With simply seven rounds remaining within the 2024 season, and the 2 main drivers on the planet championship lining up on the entrance row of the grid collectively, this needs to be a tense and enthralling Singapore Grand Prix.
Nonetheless, in terms of the intrigue of any title battle, the extent of pleasure is inversely proportional to the factors hole between the primary protagonists.
With Lando Norris’ deficit to Max Verstappen nonetheless standing at greater than two race wins, it’s going to require one thing very dramatic to occur to the Purple Bull driver for the factors result in shut up on Sunday. Regardless of: The prospect of one other Norris-versus-Verstappen contest is thrilling sufficient by itself deserves, whatever the championship scenario.
However then, there may be the wildcard: Lewis Hamilton
By his admission, Hamilton has struggled in qualifying to this point this season. Nonetheless, every time he reaches the highest two rows on the grid, robust finishes are likely to comply with. On the three events Hamilton has began fourth or increased in 2024, he has by no means completed decrease than he began and has received the race the final two instances, at Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps.
Meaning Norris has extra to fret about on Sunday’s race than simply the three-times world champion he shares the entrance row with, however the driver with seven titles to his title behind each of them. One thing Norris is aware of.
“There’s 150 wins or one thing between them,” Norris stated. “So I’ve obtained nothing on them and nothing evaluating to them. I discover it cool that I’m right here and I’m amongst them and making an attempt to struggle in opposition to them.”
However who will prevail over the course of the longest night time of the season? The game’s most profitable driver ever, the present world champion, or the driving force who’s desperately making an attempt to hitch them?
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Climate
Though pre-race rain gave the impression to be on the playing cards within the build-up to the Singapore Grand Prix, up to date forecasts point out drivers can count on a completely dry race. Because the dramatic downpour that occurred after Friday’s second observe confirmed, nevertheless, the climate is at all times liable to vary on a whim on this a part of the world.
Even when it stays dry, the stifling warmth received’t be any much less of a problem with temperatures anticipated to start out at 30C and solely barely lower over the course of the race. As Hamilton famous after qualifying, that would make preserving tyres in the correct working window a key component of the race.
Begin
Norris’ failure to steer the opening lap of any dash race or grand prix he has began from pole place – in six makes an attempt – is now one in every of F1’s most notorious statistics. If there ever was a time for him to interrupt it, now’s certainly the event.
The run from pole place to the flip one is simply over 200 metres, leaving little house for Verstappen to leap the McLaren into the lead off the road. Nonetheless, that was additionally true in Zandvoort, the final time the pair lined up in these identical positions collectively, and Norris nonetheless managed to lose his lead.
However Norris can take coronary heart from understanding how unusual it’s for drivers beginning on pole to lose the lead at first in Singapore. Over the past 10 races held right here stretching again to 2012, the driving force on pole has solely failed to steer the opening lap twice: When Sergio Perez obtained forward of Charles Leclerc in 2022, and when the Ferraris of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel tangled with Verstappen 5 years earlier.
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Technique
This a part of the season has successfully been the ‘one-stop race’ leg of the calendar and there’s little motive to count on a lot totally different on Sunday.
Pirelli anticipate {that a} medium-hard one-stop technique is the quickest strategy to the chequered flag, however in contrast to some latest rounds they do count on that beginning on the softs may very well be a “viable possibility” even for these aiming to cease solely as soon as. Final 12 months, Leclerc used the softs to leap George Russell into second place off the road, proving essential for Ferrari staff mate Carlos Sainz Jnr’s prospects for victory.
Beginning additional again, the hard-medium strategy seems to be the most effective. However with the potential for a Security Automobile at any time, all the most effective planning on the planet can’t foresee a sudden change in race dynamic that comes with a Security Automobile.
Overtaking
Though it is a ‘correct’ road circuit with a number of corners the place overtaking is solely not viable, there are surprisingly many locations across the lap the place braking zones are heavy sufficient to allowed for the potential for out-braking strikes to be pulled off. The final 10 races right here have seen a median of 27.2 on-track overtakes for place.
The obvious spot is on the finish of the quickest straight on the circuit on the way in which into the 90 diploma left hander at flip seven following the DRS straight, however the next proper hander of flip eight provides a possibility. As too do the runs to show 10 in addition to flip 14.
New for this 12 months is a fourth DRS zone alongside the most recent straight between turns 14 and 16. However pole winner Norris doesn’t appear to consider that can essentially assist to supply extra passing alternatives. Requested if he felt that the fourth zone may make his life holding off the vehicles behind him harder on Sunday, he merely replied: “No”.
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Security Automobiles
By means of the 14 races at Singapore to this point, there was no less than one full Security Automobile deployment each time. However as any good statistician is aware of, the 100% fee of Security Automobiles in each race held right here to this point doesn’t imply there’s a 100% likelihood of 1 occuring on Sunday.
Make no mistake, the potential for a Security Automobile is actually as excessive round Singapore as every other circuit of the calendar. The final 10 rounds right here have Bernd Maylander known as into motion on 17 events, a median of 1.7 deployments per race – increased than every other monitor on the calendar. Nonetheless, there has not been a single (non-virtual) Security Automobile deployment because the Canadian Grand Prix.
With many alternatives to try to go and restricted run off areas, any sort of accident may set off a Security Automobile at any stage of the race. However with the outdated ‘float’ part faraway from the monitor for the following few years, one of the troublesome spots on the circuit is not an element, lowering the general threat of a Security Automobile look.
One to observe
Whereas all the main focus will clearly be on the 2 championship leaders as they each look to outdo the opposite over 55 laps, there may be one driver beginning down the order – however not essentially out of place – whose future in Formulation 1 may cling within the stability on Sunday.
After 256 grands prix, Daniel Ricciardo would possibly be capable to face the ultimate curtain of his F1 profession. The hearsay mill has been cranking as much as most capability in latest days as Purple Bull assess their choices for his or her driver line up for his or her second RB seat in 2025. Yuki Tsunoda is confirmed, however Ricciardo shouldn’t be and there’s a rising sense the 35-year-old veteran’s days are numbered.
In Singapore, there may be even a suggestion that Ricciardo could also be dropped in favour of Liam Lawson earlier than then – at the same time as quickly as after Sunday’s race. The stress is on as staff principal Laurent Mekies stated that RB will assess their drivers’ efficiency after this weekend.
So Ricciardo’s underwhelming efficiency in qualifying, knocked out in Q1 eight locations decrease than his Q3-reaching staff mate, will solely have turned the stress up one other notch. However Ricciardo is aware of the right way to race at Singapore, having taken 4 podium finishes through the years, and now’s the time for him to show of his expertise into a powerful race. In any other case, this may very well be his 257th and remaining grand prix…
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Over to you
Will Norris be capable to beat each world champions to win his first race at Marina Bay? Share your views on the Singapore Grand Prix within the feedback.
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