14/09/2018
NEWS STORY
Sergio Perez: "Singapore isn't the easiest place to introduce aero updates to the car, but we did what we could and tested all the new parts. There was quite a big change to the characteristics of the car and it's going to take more time before we fully understand how we can maximise the set-up. The balance still needs improving and there are some decisions to take tonight to make sure we get the best from the car tomorrow. Apart from testing the new items, we did all the usual work and collected the data for the race so it feels as though we are in good shape so far."
Esteban Ocon: "It wasn't a bad start to our weekend. I think the pace of the car is quite good and we can be in the mix for the top ten tomorrow. The middle of the pack is very tight once again, so getting each sector just right is going to be especially important during qualifying. A small mistake will be very costly in terms of grid position. The work we did today was very valuable, including the first experience of the updated car. First impressions are positive, but it's still too early to know how much performance we have found from the new parts."
Otmar Szafnauer: "It was a very busy day of testing with a lot of new parts to evaluate on the car and also three very different tyre compounds to assess. The upgrades we were waiting for seem to be working as planned. More analysis and understanding is needed, but the initial signs are encouraging. In Singapore, track time is essential and both drivers covered plenty of laps as we completed the run plans with both cars. So we have good data and much to analyse, which is important. There are still some improvements to be made to the balance and we expect it to be very tight in the midfield."
Check out our Friday gallery from Singapore, here.