Mercedes Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin expects the team's form will improve at the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix. The team has not scored a podium since the British Grand Prix, with both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell receiving penalties at the most recent race at Monza. Although they had the pace to challenge for a podium at the high downforce Zandvoort circuit, the team made a gamble to stay out during the opening lap downpour which severely compromised their race. Shovlin expects a repeat of this form for the upcoming race around the Marina Bay Circuit: "There is a reason to think that the car will work better and that is because Singapore is a maximum downforce circuit,” he explained to media including RacingNews365. "Our performance at the high downforce tracks like at Barcelona, Budapest, and even Zandvoort the car was working well, and we've had pretty strong performance. "We’re hoping to be able to be a bit quicker there and get back to a position where we can challenge for podiums."
Shovlin: Track will throw up unique challenges
There will be a one-off track change made to the Marina Bay Street Circuit this year, with the usual Turns 16 to 19 that run under the spectator grandstand being replaced with a straight. "The track though does throw up some pretty unique challenges and we've also got some layout changes for this year," said Shovlin. "There is a sequence of four corners near the end of the lap that have been removed where the track used to go underneath a grandstand through a tunnel. "That's now gone so we've got a longer straight which will change a little bit how the tyres are working. There is a bit less energy there but it's also an abrasive tarmac. We've got the softest three compounds so it's a pretty tough race on the tyres and it's also a bumpy street circuit. "Added to that, the race is run at night. Plenty of challenges for us to try and tackle then but we are going there optimistic for a strong performance.”
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