Singapore GP Preview: Formula One is Back at Marina Bay
Singapore GP Preview: Formula One is Back at Marina Bay
The Singapore Grand Prix is back! After a 2-year break, the wheels are turning again on the Marina Bay street circuit.
And there are plenty of changes to talk about: Four-time world champion Vettel has retired after dominating the Marina Bay for years, Hamilton and Mercedes are out of their element (but still looking strong), and Verstappen is aiming for his second title.
It’s going to be a wild ride!
Super Max
At Monza, Max Verstappen won for the seventh time in a row. The Red Bull driver has won 11 races so far this year. Verstappen is tied for second place on the all-time list with fellow grid opponent Lewis Hamilton, who also has a career-high of 11 victories in a season. Hamilton also has a career-high winning run of five straight races, which is a nice addition.
Max Verstappen, the overall champion from the previous year, has had an outstanding 2022 season, winning 11 of the season’s first 16 races. The Dutchman has 335 points, which puts him 116 points ahead of Charles Leclerc of Ferrari and 125 points ahead of Sergio Perez of Red Bull Racing in the drivers’ standings.
Verstappen may secure the overall championship for this season at the Marina Bay street circuit if he wins the night race and sets the fastest lap, finishes no higher than eighth for Leclerc, and Perez fails to make the podium. The F1 drivers’ championship would be won in Singapore for the first time if he were to succeed.
Albon or de Vries?
One of the drivers who has drawn a lot of attention recently is Nyck de Vries.
The Dutchman, who had just joined the team from FP3 forward, was excellent when he stepped in for the ailing Alex Albon in Monza last time. He scored two points on his debut, coming from a Q2 showing.
Albon’s goal of returning for one of the most physically demanding events of the season in Singapore is challenging. Especially since he experienced pulmonary failure while recovering from surgery in Italy and spent longer than anticipated in the hospital. Williams is, therefore, likely to have plans that include de Vries.
Albon’s goal of returning for one of the most physically demanding events of the season in Singapore is challenging. Especially since he experienced pulmonary failure while recovering from surgery in Italy and spent longer than anticipated in the hospital. Williams is, therefore, likely to have plans that include de Vries.
Can Hamilton turn around a bad season?
Lewis Hamilton has been F1’s shining star with Sebastian Vettel for the past ten years. But, for the first time in his 16-year F1 career, the Briton is at risk of being winless this season due to issues with his Mercedes vehicle, his inability to win a race before Singapore, and other factors.
Hamilton has won four races in Singapore, so it would be foolish to rule him out of contention, especially if it starts to rain. He will be eager to finish a challenging year on a high note with six races left in the season.
What to expect on the track?
There has been at least one Safety Car in every race here, with 10 appearing in the past five. They are undoubtedly an important factor in formulating a strategy. Pitting under the protection of an SC or VSC may be pretty advantageous due to the high pit-loss time, partly caused by a 60 km/h pitlane speed restriction.
Despite having three DRS zones, this is still one of the hardest circuits to overtake. As a result, moves are frequently made at the start or during Safety Car restarts, with Turn 7 being the best location.
Moreover, tire deterioration is relatively high due to the circuit’s numerous turns and uneven, sandy surface. Despite this, the significant pit-loss time and challenging passing conditions make this a one-stop race most of the time. As a result, this race occasionally exceeds the two-hour time restriction before the lap counter expires.
