Key Highlights:
- Lewis Hamilton states that he and Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc are “here to attack” at the Singapore Grand Prix following his recent podium finish.
- Hamilton expects Ferrari’s package to perform better on Marina Bay’s high-downforce street layout due to the car’s cornering strength and fewer long straights.
- Charles Leclerc offers a more reserved outlook, noting that Ferrari has recently lost ground to front-running rivals McLaren and Red Bull.
Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari Set Aggressive Stance for Singapore
Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton has declared that he and Ferrari partner Charles Leclerc are adopting an aggressive mindset ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, emphasizing that the Italian outfit is “here to attack” across the upcoming race weekend. Hamilton arrives at the Marina Bay Street Circuit on the heels of a recovery drive in Malaysia, where an early tire strategy misstep on a wet circuit forced him to battle from the rear of the grid back to the podium. That result marked the British driver’s first top-three finish since the British Grand Prix in July.
Despite that recovery, Hamilton tempered expectations about a guaranteed return to victory contention during Thursday’s media session in Singapore. “It’s not that we come here with momentum, we’ve had one good race last weekend and we’ll try and build on that,” said Hamilton. “I think this should be an okay circuit for us, there’s lots of challenges, particularly that it’s a Sprint weekend, which makes this track the most challenging of the year. We’re just going over the numbers and trying to make sure we start in the right place.”
High-Downforce Setup Offers Cornering Hope at Marina Bay
Ferrari has endured a difficult patch of form across recent events, but Hamilton believes the technical layout of the Singapore street track could play closer to the car’s core aerodynamic strengths. The twisty, high-drag venue demands immense downforce, potentially mitigating the straight-line deficit Ferrari has faced against rival constructors.
Outlining the setup dynamics, Hamilton explained: “I think with our car it’s generally good on street circuits, particularly when there’s not long straights. If you look at the last races we’re quick through corners, not so quick in a straight line,” he said. “This is a high drag circuit, so I’m hoping that the advantage others have on those long straights comes down a little bit and we can start matching them through corners.”
Hamilton also highlighted the developmental path he has pursued with Ferrari’s technical staff, reinforcing the decisive importance of track position under the Marina Bay lights. He added: “I’ve been pushing the car in a certain direction and I think we are slowly making gains and improvements. We’re here to attack, Qualifying is key and it would be really great if we could start tomorrow on the right foot and then just attacking in Qualifying.”
Charles Leclerc Urges Caution Amid Shift in the Pecking Order
While Hamilton expressed cautious optimism about the circuit characteristics, his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc offered a more guarded assessment of the team’s baseline pace. With McLaren and Red Bull asserting themselves as the primary challengers ahead of Ferrari in recent rounds, the Monegasque driver warned against relying on the team’s historical success around Singapore’s confines.
“Historically we’ve been quite strong here, but we cannot really rely on the past,” said Leclerc. “We’ve got to do everything we can in order to be in the best possible situation. It’s also true that the tendency lately has been that we’re losing a bit of performance compared to the guys in front, so to win will be very difficult.”
Why This Matters
The Singapore Grand Prix represents a vital test for Ferrari’s technical development and its standing in the Constructors’ Championship battle. After trailing behind rivals on high-speed circuits, Marina Bay’s narrow confines and relentless corners give Ferrari an opportunity to extract maximum performance from its mechanical grip and slow-speed stability. However, with the added operational pressure of a Sprint format reducing practice running to a minimum, any setup errors could severely compromise Qualifying—the session Hamilton identified as the linchpin to their weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Lewis Hamilton’s result prior to the Singapore Grand Prix?
Lewis Hamilton finished on the podium at the previous race in Malaysia, fighting back through the field from near the rear after an opening tire strategy mistake in wet conditions. It was his first podium appearance since July’s British Grand Prix.
Why does Hamilton believe Marina Bay suits Ferrari better?
Hamilton noted that the Ferrari is strong in corners but lacks top speed on long straights. Because Singapore is a high-drag street circuit with fewer long straights, he hopes rival teams will see their straight-line advantage reduced.
What concerns did Charles Leclerc express about Ferrari’s chances?
Charles Leclerc warned that Ferrari has recently lost performance relative to front-runners McLaren and Red Bull, emphasizing that historical strength in Singapore does not guarantee competitiveness and that winning will be very difficult.
