Sebastian Vettel played down any impact having missed crucial running time under the lights in practice for the Singapore Grand Prix.
The German touched the wall at Turn 21 as he completed his qualifying simulation, though light it would cause sufficient damage to a radiator, as fluid leaked from under the car, leaving the four-time world champion stranded in the garage.
With Practice 2 the only session other than qualifying and the race where conditions are representative, it is possible Vettel could be at a disadvantage heading into a weekend where many believe he simply must win.
“By now I think you have quite good experience reading into the others,” he explained afterwards. “What they did and reading into their runs with tyres which will obviously be key for Sunday but we can recover most of it tomorrow.”
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With just 0.011s splitting pacesetter Kimi Raikkonen and the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton, the 31-year-old, who was also lapping within hundredths of the best time before his crucial error, admits a very tight battle awaits.
“I think it is very close with all the three teams, Red Bull is maybe closer, they looked quick,” he said, with six-tenths covering the top five.
“We won’t really know before Sunday but obviously here the qualifying is important so we will see where we are tomorrow.”
