Sebastian Vettel is hoping Singapore’s ability to surprise can help Ferrari at this weekend’s Grand Prix.
The German is in need of a big pick-me-up after a disastrous two races left him playing second fiddle to Charles Leclerc in Belgium and spinning out of contention in Italy.
However, Ferrari’s renaissance is expected to be short-lived in the Asian city-state, even if Vettel himself has a strong history there.
“After Spa-Francorchamps and Monza, we are going to a very different circuit: Singapore, which is one I really enjoy,” said the four-time winner at Marina Bay.
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“It´s a street circuit, bumpy and with no room for errors and it’s one of the few races run under lights.
‘We stay on European time, which is a bit strange because we leave the circuit when the locals are getting up with a six-hour time difference.
“We need maximum downforce and have the three softest tyre compounds, but we have seen before that anything can happen in this race, so the final result is hard to predict.”
Indeed, for several years Ferrari was arguably the team to beat in Singapore, with Vettel winning in 2015 and was strong again in 2017 before that infamous start crash in the wet.
This year though, downforce has not been their biggest asset but it isn’t stopping them from bringing an update to try and change that.
“We are bringing a few new parts there as part of our effort to close the gap to the competition, at a track that features predominantly slow-speed corners,” commented team boss Mattia Binotto.
“This race also sees the return of the C5 tyre compound, which has not been used since the Canadian GP.
“All of this, together with the traditionally eventful close racing in between the barriers, on the city streets, conditions that both Sebastian and Charles love very much, will certainly make for a tough but exciting race weekend.”