Alonso: Red Bull will be fast 'when it counts' in Singapore

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Fernando Alonso doesn't believe that Red Bull is on the back foot this weekend in Singapore, and is backing the championship leader to reclaim its position at the head of the field "when it counts".

Ferrari set the pace on the opening day of running at Marina Bay on Friday, while Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen concluded FP2 a relatively lowly P7 and P8 which has led to speculation that the bulls may be on the verge of their first defeat in 2023.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner admitted that Singapore's characteristics "don't play naturally to the strengths of the car", adding that the Milton Keynes-based outfit will need to be at the top of its game to keep it winning momentum going.

"You can see Ferrari look strong, McLaren and Mercedes are there as well, so it could be very, very tight this weekend," commented Horner.

Read also: Verstappen worried by 'worse than expected' Red Bull pace

Alonso, who clocked in fourth at the end of Friday's second practice, reckoned that Ferrari would remain out of reach for Aston Martin while the Spaniard was unconcerned by Red Bull's relative underperformance.

"I think [Friday] was just getting confident with the car and the track," said Alonso, commenting on his efforts.

"Ferrari is probably out of reach again like Monza, they are a bit too fast. Red Bull will be fast when it counts. It’s very tight, you can be P5, P6 or you can be out of Q3.

"You can be P12 because [if you lose] two-tenths, there are a lot of cars [close together]. It’s going to be tight, we have to be ready for anything and nail the lap in Q2 and Q3."

Alonso, who won the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix all the way back in 2008 – a race infamous for its 'Crashgate' scandal – praised this year's changes to the track's layout.

"Yeah it was fun, I think it was an improvement from the past, it’s a little bit faster and you get the rhythm into the lap, so, yeah, I like the change," he said.

"It was a normal Friday in Singapore, hot and got some tests done on the car, so let’s see tomorrow."

Alonso's Aston teammate Lance Stroll set the 14th fastest lap in FP2.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.