Max Verstappen heads to the Singapore Grand Prix with his first chance to clinch the championship in 2022.
Formula 1 is back from its latest break this weekend with the Singapore Grand Prix, and championship leader Max Verstappen gets his first shot to clinch the Drivers’ Championship. Verstappen is looking for his sixth win in a row, and currently holds a commanding 116-point lead in the championship.
Max is putting together one of the greatest seasons in F1 history, and even if he stopped racing now it would rank among the greats. He has 11 wins and 13 podiums and still has six races to further improve those numbers. Barring an extreme series of misfortunate events, he looks set to become the 17th driver to win multiple championships.
There are still, of course, 19 drivers to focus on with storylines of their own, including some who are racing for their future like Daniel Ricciardo, Mick Schumacher, and Nicholas Latifi. Despite this, it’s hard not to be enamored with what Verstappen is doing this season. He looks like he’s in a league of his own, even among some of the greatest drivers in the world.
New team entries and driver market moves are sure to catch our attention, but when it comes to the actual racing it’s all about Max this year. Is it as fun as last year’s championship battle? Well, unless you’re a Max Verstappen or Red Bull Racing fan, probably not. But it is truly incredible how dominant and consistent he and Red Bull have been in 2022, especially after the way they stumbled out of the gates in Bahrain.
As mentioned, Verstappen can clinch the championship this weekend. It’s not exactly a straightforward scenario, so thankfully Sky Sports F1 has thrown together a graphic to help us all understand what to watch for. Check it out below.
How can Max Verstappen win the World Championship in Singapore this weekend? 🤔👇 pic.twitter.com/uynoKE5mFZ
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) September 26, 2022
The Circuit
The Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore entered the F1 calendar in 2008 and was the first night race in F1’s history. The inaugural race was marred with controversy with Renault’s “Crashgate” that helped Fernando Alonso take the victory. Since then, it has produced many memorable moments both in qualifying and the races. Sebastian Vettel, dubbed “The Lion of Singapore,” has the record for wins at the circuit with five, including the most recent race in 2019.
The circuit is 5.063 km (3.14 miles) long with 23 corners and three DRS zones. It is 61 laps long and Kevin Magnussen has the race lap record of 1:41.905 that he posted in 2018. The race is physically demanding for the drivers, not only with the tight and precise layout but thanks to the hot and humid weather in Singapore, which can take its toll on the drivers over the course of the race.
Going through a lap, after the front straight, the drivers are met with a slow chicane that eventually turns them 180 degrees as they head toward Turn 5. After that quick right, it’s onto the longest DRS straight on the track. Drivers then brake hard into Turn 7 to start Sector 2, which begins a series of 90-degree turns ending with Turn 11.
Turn 12 takes the drivers over a bridge and then into the slowest corner, the Turn 13 hairpin. After that, it’s another DRS zone into hard braking at Turn 14 to begin Sector 3. Turns 15 through 21 are more squared corners that take the drivers through and under stadium seating for a soccer pitch that sits nearby in the bay. To end the lap, it is two quick left-handers back onto the main straight that will challenge the drivers to stay within track limits as they push at the end of the lap.
Championship Standings
Drivers’ Championship:
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing – 335 points
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari – 219 points
- Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing – 210 points
- George Russell, Mercedes – 203 points
- Carlos Sainz Jr., Ferrari – 187 points
Constructors’ Championship
- Red Bull Racing – 545 points
- Ferrari – 406 points
- Mercedes – 371 points
- Alpine – 125 points
- McLaren – 107 points
- Alfa Romeo – 52 points
- Haas – 34 points
- AlphaTauri – 33 points
- Aston Martin – 25 points
- Williams – 6 points
Race Predictions – Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix
I think Ferrari will be competitive given the slower nature of Marina Bay, but I have to go with Verstappen. I said it in my last preview until he loses, I’ll have to keep riding with him.
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
- Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
