F1 | GP Singapore, Mario Isola: "We'll see if anyone will use the Mediums to qualify in Q3"

After saying goodbye to Europe, Formula 1 arrives in Singapore for the only night race of the year. For the street circuit which has the highest number of corners throughout the season (23), Pirelli has chosen the three softest compounds in the range, therefore C3 Hard (white), C4 Medium (yellow), C5 Soft (red). The Marina Bay track is the second slowest of the year after Monaco, and has very low levels of grip: here the teams favor high-downforce setups to increase cornering speed.

“It's difficult to think of two tracks as different as Monza and Singapore – said Mario Isola, Pirelli manager for Formula 1 and Car Racing. At Marina Bay the teams will have to start from scratch compared to the race in Italy, even if the route is well known and there is a lot of representative data from previous editions. It is quite difficult to overtake here, so the teams will try to make the most of their strategies to gain positions. In recent years the Safety Car has always been introduced, a factor to consider and which certainly influences the complexity of the race. It will be a very interesting weekend, as there are some differences in the teams' set choices which could lead to a wide variety of strategies. We'll see if anyone will try to qualify on Medium tires instead of Soft, to ensure greater flexibility in race tactics."

The three compounds nominated are quite similar to those brought here in 2018: Soft, UltraSoft and HyperSoft responded best to the needs of a demanding race won by Lewis Hamilton thanks to an HS-S strategy. The tactics chosen by the other pilots were different. This track holds the Safety Car record, especially considering the limited escape routes and the barriers that delimit the track which do not forgive the slightest error. Strategies must be very flexible in order to make the most of all eventualities. Used only once a year, Marina Bay is a "dirty" circuit, especially in the first sessions, and with a high level of track evolution. Manhole covers and white lines can alter grip levels. Given the high temperatures and humidity, this race is quite difficult from a mechanical point of view, also due to the poor ventilation due to the characteristics of the track. The ambient and asphalt temperatures evolve differently than usual, given that the race is held at night. It is not always easy to get an accurate reading of possible race conditions, given that the sessions start in the late afternoon and continue into the evening