Formula 1, Round 17: The 2024 Singapore Grand Prix

After an exciting race in Azerbaijan, we don’t have to wait long for the next chapter of the 2024 Formula 1 season. Singapore is up next, rounding out this back-to-back stretch. With a new leader in the constructors’ championship and some exciting results recently, here are a few key things to keep an eye on heading into this weekend at Marina Bay.

The Singapore GP – A Tough Test in a Beautiful Setting

The Singapore Grand Prix is famous for its stunning location, racing through the streets at night with skyscrapers towering over the track. But it’s also one of the toughest races for the drivers.

The humidity is intense, and with so many slow corners, plus the high chance of a Safety Car, it’s often a long, grueling race that pushes the two-hour limit. Even though recent track changes have sped things up a bit, last year’s race still finished just 14 minutes shy of the maximum allowed time.

Staying focused is key, especially in these conditions. Just ask George Russell, who crashed out of third place on the final lap last year after a momentary lapse.

Marina Bay Circuit Stats:

• When was the track built? Built in 2008. – Designed initially by Hermann Tilke, refined by KBR Inc. – Set against the city’s iconic skyline, the Marina Bay Circuit quickly became a standout on the F1 calendar.
• When was its first Grand Prix? First held in 2008, marking F1’s first-ever night race. – It was the 15th round of the 2008 season, where Fernando Alonso claimed a controversial victory for Renault.
• What’s the circuit like? Known for being physically demanding due to its bumpy street surface and humid conditions. – The 2023 layout change reduced the number of corners from 23 to 19, but it remains a tough, high-speed circuit. – Drivers can lose up to 3kg in body weight during the race due to the physical strain.

McLaren vs. Ferrari – Round Three?

The last couple of races have been all about the McLaren and Ferrari rivalry, with each team snagging a win. In Monza, McLaren locked out the front row, but Charles Leclerc’s clever one-stop strategy helped him hold off Oscar Piastri. Then in Baku, Leclerc started from pole, but Piastri pulled off a brilliant overtake and went on to win.

Despite being frustrated in Azerbaijan, Leclerc is still feeling positive. Ferrari’s form has been strong, and they’ve been performing well at tracks they expected to—Monza, Baku, and now Singapore. Things are looking promising for them this weekend.

But McLaren is no slouch either. Since their big upgrade in Miami, they’ve been consistently competitive and now lead the constructors’ championship. Last year, Carlos Sainz won in Singapore with a smart strategy, so could we see another Ferrari vs. McLaren showdown?

Perez’s Comeback and Verstappen’s Lead

While recent races suggest McLaren and Ferrari might be the ones to beat, Red Bull is hoping to break that trend. Last year, Red Bull almost had a perfect season but stumbled in Singapore, where they couldn’t get their car to perform and missed out on a podium finish. This year, they’re in a different spot.

Max Verstappen’s early-season dominance seems like a distant memory, but he’s still racking up solid points, and in Baku, Norris only managed to close the gap by three points.

Even more encouraging for Red Bull was Sergio Perez’s performance. He looked strong on a track where he’s won twice before, and was in the hunt for victory until a late collision with Sainz. Perez will need to keep that form going in Singapore to help Red Bull stay close to McLaren in the constructors’ standings and back up Verstappen’s championship lead.

Magnussen Returns as Haas and Williams Battle It Out

Speaking of points, Ollie Bearman made history in Azerbaijan by becoming the first driver to score points for two different teams in his first two F1 starts. But now it’s time for Kevin Magnussen to step back into his Haas after serving a one-race suspension for racking up 12 penalty points. Haas has been looking strong, with Nico Hulkenberg nearly scoring in Baku before late-race issues.

Magnussen has done well in Singapore before, scoring points three times and even setting the fastest lap on a couple of occasions. But to improve on that, he’ll need to fend off an increasingly competitive Williams team.

Alex Albon and rookie Franco Colapinto finished seventh and eighth in Azerbaijan, and Albon’s been scoring consistently since their car upgrade. Williams is now just 13 points behind Haas in the constructors’ standings, and they’ve got their sights set on sixth place overall.

RB’s Tough Run and Driver Drama

RB is currently sixth in the standings, but they haven’t scored points in the last three races, with Haas steadily closing the gap. They’ve only got a five-point cushion now, and their performance has been shaky recently.

Baku was especially frustrating, with Yuki Tsunoda retiring after early contact and Daniel Ricciardo’s one-stop strategy not working out. On top of that, there’s uncertainty around their driver lineup for 2025. Ricciardo’s future is unconfirmed, and Liam Lawson is waiting in the wings for his shot.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko hinted that we’ll hear more about Lawson’s future soon, but RB needs to pick up the pace quickly if they want to stay ahead of the competition.