Carlos Sainz pips Charles Leclerc by 0.018s to guide one other Ferrari one-two in Singapore Friday apply; George Russell third for Mercedes; Crimson Bull off tempo with Sergio Perez seventh and Max Verstappen eighth; Apply Three at 10.30am Sat forward of Qualifying at 2pm, reside on Sky F1
By Jonathan Inexperienced in Singapore
Final Up to date: 15/09/23 3:19pm
Carlos Sainz topped P2 on the Singapore GP on Friday
Ferrari laid down a marker on the Singapore Grand Prix as Carlos Sainz led Charles Leclerc for an additional 1-2 in Apply Two, whereas Crimson Bull have been properly off the tempo.
The 2 Ferraris have been comfortably forward of the remainder of the sector beneath the lights at Marina Bay on Friday, with Sainz posting a finest time of 1:32.120.
After topping the opening session, Leclerc needed to accept second within the Apply Two timesheet as he was 0.018s off his team-mate’s main time.
George Russell was the closest challenger, however he might solely get his Mercedes inside 0.235s of Sainz’s benchmark.
“The Ferraris are wanting good on monitor in the meanwhile,” Sky Sports activities F1’s Karun Chandhok stated in commentary.
“No actual imbalances, the drivers are able to assault the corners.”
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Crimson Bull proceed to wrestle in second apply as Sergio Perez tells his engineer on the workforce radio he seems like he’s going to crash when he brakes
Whereas the Ferrari automotive appeared very balanced, the identical couldn’t be stated for Crimson Bull who have been surprisingly off the tempo.
Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen ended up seventh and eighth respectively, round seven-tenths off Sainz with each drivers visibly scuffling with dealing with and Perez saying on workforce radio he felt like he was “going to crash” in each braking zone. Verstappen’s scorching lap was impacted by site visitors within the center sector.
Crimson Bull can safe the Constructors’ Championship this weekend however that’s solely potential in the event that they safe a one-two end in Sunday’s race.
Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest within the Aston Martin 0.358s off Sainz’s time, with Lewis Hamilton an additional tenth again within the second Mercedes and Lando Norris one other tenth additional again within the upgraded MCL60.
“I am excited for qualifying already. We have now 5 groups within the high seven and Crimson Bull are solely seventh,” Chandhok stated. Qualifying takes place at 2pm on Saturday.
The highest 10 was rounded out by Kevin Magnussen’s Haas and Valtteri Bottas’ Alfa Romeo.
Alex Albon will probably be enjoying catch-up on Saturday after his session was ended after solely 10 minutes and 5 laps of operating as a result of an influence unit problem on his Williams.
Ferrari properly positioned to finish Crimson Bull’s win streak?
Ferrari have arrived in Singapore with recent buoyancy after ending third and fourth final trip at their house race in Monza.
Leclerc was on pole for final 12 months’s Singapore GP, however the Monegasque had appeared to minimize expectations on Thursday saying that he felt the SF23 is weaker on high-downforce tracks like Singapore in comparison with the low downforce set-up required in Monza.
However after two one-two finishes in Friday apply, the Scuderia seem favourites going into the rest of the weekend with Sainz and Leclerc showing capable of assault the kerbs of Singpore’s streets greater than different groups.
Crimson Bull are on a 16-race win streak and haven’t been overwhelmed in any Dash or Grand Prix in 2023, however each Verstappen and Perez have been scuffling with the dealing with of the RB19 beneath braking in Apply Two.
“It’ll be fascinating to see if they’ll get on high of their issues,” Sky Sports activities F1’s Bernie Collins stated.
“It is a circuit the place braking is so essential. The drivers want that confidence going right into a braking zone.
“You may solely get one lap in Qualifying right here due to pink flags and the mushy drivers will wrestle within the warmth, so it is vital that you would be able to confidently brake.”
Extra to observe…