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The 2024 Formula 1 World Championship will intensify this weekend during the Singapore Grand Prix, a fixture on the Formula 1 calendar since 2008, as top racers take to the grid to battle it out during the iconic night race, held under the city’s vibrant lights, at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
Here are some of the top storylines that are sure to keep fans glued to their seats and screens this weekend.
Sealing the Lead
The biggest question that the kingdom’s F1 fans will be hoping to answer is whether Bahrain-owned McLaren can solidify the lead they took in the Constructors’ Championship last weekend.
Although Lando Norris, who currently sits at second in the Drivers’ Championship, acknowledged that the track can be challenging due to the humidity, he has done well on the track historically, coming in second last year and fourth the year before.
However, the team has not won a race there since 2009.
“It feels good going into this race knowing we’re currently first in the Constructors’ Championship,” he added.
“The team has done and keeps doing an excellent job. We know we now need to keep working hard and delivering consistent results.”
His team mate Oscar Piastri, fresh off an incredible weekend in Baku where he secured his second Grand Prix win, is also hoping to challenge for the top prize this weekend.
Troubles with the Bulls
Red Bull fans who were hoping for the star team to turn around its fortunes after a lacklustre second leg of the season, were sorely disappointed when three-time champion Max Verstappen finished fifth and his team mate ended up 17th after a devastating crash with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.
“We have learnt from what we did wrong last week in Baku and can try a few things differently this week in Singapore,” Verstappen said, ahead of next Sunday’s race.
“Marina Bay is a cool circuit but we do expect this to be a bit more of a challenge, as it has been historically.
“The race is usually quite close here and obviously very hot and humid.
“The changes that we initially made in Baku were positive and we were heading in the right direction; we think we know what we can do better and of course need to make sure that we are optimising the set up.”
Of course, not all is glum in the Red Bull camp - although Verstappen has not taken victory since the Spanish Grand Prix in June, he remains the only driver to have won more than two races this season with seven wins. In addition, Perez won the 2022 Singapore GP as he led from start-to-finish, after overcoming a five-second time penalty to win by more than 2.5 seconds.
Petronas Turns 50
In celebration of Petronas’ 50th anniversary, the Silver Arrows will sport a different look for this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.
The predominant colour on the W15 will be the iconic emerald green of the team, replacing the silver on the nose and sidepods.
With Malaysia bordering the Asian city-state of Singapore, the Grand Prix this weekend is the closest race to the home of Petronas, and therefore a fitting place to mark the occasion.
“The livery looks incredible,” seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton added.
“I can’t wait to see it on the car in the garage tomorrow and then to get behind-the-wheel on Friday. I am sure the fans will love seeing it up close and it will shine brightly under the lights of Singapore.”
Circuit Challenges
The Marina Bay Street Circuit is a unique track, renowned for its challenging layout and demanding nature. With a mix of high-speed straights and tight corners, drivers need to be precise and aggressive to extract the maximum performance from their cars. The track’s layout also makes overtaking difficult, often leading to intense battles throughout the race.
The Marina Bay Street Circuit’s demanding nature and the potential for unexpected incidents can significantly impact the championship race.
The last four Singapore Grands Prix have had four different winners from three different constructors, so this weekend is definitely one to watch as the championship heats up in its final leg.
