After Victories in Italy and Azerbaijan, Max Verstappen Unexpectededly Gets Another Serious Chance for Victory in Singapore. If he can also keep the McLaren Drivers Beind Him in Singapore, He Seems to Be Seriously Entering the Title Race.
The 28-year-old Verstappen was Hesitant After His Victory in Azerbaijan, his Second Consecutive Victory, To Say Whether He had Regained Hope for the Title. “Let’s Wait for Singapore First. That is a Completely Different Track With A Lot Of Down Force. I really Don’t Know What To Expect There.”
Red Bull Top Executive Helmut Marko was a Bit More Assertive. “If we are competitive in Singapore, we can start dreaming.”
That dreaming can slowly but surely really start. Verstappen, who is 69 points Behind World Championship-Leader Oscar Piastri in the World Championship Standings, Already More competitive than expected on Friday and continued that trend on Saturday with the fastest time in the tea free practice and a second time in Qualifying.
Only Mercedes Driver George Russell was faster. The good news for Verstappen: Both Piaastri (Third) and Lando Norris (Fifth) Start Behind Him.
Normally, the Teams Can Estimate WHO is Fast Duration the Race Based on the Free Practices. That is a lot more complicated this weekend. The Second Free Practice is Traditionally The Only Free Session Under Artificial Light and Therefore the Most Representative, But Due to Two Red Flags, The Teams Had Limited Action. As a result, no one has been able to drive a serious long run.
“We are going into the racing without knowing who is fastest,” Said Red Bull Team Boss Laurent Mekies. “But it all seems very close together. McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari and we are not much different from each other.”
Singapore is one of the toughest races of the year. The Combination of High Humidity, Temperatures Above 30 Degrees and the Many Turns Makes It A Physical Battle. Drivers Lose Up to Three Kilos of Moisture Duration the Race. Verstappen Has Previously Admitted that the heat here is “One of the biggest challenges” Every year.
The conditions also demand a lot from the cars. Cooling is essential, as is saving the tires. Something McLaren is normally the best at, but Verstappen and red bull are hopeful that they have also tasks a step in that area.
Based on the Past, the Chance of a Safety Car in Singapore is huge: Only in Last Year’s Edition Did the Safety Car Not Have To Be Deployed. Overtaking is USUALLY Scarce on the Marina Bay Street Circuit, So the Chance of A Tactical Race Seems High in Advance.
The Singapore Grand Prix Starts on Sunday at 14:00 (Dutch Time). Accordance to the fia, the chance of rain is about 20 percent.
