17
September
2016
|
17:34
Europe/Amsterdam

2016 Singapore Grand Prix, Qualifying

2016 Singapore Grand Prix, Qualifying

NICO ROSBERG CLAIMS POLE POSITION WITH ULTRASOFT SETTING THE FASTEST LAP EVER OF SINGAPORE

AT LEAST TWO PIT STOPS EXPECTED TOMORROW, IN A RACE THAT IS LIKELY TO GO TO TWO-HOUR LIMIT AND FEATURE SAFETY CARS

BOTH RED BULLS WILL START THE RACE ON SUPERSOFT: THE ONLY DRIVERS IN THE TOP 10 TO DO SO

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg has claimed pole position using the ultrasoft tyre, following a thrilling qualifying hour around the floodlit streets of Singapore. Rosberg’s time of 1m42.584s was the fastest lap ever seen at Singapore since the race was inaugurated in 2008, beating the previous benchmark of 1m42.841s from Sebastian Vettel in 2013 during qualifying. As expected track temperatures fell as each Qualifying session continued. Most drivers were straight onto ultrasoft from the start of Q1, with the exception of Toro Rosso. Carlos Sainz was actually the only driver to set his best Q1 time on the supersoft (around 0.9 seconds per lap slower than the softest compound available). Last year’s pole position time was already broken in the early stages of Q2, where all the drivers used ultrasoft apart from Red Bull, which went out on supersoft from the beginning. Both drivers set their best time on this compound, which means that they will be the only ones in the top 10 to start on the supersoft. Rosberg’s ultrasoft pole time came during his first run in Q3, while Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo claimed P2 on the grid during his second run. With six out of the eight Grands Prix held so far in Singapore won from pole position, qualifying was an extremely important session. However there has never been a race without a safety car at Marina Bay, which clearly has potential to mix up the strategy variables. Paul Hembery, Pirelli motorsport director: “We witnessed qualifying sessions with some surprises from start to finish. Strategy already came to the forefront from Q2, when Red Bull opted to run on the supersoft to set their fastest times. As a result, they will be the only starters in the top 10 to begin the race on this compound, which means that they can run an alternative strategy. We’d expect to see at least two stops per car tomorrow, but this is always one of the hardest races to predict.” How the tyres behaved today: Soft: Used at the start of Q1 by Manor: may figure in some alternative race strategies. Supersoft: Used only by Red Bull in Q2, meaning that they can run a longer first stint. Ultrasoft: Used to set pole position and mostly by everybody during Q2 and Q3. Free practice 3 - top three times

Rosberg 1m44.352s Ultrasoft New
Verstappen 1m44.411s Ultrasoft New
Raikkonen 1m44.860s Ultrasoft New

Qualifying top 10

Rosberg 1m42.584s Ultrasoft New
Ricciardo 1m43.115s Ultrasoft New
Hamilton 1m43.288s Ultrasoft New
Verstappen 1m43.328s Ultrasoft New
Raikkonen 1m43.540s Ultrasoft New
Sainz 1m44.197s Ultrasoft New
Kvyat 1m44.469s Ultrasoft New
Hulkenberg 1m44.479s Ultrasoft New
Alonso 1m44.553s Ultrasoft New
Perez 1m44.582s Ultrasoft New

Most laps by compound so far

Soft Ocon 21 laps
  Vettel 21
Supersoft Kvyat 23
  Magnussen 23
  Sainz J 23
Ultrasoft Ocon 23

Best time by compound so far

Soft Hamilton 1m46.426s
Supersoft Ricciardo 1m43.933s
Ultrasoft Rosberg 1m42.584s

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