Singapore GP: Lewis Hamilton buoyed by McLaren handling in practice
Lewis Hamilton was encouraged by the handling of his McLaren following Friday practice for the Singapore Grand Prix
"I am quite comfortable with the car and the guys have done a great job," said Hamilton after posting the fifth fastest time in the second session, having being second quickest in the opening one.
"It feels a lot different to the last race where we had a lot less downforce. It is great to be able to throw the car round a bit more."
However, the Briton, the winner of the previous race at Monza, admitted he did not feel his car was particularly strong in race trim.
"It felt pretty poor for me but I heard it was worse for others, so that is promising," he said.
When asked about his prospects for qualifying, Hamilton said: "I think we will be in the top five."
Team-mate Jenson Button, second in the second session behind Sebastian Vettel, conceded there was still much to do before he feels comfortable with his car.
"There is still a lot of work to do," he said. "I am not entirely happy with the balance. On the softer of the two tyres the balance wasn't great with a lot of front locking so we have been messing around trying to find a balance all day but we are not there yet."
Previous article
Singapore GP Friday quotes: Force India
Next article
Singapore GP Friday quotes: Williams
The new age of sponsorship facilitated by F1’s relevancy push
The age of the high-profile title sponsor is over, says JONATHAN NOBLE, but Formula 1’s commitment to technological innovation is attracting high-tech partners
How Britain’s lost Ferrari star epitomised a bygone F1 era
The 1956 Italian Grand Prix was over for Juan Manuel Fangio, along with his hopes of winning the world championship – until his Ferrari team-mate (and title rival) voluntarily surrendered his own car so Fangio could continue. NIGEL ROEBUCK recalls Peter Collins, a remarkable sportsman
The 'surprise' Mercedes time that puts F1's victory fight back on a knife-edge in France
Red Bull led the way after the first two practice sessions for the 2021 French Grand Prix, but only just ahead of Mercedes. There was all the usual practice skulduggery complicating the performance picture, but one aspect seen at the world champion squad gave it a ‘surprise’ lift, as it looks to leave its street-circuit struggles firmly in the past
How Ferrari got its F1 recovery plan working
After its worst campaign in 40 years, the famous Italian team had to bounce back in 2021 – and it appears to be delivering. Although it concedes the pole positions in Monaco and Baku paint a somewhat misleading picture of its competitiveness, the team is heading into the 2022 rules revamp on much stronger footing to go for wins again
The joy that exposes F1’s key weakness
Long-awaited wins for ex-Formula 1 drivers Marcus Ericsson and Kevin Magnussen in IndyCar and IMSA last weekend gave F1 a reminder of what it is missing. But with the new rules aimed at levelling the playing field, there’s renewed optimism that more drivers can have a rewarding result when their day of days comes
The figures Red Bull and Mercedes can't afford to see again in F1 2021
OPINION: An interloper squad got amongst the title contenders during Formula 1’s street-circuit mini-break, where Red Bull left with the points lead in both championships. But, as the campaign heads back to purpose-built venues once again, how the drivers of the two top teams compare in one crucial area will be a major factor in deciding which squad stays in or retakes the top spot
Why Alfa's boss is ready for the task of securing a stronger F1 future
Two tenth places in recent races have lifted Alfa Romeo to the head of Formula 1's 'Class C' battle in 2021, but longer-term the Swiss-based squad has far loftier ambitions. With the new 2022 rules set to level out the playing field, team boss Frederic Vasseur has good reason to be optimistic, as he explained to Autosport in an exclusive interview
How Barnard’s revolutionary McLaren transformed F1 car construction
The MP4/1 was pioneering by choice, but a McLaren by chance. STUART CODLING relates the tangled (carbonfibre) weaves which led to the creation of one of motor racing’s defining cars
