Lewis Hamilton won the Italian Grand prix and already has 30 points advantage in front of Sebastian Vettel in the general F1 standings. Valtteri Bottas will probably continue to help him in the battle for the fifth crown while the situation in Ferrari is not that clear. Mercedes’ motorsport director Toto Wolff previews the Singapore Grand prix.
“The result in Italy was a great reward for everyone in the team who has been working tirelessly to improve our performance. We knew that the race in Monza would be another big challenge for us, after the defeat in Spa, but we managed to prevail through a combination of individual skill and fantastic teamwork. However, we also know that we’ve been strong at Monza in recent years and the track characteristics make the Italian Grand Prix a bit of an outlier”, Wolff explained.
Last time out in Singapore… ??? pic.twitter.com/YD6gEzRsZ3
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) September 11, 2018
“Singapore, on the other hand, has features that we’ve struggled with in the past. The short straights, the slow, tight corners and the bumpy surface all make the Marina Bay Street Circuit one of the trickiest tracks of the season for us. In 2015, we endured one of our most painful experiences in recent years there. Last year, we started the race from the third row – and came home with a win and a third place.”
Wolff: The championship fight is so close that predictions are almost meaningless
“On paper, the track should favour the Ferraris, but the Championship fight is so close that predictions are almost meaningless. One thing that’s guaranteed in Singapore is a great spectacle; the track under the lights looks stunning both for the TV audience and the fans in the grandstands. For the teams, the race is one of the most demanding ones as the high temperatures and humidity levels make life in the garage tough.”
“We’re in the middle of a monumental Championship fight and I’m simply amazed by the energy in Brackley and Brixworth at the moment. Each team member knows that we’re facing the biggest challenge in our recent history. But every man and woman in the team is willing to push themselves to the limit; we will be fighting with everything we’ve got for these two Championships.”
Singapore ????#VB77 #F1 #F1NightRace @MercedesAMGF1 pic.twitter.com/ZOXQV0ofly
— Valtteri Bottas (@ValtteriBottas) September 11, 2018