappen, as well as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, lately and will be relishing more of the same.
„I’m not anticipating another race thinking it’s going to swing our way,“ said Hamilton, who dropped out at wheel-to-wheel combat when hurrying Leclerc in the Italian GP.
„I expect that it is aggressive between us I want this conflict to last.“
Mercedes manager Toto Wolff is famous for Red Bull to function as the Silver Arrows‘ main danger in Singapore – however states Ferrari are also a rival, despite the previous lack of speed at frequencies with no long straights of the outfit.
„We knew that Spa and Monza would be hard for individuals,“ Wolff stated. „On paperwe should be strong at Singapore – as if Red Bull be. If we’re really demolishing them , let’s see.
„But I don’t have any doubt that Ferrari will have heard and will have a fantastic bundle there, even greater than Hungary.“
Ferrari’hope to struggle‘
Ferrari ended off a minute off the pace. Since then, Leclerc has maintained epic wins in Italy and Belgium, the latter.
But Singapore is a very different proposition – about Ferrari’s opportunities no matter Mercedes‘ ideas.
„We need to stay realistic,“ insisted Leclerc. „I believe we expected that Spa and Monza would be very excellent races for our vehicle but we know that the next few races are going to be much more difficult for our car.
„It’s not going to be easy. Particularly Singapore. I believe it’s going to be a great surprise if we’re much better than what we expect – however what we expect – would be to fight there.“
Ferrari chief Mattia Binotto consented:“We knew [Spa and Monza] were tracks where we might have been competitive. It was not a given but certainly they were more and it was important for us not to miss any chances as we did at the first part of the season. Our car was joyful.
„Whenever we can go to circuits where there are a whole lot of corners and in which grip-limited is important or maximum downforce is going to be asked to be quick, we’re surely showing our principal weakness.“
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