The Singapore Grand Prix will play host to Scuderia Toro Rosso’s 200th race in Formula 1, and both Carlos Sainz Jr and Daniil Kvyat are looking for a good result around the Marina Bay street circuit.
After two difficult races at Spa-Francorchamps and Monza, the team will be seeking a return to form in Singapore, where their underpowered 2015 Ferrari engine will be less of an issue.
This will be Sainz’s second Formula 1 race at Singapore, and he felt his first last year was the hardest of his career, with the humidity and the lack of respite the twisty street circuit provides.
“I’d say last year’s Singapore race was probably the toughest race I’ve done in my life!” said Sainz. “Here there’s less air as there are so many high buildings everywhere.
“You also don’t have any time to rest as there are no straights… It’s full of slow corners and no time to pick-up any air… This is also why you usually arrive in Singapore a bit earlier than usual, in order to get used to the climate, do some sport there.”
Kvyat has less than happy memories of his debut in Singapore in 2014, when his drinks bottle failed on him early leaving him dehydrated and downbeat and down in fourteenth position at the chequered flag, although he did finish sixth in 2015.
“I remember that it’s always quite hot and humid over there, like a sauna!” said Kvyat. “[The first time I raced here] my drink system didn’t work, so it wasn’t much of a pleasure…
“So before racing there for the second time, we anticipated this and trained harder. We went to a sauna and put a jacket on as well as doing outdoor exercises with a winter coat on. [It was] still tough, very tough!
“From a physical point of view, it’s definitely that kind of race where we test our fitness levels.”
