Kimi Raikkonen on Ferrari's chances at the 2017 Singapore Grand Prix

Scuderia Ferrari Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen said that the Maranello team will not take claim of the favourite tag for the 2017 Singapore Grand Prix, which is scheduled to take place this weekend on the Marina Bay Street Circuit and will wait to see how the race plays out during the next few days. Scuderia Ferrari have shown a competitive edge over its Formula One world title rivals Mercedes at circuits which require maximum downforce and are less dependent on power – which has seen many tip the Italian manufacturer to be considered as favourites for victory in Singapore.

However, Kimi Raikkonen sees the first flyaway race of the season finale like any other in the 2017 Formula 1 championship and feels nobody can easily predict a favourite until the race itself, despite the fact that the 2007 F1 champions accepts stories will always be focused around it during the build-up to the race: “It is not in our minds, it’s again the same story that we have the same discussions, the same questions in every race weekend. You think one team is going to be the favourite, but that doesn’t guarantee anything, it changes nothing.” – the Finnish driver explained, as reported by Italian national sports newspaper based in Rome Corriere dello Sport on Thursday.

“It is just on Sunday at the end of the race, when everybody finishes that you have the real result. There can be stories until Sunday afternoon.” – Scuderia Ferrari’s Finnish driver concluded.

Kimi Raikkonen claimed pole position at the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix earlier in the year before narrowly missing out to Scuderia Ferrari team-mate Sebastian Vettel for victory. The Monte Carlo street circuit shares track characteristics with the Marian Bay Street Circuit, while the Maranello team also claimed a one-two at a similar circuit type in Hungary. The crushing defeat of Scuderia Ferrari at its home race was taken by many as a sign that Mercedes has pulled clear in the development race, yet with Singapore set to suit the Scuderia’s SF70H car, the momentum is expected to swing back again this weekend, with just seven races to go until the end of the 2017 Formula One season.