Nico Rosberg with Singapore GP chance to overhaul championship leader Lewis Hamilton
German is going for a hat-trick of wins in Singapore that would catapult him back to the top of the world championship standings
Nico Rosberg is going for a hat-trick of wins in Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix that would catapult him back to the top of the world championship standings.
Rosberg led the title race by 43 points earlier in the season and is looking to follow his victories in Belgium and Italy in the last two races with a maiden triumph around the Marina Bay street circuit.
But Rosberg put any fears that he would be outpaced by Red Bull or Ferrari firmly to bed with a blistering lap to pile pressure on his teammate Lewis Hamilton, whose lead has been reduced to two points.
Rosberg scorched round the Marina Bay circuit in one minute, 42.584 seconds, more than half-a-second quicker than Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo’s 1:43.115, with Hamilton only managing 1:43.288 for third place.
Rosberg has never been on the podium in Singapore but he will now be hopeful of celebrating his 200th grand prix by overhauling Hamilton on Sunday.
“Definitely happy with that one for my 200th grand prix,” beamed Rosberg after qualifying.
Hamilton has work to do in Sunday’s race on a circuit which is notoriously difficult for overtaking.
Six of the eight runnings of the race to date have been won from pole position. “I like that statistic,” Rosberg said.
Red Bull lived up to the pre-qualifying predictions by proving to be Mercedes’ nearest challengers as Max Verstappen joined Hamilton on the second row of the grid.
Tyre strategy could be key on the bumpy, twisty street circuit which feature 23 corners, more than any other track on the current Formula One calendar.
The ultrasofts are quicker but have a question mark over their race endurance as they are being used in Singapore for the first time.
“If we can get the start we want I think we can control the situation tomorrow,” said Ricciardo
“But it’s not a predictable race. There are normally incidents and safety cars so it won’t be straightforward.”