Williams hopeful of tackling Ferrari in Singapore

Williams will be seeking once again to reign in rival Ferrari at Singapore while hoping Mercedes doesn't somehow run away with the Marina Bay race.

Currently third in the team standings, Williams enjoyed a good weekend in Monza with Felipe Massa securing a well-deserved spot on the Italian podium, just edging out team mate Valtteri Bottas.

But the British squad is still somewhat kept at bay by Ferrari in its quest for best of the rest this season behind the dominant Mercedes force.

Singapore's inherent characteristics, which include a high humidity environment, looming street circuit barriers and a susceptibility for safety cars, make it a difficult proposition to forecast although Williams' Rob Smedley is hopeful of achieving a good result thanks to the team's upgrade package.

"It’s a street circuit and a night race so it poses some very significant challenges," Smedley said.

"It’s very long with 23 corners which are a challenge for the drivers physically, and also for the engineers because of their relative low speed. It starts off as an understeer circuit which develops to include tyre degradation on the rear tyres which causes traction issues in the race.

• Williams 'may not take' latest Mercedes upgrade

While optimistic ahead of the Marina Bay weekend, Smedley is reluctant to divulge details of the upgrades associated with the FW37 chassis in its bid to challenge Ferrari.

"We don't really talk about that, we're bringing upgrades to the car in all the areas all the time," he told Autosport.

"F1's a strange business - you often look at it and say you've brought a new front wing and a new rear wing and new bodywork and a new floor and all of it might add up to [the same effect as] a front wing change that you make three races down the line."

"It's not the quantity of components, it's how much laptime it brings."

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