F1 | Pirelli: Sebastian Vettel wins the fastest pole ever in Singapore on the ultrasofts

Singapore, 16 September 2017 – Sebastian Vettel took pole position under the lights of Singapore with the ultrasoft P Zero Purple tyre, used by all drivers from the start to the end of qualifying. With his 1m39.491s, the German set the fastest lap ever at Marina Bay, improving last year's pole position by 3,1 seconds (pole already beaten in Q1). The asphalt temperature during qualifying was held at 34 degrees centigrade; there was also a high level of track evolution, especially in Q1, also due to the oil dispersed by a car from a support race. Tire wear and degradation was quite low, even on the ultrasoft; a one-stop race is therefore predictable.

MARIO ISOLA – CAR RACING MANAGER “The track evolved rapidly once the oil was removed. We then saw an incredibly fast and close qualifying, with many drivers beating the previous Singapore record. On a circuit like this, which favors mechanical grip, the wider tires of 2017 contributed significantly to this result. As tire wear and degradation is low across all three compounds, we will likely see a one-stop strategy in tomorrow's race. However, due to the high probability of a safety car, teams will have to be flexible and adapt their strategies to the circumstances of the race."