Singapore: pre-qualifying 2016
Verstappen has the only
upgraded Renault engine, said to be worth 0.1s a lap. I’m sure
Ricciardo is thrilled.
In first practice
Verstappen led Ricciardo by half a tenth, both Red Bulls a few tenths
ahead of Vettel, with Hamilton and Rosberg following on. Raikkonen,
Sainz and Kvyat were next, with Massa and Gutierrez.
Hamilton had a
hydraulics problem in P2. It doesn’t appear to be serious but it
did prevent him getting in long run practice.
Rosberg was fastest in
P2, three-tenths ahead of Raikkonen. Verstappen and Ricciardo were a
short distance back, again separated by less than a tenth. Vettel and
Hulkenberg were next, the German pair followed by Hamilton, Sainz,
Alonso and Kvyat.
At this stage, the Red
Bull looks tasty and Toro Rosso may well return to the points.
In third practice,
Hamilton didn’t get a proper run-in as his qualifying simulation
was derailed when he made a mistake and went into a run-off area.
Rosberg was fastest, half a tenth ahead of Verstappen. Raikkonen was
third but four-tenths down the road. Then came Ricciardo, Vettel and
Hulkenberg, Kvyat, Hamilton, Sainz and Bottas.
Bit surprised the
McLaren isn’t looking better, to be honest.
Tempting to back
Verstappen for pole (5.5 with Betfair) but I think any of the Red
Bulls/Mercedes stands a chance and there’s the outside possibility
of a Ferrari doing well (as well as the ever-present risk of
introducing one’s car to the wall).
I still think Mercedes
are likeliest to get pole.
So, no qualifying tip.
I’ll likely put the
pre-race piece up this evening. Note that whilst qualifying starts at
2pm today, The race begins at 1pm tomorrow.
Morris Dancer
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