P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Just how far off is Red Bull after Singapore GP practice?
Max Verstappen struggled to find pace during Friday practice at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, with Ferrari currently holding a half-second advantage. The revised circuit layout, featuring more straights, plays to Ferrari’s strengths in terms of straight-line speed. However, George Russell and Fernando Alonso showed strength in the corners, particularly in the medium-speed sections. Ferrari’s long run pace on the Medium tires has been consistent, but there is still a three-tenths difference per lap between Verstappen and Carlos Sainz. Lando Norris believes catching Ferrari on pace alone will be impossible, but Red Bull’s ability to find improvements overnight could be a factor. Rear instability remains a concern for Red Bull, which was present in Monaco, and could impact their performance at the tight street circuit. Track evolution is expected to play a role throughout the weekend, with lap times and grip values improving significantly between practice sessions. Timing and avoiding traffic will be crucial for teams, potentially allowing Red Bull to disrupt Ferrari’s dominance so far.
Source: RacingNews 365
