It’s no surprise that Lando Norris is starting from pole position. Currently, the McLaren is the fastest car on the track, and the Brit has been in top form all weekend in Singapore. However, the next two drivers on the starting grid are quite unexpected. Not teammate Oscar Piastri or Charles Leclerc, who many had tipped as the race winner, but Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. What will this mean for the street circuit race?
The Singapore Grand Prix is the only race on the calendar that Verstappen has never won. It’s also the race that the Red Bull driver has repeatedly said will be tough this year because the RB20 is not suited for it. That Verstappen is starting from the front row here gives him a sudden chance to minimize the anticipated loss of points. Beating Norris here would be almost miraculous, but anything can happen on a street circuit, and a podium finish seems within reach.
Then there’s Lewis Hamilton. Like Verstappen, he struggled during free practice on the Marina Bay Street Circuit, but he also managed to get his car running in qualifying. He too is happy and relieved after the session and is looking forward to the race. His teammate George Russell, who crashed off the track in the final stages last year, is next to him on the grid. Can Mercedes make further progress today?
In the Wake of Ferrari
Behind them is an interesting quartet with Oscar Piastri, Nico Hülkenberg, Fernando Alonso, and Yuki Tsunoda. After his strong performance in Baku, Piastri will be disappointed that he didn’t get further than P5 in qualifying and will do everything he can to move forward as quickly as possible during the race. The other three will try to hold onto this position and collect as many valuable points as possible. They know that today’s danger comes from behind.
Challenges for Ferrari in the Race
The mirrors of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz’s cars are turning red. This race was one Ferrari had marked to win, but it’s becoming an almost impossible task. Both drivers have cars that can match the speed of McLaren, but a disastrous qualifying session has thrown them into the midfield. A fourth or fifth place should be possible in the race, and with a safety car, there might be more to gain.
Points for Williams?
Just outside the top ten are two drivers craving a points finish: Alexander Albon and Franco Colapinto. Can they repeat their Baku feat? The speed is there for Williams, and they were so close to Q3 in qualifying! Colapinto, by the way, was only seven-thousandths short of his teammate. Very impressive, especially since he, unlike Albon, did not drive with the new upgrade and had problems with the DRS on his fast lap.
Finally, two drivers from the Red Bull stable are far below their level on the grid. Sergio Pérez starts from P13 and Daniel Ricciardo from P16. The Mexican seemed to have fixed his issues in Azerbaijan, but fell through the ice again. And is Ricciardo’s career, which is rumored to be his last Grand Prix, going to fizzle out here in Singapore?
The race starts today at 12.00 UTC.
