Singapore GP 2013 - QF

Ladies and Gentlemen,

There are two divisions competing in the Singapore GP: Red Bull and the rest.  The superiority of the RB9 in this place that is all about downforce is overwhelming. Vettel was 0.6 quicker that Webber and 1 full second faster than Rosberg on the prime tyres. The Red Bull cars were faster too in option tyres, short and long runs on both options, and seems they are improving better than the rest as the track builds up rubber. Even on P1 when the surface was still pretty green only Hamilton was better than them...in supersoft  vs medium.

P1- HAM (1.47.055)  WEB  VET  ROS  RAI  GRO  ALO  PER  VER  GUT

P2-  VET (1.44.249)  WEB  ROS  HAM  GRO  ALO  BUT  RAI  SUT  PER

To compound the competition’s problems, Webber did a 14-lap long run stint on the red super-soft with minimum degradation that was an average 0.7 faster than the next non-Red Bull car. Vettel’s average time on the prime tyre was faster than anyone other than Webber’s average on the option.

Lotus is showing good form on race trim, the closest to Red Bull among the rest, and Mercedes seems to be on a similar lever to Lotus on race pace and faster in QF trim than the rest of division two. Ferrari is struggling, overheating the rear tyres due to lack of grip. Even McLaren is ahead of the Italians, despite their poor ride quality so evident in this bumpy surface.

The downforce setup of the reigning Champions is so strong that they are 13 kph slower to everybody else at the speed trap before turn 7. With 23 corners, most 90 degrees, their deficit in maximum speed only reflects on their superiority on corner speed, they even have the luxury of picking different lines to maximize traction to put the power down.

The poleman has won 3 of 5 races in here, but actually would be fair to say that one result was infamously tainted – Piquet crashing deliberately to hand victory to teammate Alonso in 2008, remember that?- and the other when mechanical failure prevented Hamilton to win from pole after a dominant display last year.

So there you have it, it would be daring to beat against Adrian Newey’s cars in QF tomorrow (or Sunday...)

Let’s try to get some points: Cato – VET  WEB  HAM

Cheers

Cato

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