Singapore GP preview | It doesn't get harder for Red Bull than this

Singapore Grand Prix

The Singapore Grand Prix debuted in 2008, with Fernando Alonso taking victory on behalf of Renault. It immediately caused drama because the Renault team told Nelson Piquet Jr. to crash and thus help Alonso to a victory. Several sanctions were applied immediately. In the last 12 months, Felipe Massa has again started to claim the world title should be his because he believes that the result of this GP should be null and void.

Alonso also won with Ferrari in 2010, while Lewis Hamilton came out on top in the gap year. Sebastian Vettel has the most victories in Singapore. The German was victorious in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2019. Hamilton has four victories, while Nico Rosberg won the race in 2016, the year he also won the world title.

Remarkably, many different drivers have won on this track. The circuit is twisty, with which drivers such as Verstappen and Leclerc seem to have an advantage, although Sergio Perez crossed the line first last year. Max Verstappen had a difficult race and finished seventh.

Marina Bay Street Circuit

The Singapore GP was the first-ever night race in Formula 1 in 2008. After the changes for the 2023 edition, the Marina Bay Street Circuit is just under five kilometres long and has 19 corners, taking the drivers straight through the city centre. The circuit has both slow and fast corners and is characterised, like many street circuits, by the tightness of the track.

Moreover, the circuit has a number of treacherous parts. For example, in turn five, drivers sometimes hit the brakes too late and end up against the wall. It is easier to overtake in other parts of the track, such as at Turn 7. In general, however, it is a challenging track that requires concentration.

 

 

 

 

 

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What can we expect?

Max Verstappen managed to win ten Grands Prix in a row. If he also adds an 11th victory, he will not only extend his record for the most consecutive victories in Formula 1. It would also be the first time that Verstappen won in Singapore. The Dutchman and the Marina Bay Street Circuit have not yet proven to be a happy marriage. His best result came in 2018 when he finished second.

Red Bull have won all the Grands Prix this season, so it is logical to say that the Austrian racing team will again be the big favourites for next weekend. The RB19 seems to be able to perform well on all types of circuits, but if the competition want to beat Red Bull anywhere in 2023, they seem to have their best chance in Singapore. At least, that is Helmut Marko's belief.

At Red Bull, they expect a lot from Ferrari. "Leclerc in particular, is a specialist on that track. If they are faster in qualifying, that could be a problem for us, as overtaking in Singapore is very difficult," said Marko ahead of the weekend. Red Bull are most vulnerable in qualifying because pole position has often gone to a car other than the RB19 this season.

Usually, Red Bull can easily make up for that on Sunday, but - as Marko indicates - overtaking will be difficult. Moreover, not only Ferrari but also Mercedes must be taken into account. The W14 proved very good on a narrow, winding track at the Hungaroring (Lewis Hamilton took pole position). And what about Fernando Alonso. The Singapore circuit should be suitable for the AMR23 again after the race in Italy turned out to be a disappointment. The two-time world champion also said he is willing to take more risks than before to grab that coveted victory.

Weather forecast for Singapore

The Formula 1 teams have to consider rain showers in Singapore, but the chance of rain during the sessions is not particularly great. During the first two free practice sessions on Friday, there is about a 25% chance of rain. There is a fair chance of rain on Saturday and Sunday morning local time, but during qualifying and the race, the chance of precipitation is less than 10%. Temperatures will be around 30 to 32 degrees this weekend. It is very clammy and humid.