One of the bigger stories in the run-up to the Singapore Grand Prix has been the announcement that Roberto Merhi will be replaced by the American driver Alexander Rossi for five of the remaining seven races at the team. Rossi, who is currently second in the GP2 series, a substantial number of points behind McLaren protégé Stoffel Vandoorne, is expected to make his debut at the fourth time of trying. Back to this weekend, and whilst Monza will have revealed the car’s straight-line speed weaknesses to full effect, Singapore will do the complete opposite and reveal the car’s downforce weaknesses to full effect. With Rossi on many people’s lips for a seat at Haas for next season, there will definitely be a few people keeping an eye on the back of the field this weekend.
2015 Singapore Grand Prix Manor Preview
No. 28 Will Stevens
Form: R/13/16/16/15
This will be the first circuit in a while in which Stevens has not raced at previously, so it will be tough to judge how he will perform this weekend. I suppose that the minimum expected from him is to keep it away from the walls and to beat his less-experienced team mate. He beat his team mate for the first time in a very long time at Monza, and really needs to do so this weekend.
No. 53 Alexander Rossi
Strangely, unlike his team mate, new boy Alex Rossi from the USA has raced at Singapore previously – back in 2013 for Caterham Racing in GP2, which did not go too well for him as he finished 23rd in the sprint race after retiring from the feature. Rossi and Stevens have raced against each other in the past, back in the 2012 Formula Renault 3.5 series. It was Rossi’s second full season and Stevens’ first, and they finished next to each other in the table with Rossi marginally ahead. After almost making his debut at Spa, Russia and the USA for Marussia last year but missing out due to Max Chilton finding some budget, the Marussia team withdrawing the car and then Marussia going into administration respectively, Rossi’s debut has arguably been overdue. He has driven in five practice sessions in the past for Marussia and Caterham, dating back to 2012. He will race at five of the seven remaining rounds, missing out Russia and Abu Dhabi due to his GP2 commitments.
No. 98 Roberto Merhi
Form: 14/12/15/15/16
Relegated from the front-line due to the ‘long-term interests of the team’, Merhi, who has only just dropped his poor Formula Renault 3.5 campaign to focus on F1, even had to endure the dreaded drivers’ press conference on the Thursday before the race. Left with the bland Russian and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix left to compete in, it’s a massive shame for the Spaniard who has arguably matched Stevens’ results this season, despite apparently not having the same equipment, and despite a significant weight disadvantage.
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