Fresh soft set gives Verstappen an extra strategic option in Singapore

Max Verstappen heads into the Singapore Grand Prix with a tyre option his Ferrari rivals lack: one fresh set of softs remains available to him, while neither Charles Leclerc nor Lewis Hamilton has one. Overtaking is difficult on the Marina Bay street circuit, making that flexibility useful.

Pirelli sees no clearly best strategy. If the race runs without rain or a safety car, drivers are expected to want no more than one pit stop. Verstappen can choose soft or medium tyres for his opening stint; Leclerc and Hamilton are expected to start on mediums.

Ferrari's counter is its medium-tyre reserve: Leclerc and Hamilton each have two sets available, compared with one for Verstappen. That could work in Ferrari's favor if wear is much higher than expected. Pirelli's simulation models have generally been accurate this season, making a sudden increase in degradation less likely.