Preview: Can McLaren cement world championship chances in Singapore?

Last year, Singapore wasn't an easy weekend for Red Bull. It was the only race in 2023 that the team didn't win, and it was instead won by Ferrari's Carlos Sainz in what was arguably the most entertaining race of the 2023 season. Max Verstappen finished fifth, and Sergio Perez finished eighth in 2023. Coincidentally, the Marina Bay circuit is the only place where Max Verstappen didn't stand on the top step of the podium between the 2023 Miami Grand Prix and the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, as the previously dominant Dutchman has never won in Singapore.

Could this act as a bad omen for the three-time world champion? Verstappen qualified in 11th place in 2023 as Lance Stroll's huge final corner accident halted running. This season, the RB20 has become slower than its competitors, and McLaren and Ferrari continue to evolve their cars. Development struggles at Red Bull mean that the team haven't won a Grand Prix since the Spanish Grand Prix in June. 

McLaren can take advantage of a struggling Red Bull

McLaren, therefore, has a great opportunity to extend their 20-point advantage in the constructor's title. Lando Norris also fought back from 17th to 4th in Baku, whilst teammate Oscar Piastri won the race after a brilliant overtake on Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. In the driver's standings, Norris is now 59 points behind Verstappen and is the Dutchman's closest competitor. Whilst Red Bull continues to struggle, Singapore presents itself as a good opportunity for Norris to cut into Verstappen's lead. Of course, the Brit will need a better result than fourth place to seriously dent Verstappen's lead.

The Marina Bay Street Circuit is one of, if not the most difficult circuit on the F1 calendar. Physically, drivers struggle with the humidity, and it can be hard to maintain concentration on the demanding street circuit. The track is renowned for incidents, with at least one safety car deployment being recorded in every race since its inaugural 2008 launch. 

The bookmakers have Norris as a 2/1 favourite for the race victory. Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri are both 4/1, with Verstappen 9/1. Both Ferrari and McLaren drivers have a higher chance of winning the Grand Prix than Max Verstappen, and his teammate Sergio Perez has a 33/1 chance of winning. If these odds come to fruition, McLaren would extend their lead in the constructors title, with the fast-charging Ferrari team even posing a threat to Red Bull. 

Can McLaren extend their lead? Despite mistakes earlier in the season, McLaren appears to have everything in the tank to become a world championship-winning team. The MCL38 appears to be fast at every circuit, and Singapore will act as a crucial turning point for the Woking outfit. If they can win in Singapore, it will be hard to stop them from winning the 2024 Constructors championship.

The weather forecast

Rain is expected throughout the whole weekend. On Friday, there's a 60% chance of thunderstorms in Singapore, meaning that practice running could be affected. On Saturday, there's a lower 24% chance of rain expected with 26C temperatures.

On Sunday, rain could definitely affect the race, as there's a 51% chance of showers. The teams must make sure they stay on top of their weather radars throughout. Temperatures of 26C are also forecasted for the night race.

Full timetable for the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix weekend in BST

Friday, September 20

FP1: (10:30-11:30)

FP2: (14:00-15:00)

Saturday, September 21

FP3: (10:30-11:30)

Qualifying: (14:00-15:00)

Sunday, September 22

Race (13:00)

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