- Singapore GP - FP2
Aborted lap leaves Rosberg with work to do
Nico Rosberg has been left with work to do after missing out on a fast lap during second practice for the Singapore Grand Prix.
Rosberg was on his quick lap on super-soft tyres when Pastor Maldonado crashed and caused a red flag. As a result Rosberg was not able to complete the second half of his lap and said he has been left with a "work in progress" to find the right set-up for qualifying.
"It was a bit of a pity, yes, and I didn't learn quite as much as I would have liked to today because I was only able to push for the first half of the lap," he said. "I know what the car was doing so I know what to do for tomorrow, but I wasn't happy with the car so it's definitely a work in progress. It's a pity I wasn't able to finish the lap, but because there was not much time left and we wanted to do many laps to see how it would go for the race, we just decided to go for that."
The difference in lap time between the super-soft and soft tyres was as much as two seconds for some drivers. Rosberg said his set-up might sacrifice some one-lap pace to get the tyres to last longer in the race.
"It seems like a massive difference [between the compounds]. I didn't finish my lap so I'm not sure how much, but it seems like two seconds, so a huge one. I don't know what that does for strategy, so I need to sit down with our Mr Strategy, who's the best in the paddock, and discuss about the race.
"That influences how I set up my car and if the soft tyres are really degrading massively in the race and breaking apart at the rear, then I need to take care of the rear with my set-up. That will make me slower in qualifying, so there's always that compromise."
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso was fastest in the first session and close to Lewis Hamilton in the second, but Rosberg doubts Mercedes' rivals will be able to keep up in the race.
"We've seen at the last couple of races that on Friday they are a bit closer, so I'm hoping it's going to be the same that as the weekend goes on we just edge away a little bit. The car is feeling good anyway, so I'm hoping we will still be very quick."
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