2018 Singapore Grand Prix - Marina Bay, 14-16 September

[atanatizante]

I really do not understand all the references to how many laps a particular tyre did at a previous race. Every tracks unique characteristics surely means that xx amount of laps at one circuit doesn't mean the same lap count can be achieved here. Pirelli have suggested a conservative guide to the maximum number of laps per compound here so I would be more inclined to take on board their advice.

If a one-stop race doesn`t work out, fortunately, he and Bottas have a new set of HS which they spare in Q1 when they went on US ... something Ferrari and RB couldn`t afford to ...

[pb6797]

I thought Merc had to use Ultras in Q1 as they had chosen a different allocation to Ferrari and Redbull and thus had fewer hypersofts to start with?

Can't remember where the FIA publishes the tyres available for the race.

[Phil]

If a one-stop race doesn`t work out, fortunately, he and Bottas have a new set of HS which they spare in Q1 when they went on US ... something Ferrari and RB couldn`t afford to ...

You sure about that? I didnt count that closely but Mercedes travelled to Singapore with way too few HS tires, hence it was crucial for them to “safe” a set in Q1. I think they are identical on HS available (e.g. none unused for the race).

[Gothrek]

With a bit of luck Verstappen crashes into Hamilton and we can have an exciting championship again.

It would be much more tastefull if Vettel actually overtakes Hamilton fair and square dont u think? And to be fair, Vettel is becoming on par with Max in terms of "incidents" or just plain mistakes, which reflects to loss of points against Lewis.

Agree, but that wouldnt remove the point deficit by much.

[djones]

Hamilton has already had 3 car issues this year, one resulting in a DNF. Also the VSC joke in Australia.

Be thankful you got that much luck or it would be 50+ points in the lead.

[yelistener]

Hamilton pole lap

https://streamable.com/mwrx4

Vettel's second Q3 lap, notice the lockup in S2:
https://streamable.com/ggdkx

Without it probably P2.

Ferrari was around 4km/h higher top-speed-wise, and in fact 4km/h higher than last year which is an abnormal case. I guess it's true that they find some extra HP through their more capable MGU.

[Sierra117]

Could just be different levels of wing chosen by each time that would explain the top speed differences.

[Fulcrum]

Hamilton pole lap

https://streamable.com/mwrx4

It was an amazing lap time, but it's one of those laps that doesn't look particularly special. Very little steering correction, most of the apexes were hit with room to spare, not that close to the walls. The camera angle probably doesn't flatter it though.

I think there was quite a lot more time available, but the problem is that the lap is so long, you tend to make at least 1 error per lap. Hamilton minimized the errors better than anyone else. Vettel must be livid with himself for not even managing the front row.

I just hope Ferrari try something different with their drivers. 1 of Raikkonen or Vettel need to try an aggressive 2 stop, otherwise they're going to be snookered for most of the race.

[yelistener]

Lewis Pole vs Vettel Q3 2nd lap onboard (tks to Juzh's clips).

https://streamable.com/1s552


Vettel was a couple of km/h lower through almost all corners but Ferrari had better acceleration and higher top speed, so Vettel was pretty much neck and neck with Lewis, until turn 13 where he had a huge lockup. And then turn 14 he had a poor corner exit. These two mistakes caused huge lap time. Lewis was a little bit conservative throught the last two corners tho.

BTW, Lewis made a brilliant choice through turn 16 (01:19 part). Vettel ran over the kerbs, which I assume is "supposed" to be the usual line for a better turn 17 entry, but it gave the car a little lift, unselling the car a little bit. Lewis avoided the kerbs, which not only gave him faster cornering speed, but also allowed him an earlier corner exit accelaration. And that didn't compromise his turn 17 at all as he still had a higher turn 17 apex speed than Vettel. This is beautiful. This reminds me of the 2017 Suzuka quali. Everyone else ran over the kerbs of turn1 of the last chicane, but Lewis chosed to avoid that, which gave him an advantage. You can find his own comment on his Suzuka pole in this vid. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONIieL9GTSw

[Gettingonabit]

I watched pre-recorded quali last night. Haven’t seen anything said about the suggestion that Ferrari have been canvassing the other Ferrari powered teams in the paddock to gang up on Merc to prevent them winning another championship. Did anyone else hear this? Is this normal practice?

[Juzh]

grosjean q3 lap 1.38.32 P8



nice save at the end

[NathanOlder]

Hamilton has already had 3 car issues this year, one resulting in a DNF. Also the VSC joke in Australia.

Be thankful you got that much luck or it would be 50+ points in the lead.

Exactly , and there are plenty of people still saying Lewis has had too much good luck this year!!

And now there are a few people on this page alone hoping Max wipes Lewis out to give Vettel even more good luck.

[Sierra117]

grosjean q3 lap 1.38.32 P8

https://streamable.com/sp7cg

nice save at the end

Oof, that had one or two too many scary moments.

Is it just me or is the circuit much more brightly lit compared to last year?

[drunkf1fan]

BTW, Lewis made a brilliant choice through turn 16 (01:19 part). Vettel ran over the kerbs, which I assume is "supposed" to be the usual line for a better turn 17 entry, but it gave the car a little lift, unselling the car a little bit. Lewis avoided the kerbs, which not only gave him faster cornering speed, but also allowed him an earlier corner exit accelaration. And that didn't compromise his turn 17 at all as he still had a higher turn 17 apex speed than Vettel. This is beautiful. This reminds me of the 2017 Suzuka quali. Everyone else ran over the kerbs of turn1 of the last chicane, but Lewis chosed to avoid that, which gave him an advantage. You can find his own comment on his Suzuka pole in this vid. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONIieL9GTSw

A thing that stood out in the Australia qualifying difference was there were a few more curbs Vettel took more aggressively but clearly seemed to cause more bumping and worse traction on exit. The thing that has made Hamilton's best laps this year beat out Vettel imo are just his judgement of which curbs to take and which to either just use a small piece or stay clear of. Vettel made some completely opposite choices in Australia. In t3 I think it would be he actually avoids the curb more than Hamilton who uses it, but a couple corners later Vettel hits the inside curb at the apex much higher and gets pushed further over the outside curb on exit and the difference in being bumped around is quite clear.

Hamilton just seems to be picking the perfect laps in terms of which curbs to use fully and which will cost you the tiniest bit of time while Vettel is too aggressive and wants to use more often than not, every piece of curb he can.

So while people might say Ham was conservative on some corners, if that ends up with the faster actual exit and better traction it's the better choice.

[Juzh]

Hamilton just seems to be picking the perfect laps in terms of which curbs to use fully and which will cost you the tiniest bit of time while Vettel is too aggressive and wants to use more often than not, every piece of curb he can.

So while people might say Ham was conservative on some corners, if that ends up with the faster actual exit and better traction it's the better choice.

You're over analysing it. Last year Vettel was also riding every kerb he possibly could and it went pretty well, did it not? Yes, one might say hamilton was conservative (as he often is) and is relying on car's performance to carry high speed on a tighter line compared to others.

It's quite clear from the above comparison mercedes has better turn-in and Vettel messes up his lap with the lockup, after which you can't really judge the lap anymore because he's carring a not so small flatspot.

Mercedes in australia was vastly supperior to the twitchy and understeery ferrari at that stage, can't possibly be compared.