The dynamics of the annual championship driver battle shifted significantly following Oscar Piastri’s unexpected retirement in Baku and Max Verstappen’s successful back-to-back victories.
As the second wave of this quarter’s overseas series races kicks off, the Singapore GP will take place at the Marina Bay street circuit. This event serves as a precursor to the Americas series, with the route being adjusted starting in 2023 to a length of 4.940 kilometers, featuring 19 turns and 4 DRS zones. The final race is set to take place soon, covering a planned 62 laps, with the race scheduled for 8:00 PM (Taiwan time).
The Marina Bay circuit is renowned for its lower speed performance, and in a recent race, there were no safety cars deployed for the first time since the track’s inception. However, given the characteristics of the circuit, the expected finishing time is still projected to be around 1 hour and 40 minutes, and it may be affected by intense convective rain, making race strategy planning particularly crucial.
At the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the 17th race of the season, the McLaren team faced its biggest setback yet. Oscar Piastri struggled with a qualifying mistake, starting from the midfield and ultimately retiring after a collision on the first lap. His teammate, Lando Norris, had a chance to close the points gap but could only finish in seventh place due to operational issues within the team. Max Verstappen, starting from pole position, cruised to victory, narrowing the points difference with Piastri to 69 points.
In another fierce competition, George Russell secured second place, while Yuki Tsunoda finished sixth, intensifying the battle for the annual team championship. Carlos Sainz helped the Williams team break a four-year winless streak, marking the first time since 2016 that this iconic British team has scored over a hundred points, solidifying their position at the top of the lower tier teams.
To meet the high traction demands of the Marina Bay street circuit, Pirelli will implement a tire supply strategy featuring the C3 hard tire, C4 medium tire, and C5 soft tire, with allocations of 2 sets, 3 sets, and 8 sets respectively. Given the variability of weather and safety car conditions, a one-stop strategy primarily utilizing medium and hard tires is expected to dominate this 62-lap race.
Verstappen’s back-to-back wins have helped narrow the gap, suggesting that the Red Bull team is gradually shaking off the impact of previous internal conflicts. Yet, amidst the overall situation, this week’s race will become a crucial challenge for him in his quest to reclaim the championship. Currently, Verstappen trails Lando Norris by 44 points and Oscar Piastri by 69 points, and he has yet to secure a victory at the Marina Bay circuit, which presents him with a formidable challenge. Meanwhile, how the McLaren team avoids operational mistakes during the race will also be a significant test.
