Singapore: pre-qualifying 2018


News broke between race weekends that Leclerc was off to Ferrari after all, with Raikkonen going to Sauber. Mildly surprised the Finn’s sticking around, but there we are. It also seems probable, but not yet confirmed, that both Ocon and Vandoorne will be without race seats next year.

The Red Bulls topped the P1 timesheet, with Ricciardo two-tenths up on Verstappen. The Ferraris came next, with Vettel a short way off Verstappen but half a second ahead of his team mate. Hulkenberg was a further half second back, just ahead of Hamilton (but the Briton being a second and a half off the pace suggests he was carrying around a full fuel tank). Sainz and Bottas were next, with Leclerc and Grosjean rounding out the top 10.

In second practice, Raikkonen was fastest, a full hundredth ahead of Hamilton. Verstappen and Ricciardo were close to one another but half a second off the pace, with Bottas close behind. Sainz, Grosjean, and Alonso were next, with Vettel 9th and Hulkenberg behind him.

Third practice had Vettel fastest, over three-tenths ahead of Raikkonen. Behind the Ferraris, were the Mercedes, both around half a second off Vettel’s pace. The Red Bulls, somewhat surprisingly, were both over a second off the fastest time. Grosjean, Ocon, Perez, and Alonso followed Verstappen.

Right now it looks like Vettel’s pole to lose, to be honest. Raikkonen might be the beneficiary if his team mate cocks up.

Interestingly, Ladbrokes have a special. Ferrari to finish 1 and 2 in qualifying. That’s at 2.1. For comparison, Raikkonen is 5 to get pole (available each way at a third the odds to be top 2. Vettel is 1.53 for pole. The 1-2 is probably better value than either solo bet).

Hmm. Just over evens for a 1-2. They do look tasty, though the Raikkonen-Mercedes gap was only a tenth and a half (and Hamilton was not much faster than Bottas so he might have more pace to come).

After some prevaricating decided to back the Ferrari bet. So, that’s 2.1 to finish 1 and 2 in qualifying.

Qualifying is at 2pm UK time.

Morris Dancer

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