Lewis Hamilton has highlighted the tough task facing Mercedes in the Singapore Grand Prix to control its tyre temperatures after a stunning turnaround.

Throughout practice, Mercedes were all at sea, with Hamilton and George Russell complaining of understeer and traction issues at Marina Bay – but in Q2, the W15 found some pace with Hamilton eventually qualifying third to Russell’s fourth.

It places the pair in a prime position to capitalise if anything befalls front-row pair Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, with Hamilton wary of another drastic swing in track conditions that could throw the car out of its narrow operating window.

“We have to anticipate a different balance [in the race] compared to the past every other session,” he told media including RacingNews365.

“I think here is really about managing tyre temps, so that’s going to have to be key, and doing absolutely everything we can to keep the temperatures out of the rears, basically.

“I hope in our attempt to do that, we’re somehow able to hold on to at least one of these guys [Norris and Verstappen], but we’ll find out [in the race].

“I feel confident, though, that we might be able to do that.”

“My lap was also nothing special, it was very difficult to get the tyres perfect and not overslide them, I had a lot of snaps.

“With a better job, maybe we could have been front row with [Norris], but I don’t know whether or not we could have beaten him.

“Our long run pace was so-so. Nowhere near these guys, or at least the McLarens. But we have now put the car in a much different window.

Further Reading:

Who is the most successful driver at the Singapore Grand Prix?

Having won five times at the Marina Bay Circuit, four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel is the most successful driver at the Singapore Grand Prix, but he could be joined by Lewis Hamilton this weekend on the number of race wins.

The Singapore Grand Prix was the first ever F1 race to be run at night under floodlights and, visually, it has always provided a great show.

As usual on a tight track, qualifying is almost the most important factor when it comes to the race result, which explains why nine of the 14 races held to date have been won from pole position.

The King of Singapore is Sebastian Vettel, who won here five times, on four occasions from pole, while his total podium tally is eight. With the German quitting the sport in 2022, he could lose his crown to Lewis Hamilton who has the same number of poles and four wins to date, while he is also closing in on the German’s record for top three finishes, with seven.

Three other drivers still racing have also won at Marina Bay: Fernando Alonso has done so twice and Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez have one victory apiece, while another retiree, Nico Rosberg also won here once.

Of the teams, Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes lead the way, level on four wins, while Ferrari has the lion’s share of pole positions with seven to its name. As for podium places, it’s the blue of Red Bull that leads the way with 14 top three finishes.