Dominant Red Bull driver Max Verstappen will be able to claim his second consecutive Formula 1 title and the Singapore Grand Prix will return to the calendar this weekend after a three-year absence due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Dutchman, at the top of the standings, has a mathematical chance of winning the title in the light of the lights surrounding the amazing and challenging Marina Bay circuit.
To do this, the Dutchman, who turns 25 on Friday, must win the title in the 17th round, something he has not yet done in Singapore, and he also needs to run into his closest opponent.
Otherwise, the championship battle will move to the Japanese Grand Prix in a week, which looks closer to completion.
“That also takes a bit of luck. I don’t think about it,” Verstappen told Sky Sports of retaining his title in Singapore.
Verstappen is 116 points clear of his closest rival Monaco’s Charles Leclerc of Ferrari after winning the Italian Grand Prix (335-219). He is also 125 points clear of third place by Red Bull teammate Sergio Pérez.
The Dutchman must increase his lead by 138 points by the end of Sunday’s race, with five races to go, to claim the fastest title since German legend Michael Schumacher in 2002 six races back.
The victory at the Italian circuit at Monza was Verstappen’s eleventh win in 16 races of the season in which he is likely to break records as Mad Max needs two more wins to equal a single-season record of 13 races. registered in my name Schumacher (2004) and fellow countryman Sebastian Vettel (2013).
“I also want to go to Singapore and try to win the race,” said Verstappen. “We’re having a great season, so we have to try, appreciate and enjoy the moment.”
To claim the title this weekend, the Dutchman must take first place in the race, provided that Leclerc finishes no higher than eighth or ninth, depending on the fastest lap point, and that Pérez is not on the podium.
Saturday’s qualifying is crucial for the next day’s race, which has won pole position seven times in the last 11 races.
Night racing on a narrow track provides rare opportunities for overtaking, and the suffocating heat and humidity are a serious test for drivers, their ability to drive a car and an important factor in the reliability of cars.
Singapore’s climate always carries the threat of rain chaos, as in 2017 when Vettel and Verstappen spun in the front row before colliding at the first corner.
– Mercedes chasing a Ferrari –
Red Bull, the constructor leader with 545 points, is also confident of winning the title and ending Mercedes’ dominance since 2014, although it won’t happen in Singapore, but the race for second place is still on as the German yard is betting on a rebound in end of the season to beat Ferrari.
But the Silver Arrows are under heavy pressure and are 35 points behind Ferrari, who have suffered from reliability issues and made strategic mistakes (406 to 371).
Britain’s George Russell, who is fourth with 203 points, is still mathematically consistent in his race for the driver’s title in his first season with Mercedes, but one win by Verstappen put an end to his hopes.
Russell has been wary of his chances with fellow seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton to end a team drought in 2022, although Alsir has won four times in Singapore, most recently in 2018.
“Singapore can be interesting,” Russell said. “But historically, it’s a circuit where Mercedes has struggled a bit.”
As for the Ferrari team, they are racing in Singapore enjoying the second place that Leclerc took on Italian soil two weeks ago and they can compete with more confidence.
“I think we are one step closer,” said team principal Mattia Binotto.
Ferrari’s co-driver, Carlos Sainz, finished fourth in Italy after coming close to a podium finish were it not for last-minute safety car intervention.
“It’s also clear that if you look at the other cars behind us, we’ve taken a step forward,” Binotto added.
This will be the first Grand Prix in Singapore since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and while the authorities have not released exact figures, they have confirmed that ticket sales have topped 2019 figures.
Source: El Iktisad