2016 Singapore Grand Prix - Marina Bay, 16-18 September

[A-Bap]

I think there is a better than even chance that Nico and Lewis will have another contretemps Sunday, and one or both won't make to the end of the race.

[Manoah2u]

i can see a crash between the two happening.

[Unc1eM0nty]

Mercedes look quick over one lap, Red Bull race simulations looked good, probably better than Mercedes, Ferrari right among them too, this is what we all want to see.

Don't like this track though, very very difficult to overtake, first car through turn one gets to control the race. If you mess up qually you have a hard afternoon in front of you.

[Wynters]

I think there is a better than even chance that Nico and Lewis will have another contretemps Sunday, and one or both won't make to the end of the race.

I don't think it's likely. Passing is tough on this circuit without a large speed differential. I don't think the difference between drivers is enough and they won't be able to get enough of a rubber offset and still be safe from the Red Bulls. Whoever leads into the first corner will lead out of the last one (barring mechanicals or a Safety car at just the right moment on just the right lap).

I hope there is a good battle but I suspect they won't even be able to run with 0.5 secs of each other, let alone be close enough to touch.

[NL_Fer]

I saw some great overtakes in the past, better dan with DRS on the end of 2km Tilke straight.

[Schuttelberg]

Based on FP2 long runs:
- Mercedes are trying to one stop with US and then on S. Their pace on Softs is equaling the pace of RB and Ferrari on US/SS. There isn't any distinguishable difference between US and SS. Way too much of risk to one stop I guess.
- Ferrari's pace on Softs is way far off compared to Mercedes, but they seems to be planning to gamble on strategy between their two drivers. Ferrari needs a happy Vettel, but looks like he isn't. Neither is he sharp on one lap and nor is he on long runs.
- Red Bull isn't even bothered about Softs. So they are just focusing on US/SS.

There isn't much between Ferrari and RB, so whoever lucks into a strategy gamble would come out the winner between the two.

Source? Any proof? Or the usual BS you post before every race about Ferrari and Vettel?

[SR71]

Based on FP2 long runs:
- Mercedes are trying to one stop with US and then on S. Their pace on Softs is equaling the pace of RB and Ferrari on US/SS. There isn't any distinguishable difference between US and SS. Way too much of risk to one stop I guess.
- Ferrari's pace on Softs is way far off compared to Mercedes, but they seems to be planning to gamble on strategy between their two drivers. Ferrari needs a happy Vettel, but looks like he isn't. Neither is he sharp on one lap and nor is he on long runs.
- Red Bull isn't even bothered about Softs. So they are just focusing on US/SS.

There isn't much between Ferrari and RB, so whoever lucks into a strategy gamble would come out the winner between the two.

Source? Any proof? Or the usual BS you post before every race about Ferrari and Vettel?

Also, Vettel struggled last year in free practice and still won...

[ChrisDanger]

So Verstappen is the only one with new Renault engine:

Don't read too much into Abiteboul's statements. In Monaco, the one available upgraded PU was put on Ricciardo's car. This is just making things equal.

Renault's latest engine upgrade will be used by all four of its Formula 1 drivers over the remainder of the Singapore Grand Prix, sources at the French car manufacturer have confirmed.

Verstappen ran with the latest updates during Friday free practice as his engine duty cycle meant that he had to have a new power unit fitted for the opening day of action.

However, teammate Daniel Ricciardo will get use of the changes when he switches to his actual race unit from Saturday morning. Renault works duo Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer will also be running it.

[GPR-A duplicate2]

Source? Any proof? Or the usual BS you post before every race about Ferrari and Vettel?

Show your VETTEL BROMANCE emotions elsewhere dude. If it bothers you to read THE SOUR REALITIES of Ferrari, stop reading them. That simple. Source? Open your eyes and see his performances and hear his radio conversations. It is a common knowledge that, a frustrated driver makes a lot of mistakes, which has been evident in case of Vettel throughout the second part of the so far concluded season. Kimi's driving has started to appear better than Vettel's. At this rate, he would clearly end up being No.2 at Ferrari.

"Overall we had two decent sessions. In the second one I was not entirely happy, I was struggling a little bit with the car balance, and therefore not really finding the rhythm but in general it has been a good day. It is very difficult to pass here, obviously we'll try to trim everything towards qualifying. Now we have a lot of stuff to look into, before tomorrow comes: there will be another session and the opportunity to do a few more laps. If we get everything right we have a good chance tomorrow to position the car well."

Of course you can't simply read much into this statement alone. But the story hasn't been different on most of the recent weekends.

And to confirm about the pecking order....

"Both [Mercedes and Red Bull] looked very strong," Vettel said. "I think Mercedes is the favourite, I think we're in the same boat as Red Bull.

[iotar__]

A miracle: all Renault drivers will get upgrade http://www.autosport.com/news/report.ph ... et-upgrade

Renault has spent three tokens that Autosport has learned focus around the ignition system and spark plugs to assist with the performance of a new fuel...

"Crucially, the area of development on which the tokens have been used means there is no need for a complete replacement power unit, ensuring all four drivers are now on a par in terms of systems used."

Where exactly is the logic in this behaviour?

[basti313]

A miracle: all Renault drivers will get upgrade http://www.autosport.com/news/report.ph ... et-upgrade

Renault has spent three tokens that Autosport has learned focus around the ignition system and spark plugs to assist with the performance of a new fuel...

"Crucially, the area of development on which the tokens have been used means there is no need for a complete replacement power unit, ensuring all four drivers are now on a par in terms of systems used."

Where exactly is the logic in this behaviour?

What do you mean? To me it sounds quite normal, they spend tokens on parts which are not part of the ICE. The same is expected for the Merc tokens.

[Edax]

A miracle: all Renault drivers will get upgrade http://www.autosport.com/news/report.ph ... et-upgrade

Renault has spent three tokens that Autosport has learned focus around the ignition system and spark plugs to assist with the performance of a new fuel...

"Crucially, the area of development on which the tokens have been used means there is no need for a complete replacement power unit, ensuring all four drivers are now on a par in terms of systems used."

Where exactly is the logic in this behaviour?

What do you mean? To me it sounds quite normal, they spend tokens on parts which are not part of the ICE. The same is expected for the Merc tokens.

I don't get it either. Maybe Iotar can elaborate. To me it seems like he falls over the fact that only one car got the upgrade.

For me it seems quite normal to run a back to back comparison with an upgrade in training. And in case an upgrade has some risk, one can consider running it on one car during the race as you don't want to have four cars standing next to the road with the same failure.

[ChrisDanger]

I don't get it either. Maybe Iotar can elaborate. To me it seems like he falls over the fact that only one car got the upgrade.

For me it seems quite normal to run a back to back comparison with an upgrade in training. And in case an upgrade has some risk, one can consider running it on one car during the race as you don't want to have four cars standing next to the road with the same failure.

They're all getting the upgrade today. Only Verstappen had it yesterday. See my last post above for more details.

[Mansell89]

Anyone else expecting Merc to take the lead as the Bulls stop for more US/SS tyres whilst Merc one stop and dominate on a soft tyre?

Looks to me like they think it's too difficult to pass so if they one stop they are in prime position.

Interesting quali battle for Ham/Ros today and I think they could get spicy this weekend on a tight track with just two points in it and pressure building.

[ME4ME]

I expect Mercedes to take pole, but the safety car to decide the race. It would be either one of 6 drivers winning if they get lucky.