Mercedes boss Toto Wolff expects another tight and dramatic Grand Prix in Singapore this Sunday.
Merc ace Lewis Hamilton tightened his grip on a fifth world title after extending his championship lead over Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari with a surprise victory in Monza two weeks ago.
The pair arrived in Singapore in a similar position a year ago, but the pole-sitting Vettel crashed into Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and teammate Kimi Raikkonen soon after the start as Hamilton cruised to victory and never looked back.
But Wolff is not writing off Vettel, who is also chasing a fifth crown and trails Hamilton by 30 points.
He says: “Singapore has features that we’ve struggled with in the past.
"The short straights, the slow, tight corners and the bumpy surface all make [it] one of the trickiest tracks of the season for us.
“Last year, we started the race from the third row - and came home with a win and a third place.
“On paper, the track should favour the Ferraris, but the championship fight is so close that predictions are almost meaningless.
“We’re in the middle of a monumental championship fight.”
He adds of Vettel: “If possible to win, he has the ambition to do it with the necessary aggression.
“It could easily have been Lewis instead of Sebastian who spun [at Monza]. Then the whole Grand Prix would have been different.”