Vasseur: Singapore qualifying ‘will be decisive’ for Ferrari

As Formula 1 rolls into the shimmering streets of Marina Bay for the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix, Ferrari is brimming with cautious optimism.

Scuderia boss Fred Vasseur and Charles Leclerc see this high-stakes night race as a golden opportunity to capitalize on their car's strengths in the sweltering conditions, despite the track's notorious challenges.

With the fight at the top of the Constructors’ standings, the Scuderia is laser-focused on turning potential into points under the Singapore lights.

Navigating Marina Bay’s Unique Challenges

Singapore is no ordinary race. Its demanding Marin Bay street circuit, bathed in artificial light and steeped in scorching humidity, tests every facet of a team’s preparation.

As a seasoned team principal, Vasseur knows the stakes are high.

“Singapore is always one of the most demanding races of the year, for the drivers and for the whole team on the pit wall and in the garage,” commented the Frenchman in Ferrari’s race weekend preview.

“The layout of the track, the night-time conditions, and the likely appearance of the Safety Car all combine to make this Grand Prix a real test of concentration and adaptability.”

This year, a new twist adds intrigue: a higher pit lane speed limit.

“This could influence the strategic choices,” Vasseur noted, hinting at the tactical chess game awaiting Ferrari’s strategists.

With Safety Car deployments almost a given – having appeared in every Singapore race since 2008 – the team must stay sharp to seize fleeting opportunities.

Vasseur emphasized the importance of Saturday evening’s qualifying session at Marina Bay.

“As on most street circuits, qualifying will once again play a decisive role, and we will need to make the most of every session to try and secure the best possible starting positions,” he said.

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Ferrari has struggled in recent races in bot qualifying and race trim, with Leclerc’s fourth place finish in Monza the team’s best result since F1’s summer break. Nut fine margins have often decided their fate.

“Once again, the aim going into the weekend will be to maximise the potential, as we have seen in the past few rounds that small details can make a big difference when it comes to the points you bring home,” Vasseur added.

Leclerc’s Hopes Pinned on Hot Conditions

Leclerc, Ferrari’s talisman, is equally attuned to the unique demands of Marina Bay. But the Monegasque sees Singapore’s steamy climate as a potential edge.

“[There will be] warmer conditions, this for sure,” he said. “I think our car is struggling quite a bit whenever it’s cold, and we have seen that the Mercedes is performing very, very strongly whenever it’s cold.”

Leclerc pointed to the recent Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where cooler temperatures exposed Ferrari’s weaknesses.

“[In Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying], it was one of the only cars that could actually make the medium [tyre] work in Q3, together with Williams, actually,” he explained.

“Both cars are very strong in cold conditions; we are stronger in hot conditions. I hope Singapore will give us that.”

With temperatures in Singapore expected to hover around 30°C (86°F) and high humidity, Leclerc is banking on the SF-25 chassis thriving in the heat, where it has historically found better grip and tyre performance.

As Ferrari fine-tunes its setup under the Marina Bay floodlights, the synergy between Vasseur’s strategic focus and Leclerc’s confidence in warmer conditions could unlock the Scuderia’s full potential.

In a season where every point counts, the Scuderia is ready to battle for glory in one of F1’s most glamorous and grueling races.

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