Ferrari’s quest for victory in Singapore hinges on mastering tyre management, a critical factor that could define their race weekend.
Frédéric Vasseur is hopeful that Ferrari will shine this weekend in Singapore during a challenging night race. Despite a missed victory in Baku, the Scuderia’s director remains optimistic about the SF-24’s level.
“Last weekend’s race did not yield the result we hoped for, which in itself proves that we are currently on pace, at a time when Formula 1 delivers a great show with very little to choose between the top four teams,” stated Vasseur.
“We want to maintain this good form in Singapore, another demanding street circuit. Both our drivers like it, and one of them even won there last year. We aim to do the same, continuing to work well as a team, as we have in recent races.”
“We have seen in the last two Grands Prix how crucial tire management is, and Singapore will be the third consecutive weekend with the three same softest compounds from the range, which should help us better understand them, even though each circuit is different.”
“Of course, qualifying is hugely important at the Marina Bay circuit and we are well-prepared, so I am confident we can challenge all our rivals.”
An “extremely demanding” race
Ravin Jain, the strategist for the Scuderia, will be busy this weekend and explains the challenges in Singapore for teams and drivers: “Singapore has many unique aspects. Firstly, it is a street circuit, which means grip tends to increase throughout the weekend and drivers really need to strive to find the limit between the walls.”
“With the constant humidity added, the race is extremely demanding for the drivers and a lapse in concentration for even a fraction of a second can lead to an incident: every edition of the Singapore Grand Prix has seen at least one appearance of the safety car.”
“The circuit features a combination of many low-speed turns, which means teams are trying to optimize low-speed performance and traction. Additionally, the absence of long straights prompts teams to adopt high downforce configurations.”
“Finally, this is the first night race in F1, presenting an additional challenge for drivers and teams who must adjust to practice sessions at dusk, qualifying, and the race at night.”
The strategist confirms that starting position is crucial on the streets of Singapore: “Qualifying is particularly important at Marina Bay as overtaking is more difficult than average.”
“Consequently, being in pole position and leading the pack away gives a driver the advantage of setting the pace from the front and controlling the gap to the pit stops behind. The leader can then decide to increase their pace whenever they wish.”
“They just need to ensure they always have the necessary gap to make their pit stops after their competitors have made theirs. That said, there is an additional DRS zone this year, making four in total, which should facilitate overtaking. However, qualifying will play a crucial role on this circuit.”
“Immense work and planning”
“The strategy in modern F1 is a complex system with multiple variables: factors that at first seem unrelated can actually influence each other.”
“Therefore, it requires immense preparation and planning in advance. Part of this preparation is to arrive at the weekend with a good understanding of how the race is likely to unfold and to learn as much as possible during the free practice sessions, especially if there are track changes.”
“Another essential part is understanding who our main competitors are during a race, particularly this season where the relative competitiveness on the grid varies so much from one circuit to another. Everything we learn is then distilled into how we want to approach the race.”
“Executing these plans and competing at the highest level against some of the brightest minds in the pit lane is an immensely rewarding experience. And of course, it’s particularly special to design and implement a plan that helps us win a race!”
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Vasseur Eyes Victory Amidst Tyre Challenges Vasseur Eyes Victory Amidst Tyre Challenges
