After the conclusion of the 2022 F1 Esports Series Pro Championship Event 1 in Silverstone, England, the spotlight returns to the physical track. This time, all eyes are on the original F1 Night Race, a welcome fixture after a two-year pandemic-enforced absence. Global fans are flocking en masse to catch the floodlit race through Singapore’s streets, while drivers are licking their lips in anticipation of returning to the little red dot.
But what can we expect out of the weekend extravaganza? Here are the three main talking points as we begin the run up to the Singapore Grand Prix 2022:
Title Win in Singapore?
No one has ever won the title in Singapore, but this could change in 2022! Dutchman Max Verstappen heads into the 17th race of the 2022 season with 335 points, a massive 116 points ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and 125 points ahead of his Red Bull Racing teammate Sergio Perez in the drivers' standings.
With a maximum of 138 points on offer over the final five races, all Verstappen needs to wrap up the title in Singapore is to outscore Leclerc by 22 points, Perez by 13 and Mercedes’ George Russell by six. The permutations that would allow this is listed below:
Verstappen will take the title in Singapore if...
Verstappen |
Leclerc |
Perez |
1st |
9th or lower |
4th or lower without Fastest Lap / 5th or lower with Fastest Lap |
1st (with Fastest Lap) |
8th or lower |
4th or lower |
Veterans’ Showdown
Image Credit: Singapore GP Pte. Ltd
Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton have been the undisputed poster boys for F1 over the last decade. They lead the pack in the number of wins in Singapore, with 5 and 4 respectively.
Defending champion Vettel announced earlier in July that he would be retiring at the end of the season, so it would make for a beautiful end to his glorious career were he to seal his dominance during his final bow in Southeast Asia.
Hamilton, on the other hand, has yet to win a race ahead of Singapore and is in danger of going winless for the first time in his 16-year F1 career. That said, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says the team’s simulations indicate the Singapore circuit should suit their W13. Hamilton himself recovered from a penalised 19th on the grid to take fifth place in the last race, so it would be too early to write off the seven-time world champion.
Toughest Race of the Year
Image Credit: Singapore GP Pte. Ltd
The Marina Bay circuit already has a reputation of being one of F1’s toughest races, with its tight and twisty sections, 23 corners (some of which are 90 degrees), and the close proximity of the walls.
As the first street track that F1 has visited since the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in June, this will be especially punishing given the stiffer suspension used by the current generation of cars. Every single one of the 12 races held at Marina Bay has featured a safety car, which has been shown to be able to make or break a driver’s race.
It will be especially trying for the strategists on the pit wall. They will have to stay alert and be on their toes. A failure to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances can be devastating for the team over the 61-lap race.
Excitement is high for F1’s long-awaited return to the Singapore streets after a 2-year hiatus. Caught FOMO? Don’t miss the buzz and get ready for the motor racing extravaganza this weekend!
Related Articles
Related Topics
Recent Events & Programmes
Related Articles
Related Topics
Related Topics
[BlogPost 164749641842 NSG 2024 Netball: Senior Div Girls League 3 Preliminary Round 2, BlogPost 163985727414 Beyond the Field: Exciting Sports Careers for Non-Athletes, BlogPost 164438712123 NSG 2024 Badminton: Senior Div Girls Quarter-Finals, BlogPost 164238055490 Evergreen Aleksandar Duric Still Making Headlines at 53, BlogPost 164170080646 NSG 2024 Rope Skipping: Junior Div Girls Freestyle Team Finals, BlogPost 162884973666 Move and Rest Better With Data From Your Own Body, BlogPost 163393049482 Life Comes Full Circle For Serangoon Garden Secondary School's Fahrish Khan, BlogPost 163258797651 Making Golf a Sport for All, BlogPost 162512222328 NSG 2024 Sepaktakraw: Senior Div Yuhua Primary School vs Qihua Primary School, BlogPost 162233592997 Gritty Lions Suffer Loss to China, BlogPost 162089384371 On Your Mark, Get Ready, Go Running, BlogPost 161670652697 Lions' Excellent Showing Against China, BlogPost 161435270031 Ogura Optimistic for Exciting Clash against China, BlogPost 161127614758 The Future of Basketball in Singapore: Why 3x3 is Here to Stay, BlogPost 161033673012 The Active Lifestyler's Guide to the New ActiveSG Delta Sport Centre, BlogPost 161128356680 Grand New Champions Crowned at WTT Singapore Smash 2024, BlogPost 160844835218 NSG 2024 Table Tennis: C Div Boys Pool Round, BlogPost 160210745115 NSG 2024 Basketball: Senior Div Girls Tampines Primary School vs Frontier Primary School, BlogPost 159881180544 Whirlwind Return to Women's Football, BlogPost 159633541417 Singapore Smash to Elevate a New Legacy, BlogPost 158983580420 NSG 2024 Rugby: B Div Damai Secondary School vs Peirce Secondary School, BlogPost 159003960202 SFA Fiesta: Kicking off 2024 to a Roaring Start, BlogPost 158830735126 NSG 2024 Football: B Div Girls Preliminary Round Meridian Secondary School VS Bowen Secondary School, BlogPost 158536989718 Team Nila Volunteers Recognized At Awards Ceremony, BlogPost 158270107806 NSG 2024 Hockey: B Div Boys Preliminary Round Raffles Institution VS St. Hilda Secondary School, BlogPost 157966862615 NSG 2024 Floorball: B Division Preliminary Rounds Kick Off!, BlogPost 157562433712 What Is Safe Sport?, BlogPost 157559446197 Sengkang Secondary: Cultivating Well-Rounded Footballers, BlogPost 157368261167 New National Training Centre for Cricket at West Coast Ground, BlogPost 155340164987 Active Ageing with Joey Bonifacio, BlogPost 155930815517 Inaugural Singapore Youth League kicks off from 24th February 2024, BlogPost 155340164727 Bukit Canberra : the Coolest Spot in the North, BlogPost 155368905255 How Padang Fandi Inspired Ayden to Chase his Dream, BlogPost 154755572826 Ageing Backwards with Elizabeth Cheang, BlogPost 154094657315 Running For Fitness, BlogPost 153318636178 Excitement Builds for FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2024, BlogPost 153198644247 World's Top Four Confirmed for 2024 HSBC Women's World Championship, BlogPost 149413941770 Cultivating Your Kids’ Interest in the Outdoors, BlogPost 149413941163 Making Sport More Appealing for Our Kids, BlogPost 149412549409 Solo Or Team Sport – Choosing the Best for Your Child, BlogPost 151197478798 Former Lions Stalwart Baihakki Khaizan Sheds Light on New Accreditation to Elevate Grassroots Football and Youth Development, BlogPost 80703591291 New Year, Fitter You! Here are the top 3 workouts for the New Year, BlogPost 81171151456 7 Reasons Why Sports are Great for Children’s Mental Health, BlogPost 80542065330 17 Best Yoga Classes & Studios in Singapore [+ Rating & Prices], BlogPost 149404351798 From Brush to Lens: A Student's Journey in the World of Art and Sports Photography, BlogPost 149402825063 The Benefits of Active Parenting, BlogPost 149397832009 Sweden Claim 9th Straight Gold at the Women's World Floorball Championship, BlogPost 149397831449 Lion City Sailors Win 2023 Singapore Cup, BlogPost 148511324266 Pitch Perfect with Jonathan Teo, BlogPost 148511724402 Seniors: Increase your flexibility bit by bit with these stretches]