Charles Leclerc was all smiles when he arrived in the Marina Bay paddock today. “Singapore is a country I like and that goes for the circuit too, as is the case for all street circuits in fact. As always, we are determined to give it our best shot and to bring home the best possible result, even if I don’t think this track will suit us any better than Baku. Although even there I could have done well, but for my mistake in qualifying.” The Monegasque was very realistic when looking ahead to this weekend. “We can’t expect any miracles, but we will concentrate on ourselves and work hard. Obviously, as far as I’m concerned, I won’t be leaving anything on the table, neither in qualifying nor in the race.”

A hot race. This morning, the Race Director decreed this Grand Prix to be a “Heat Hazard Race,” which means all cars are to be fitted with a cooling system and drivers can choose whether or not to wear a cooling vest. “We have tested this system and it’s great to know we are free to use it,” explained Charles. “That said, I don’t get the impression it’s any hotter than in previous years, so I’m not sure if I will use it or not.”

Pit lane speed. Charles also commented on the fact that, for the first time at this event, the pit lane speed limit is increased from 60 km/h to the more standard 80. “I think this is a good thing, because it makes a two-stop strategy more viable,” he said. “However, considering how difficult it is to overtake here, I think track position is still the key factor. So we will need to check if this is really a variable to consider.”