Red Bull under no illusions for Singapore GP despite recent record

The team knew would face a hard time to be battling near the front at the power tracks of Spa-Francorchamps and Monza, but Red Bull has more optimism about its prospects for the more aerodynamically demanding tracks coming up.

And, with the Milton Keynes-based outfit having won in Singapore for the past three years, the chassis strengths of its RB10 means Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel are expected to be fighting for the win again this time out.

But team principal Christian Horner believes that installing Red Bull as favourite is a step too far, because even on tight venues like Monaco this year championship leader Mercedes has maintained an advantage.

"At Singapore there are a few more corners and a few less straights there," said Horner.

"We're looking forward to going back there.

"It's a track that we've always gone well at in the last few years. But there's no guarantees in this business, and we expect the Mercedes to be incredibly quick there.

"We also expect Williams to be a factor because they have been [at] most of the races through the summer.

"It's going to be as tight as ever, but hopefully we should be a lot closer to ultimate pace than we were at Monza."

WILLIAMS NOT SO CONFIDENT

Although Red Bull believes that Williams will be up there fighting at the front as it did at Monza, its driver Valtteri Bottas is not so convinced.

He thinks that Singapore will be one of the more difficult tracks for his team, as its power and aerodynamic efficiency advantage will not benefit it as much as other circuits.

"Singapore, maybe Brazil, they could be difficult ones," said the Finn. "But we reckon there are some good ones to come.

"We are still aiming to bring some updates later in the season, so Suzuka, Austin and Abu Dhabi, for example, I think we can fight for the podium definitely. We'll keep pushing."