Sep.6 (GMM) The race could be on for victory in next weekend’s Singapore grand prix.
The inter-team fight for the title, however, is all but over, with Ferrari having already ceded defeat to Mercedes.
“I have already said a few times that work on the 2017 car began very early and very intensely,” said team boss Maurizio Arrivabene.
“Now, we want to secure second in the world championship, win races and show a strong Ferrari. Our best chances I see as Singapore, Suzuka and Austin,” he added.
Indeed, Singapore could be a close-run battle.
Last year, it was Sebastian Vettel who won under lights, with Mercedes suffering its mysterious performance slump.
“In the briefing (at Monza), we discussed our preparations for Singapore, as we didn’t do the best job last year,” admitted Mercedes’ Toto Wolff.
“In Singapore, we will see if our solutions were right.”
In truth, it will probably be Red Bull rather than Ferrari pushing Mercedes the hardest in Singapore.
“Singapore, Sepang, Suzuka and Mexico are our tracks,” team boss Christian Horner told Auto Motor und Sport.
And Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko revealed to the German magazine that the team is bringing “new parts” for the car, while Renault has an “upgrade for the engine”.
However, F1 legend Gerhard Berger tips Mercedes to keep dominating.
“We saw (at Monza) how big Mercedes’ lead still is,” he told Sky Deutschland.
“We can only hope that over the winter something happens so that the races are more exciting at the front next year,” said Berger.