The Formula One teams and their entourage are travelling to Asia this weekend (September 20th-22nd) for the celebration of the 2019 F1 Singapore GP, the fifteenth scale on the season’s calendar. The Marina Bay Urban Circuit will host a night-time race of the season as it has been doing since 2008.

The suffocating humidity (90%) and heat, as well as the extremely demanding layout (23 bends), make of Singapore the toughest race of the season.

For almost two hours, the drivers’ physical and psychological endurance will be pushed to the very limit as they withstand temperatures of up to 50º Celsius within their cars. During the race alone, competitors lose on average 2 to 3 kilos in weight. 

After Ferrari’s two consecutive victories in Belgium and Italy, Mercedes is again this weekend’s favourite. The Marina Bay Circuit is particularly suited to the W10 and the German team has had four victories in Singapore over the last five years, three of them in a row.

In order to win, however, the Silver Arrows will have to first get rid of Red Bull. The blue cars have always occupied a podium position at the city-state since 2014.

For La Scuderia, however, this is very hostile territory. The SF90s is expected to choke with all those slow corners. The only thing that the Italians can aspire to is to control the damage as best as possible.

As for those in the middle area of the grid, McLaren will do what it takes to keep their fourth position at the constructors’ standings. The issues with the MCL34, which had Carlos Sainz abandoning the race in Spa and Monza, have allowed for Renault to creep up behind. 

Together with Renault, a considerably improved Racing Point, as well as Alfa Romeo and Toro Rosso, will be fighting for the points at the 2019 F1 Singapore GP.

Mercedes after their eleventh triumph

The leaders of both the driver and constructor’s standings arrive at the 2019 F1 Singapore GP with every intention of winning again. For a team that has accrued ten victories so far in 2019, not winning for two consecutive races is already unacceptable. The greatest ally of the Silver Arrows is none other than the urban track itself, which layout is perfect for their aerodynamic configuration.

At a personal level, Lewis Hamilton couldn’t be more comfortable at a track that always rewards the fastest and bravest. Together with Sebastian Vettel, he is one of the drivers who has had the most wins on this track with a total of four (2009, 2014, 2017 and 2018).

Ferrari: In hostile territory

La Scuderia is expected to suffer at the 2019 F1 Singapore GP, despite its two recent victories. The Red Missile does not tend to do well at sinuous circuits like this one, where power is not everything. The slow curves are dreadful for its low drag and expose the greatest weaknesses of the Maranello’s car.

As far as Ferrari’s drivers are concerned, all eyes will be on Sébastien Vettel. After his last mistake, the German five-time champion’s leadership within the team is being questioned. 

His teammate Charles Leclerc has become the new idol of the Tifosi after his two latest triumphs. That, coupled with his string of mistakes, have put the German driver in a very difficult position. 

In any case, the champion from Heppenheim is, together with Hamilton, one of the drivers with the most victories (2011-2013, 2015) at the Asian circuit. Vettel is also dangerously close to being sanctioned with missing a race altogether. After his fresh new penalty in Monza he only has three points left in his Superlicense. 

Red Bull: A threat to Mercedes

The cars from Milton Keynes have always taken the second position in the last five years (2014-2018) of the hybrid era at Marina Bay. The Red Bull chassis is perfect for a circuit such as this, which calls for greater aerodynamic efficiency and a driver with a steady pulse.  

Max Verstappen could, therefore, get in the way of Mercedes’ ambitions. Not surprisingly, he was the first to put a stop to Mercedes ‘eight-in-a-row victorious streak this season. His teammate Alex Albon, for whom this is his first 2019 F1 Singapore GP, could also play a leading role.

The midfield: McLaren to fend Renault off

Despite the resolution from its two drivers, McLaren has only managed one point (10th place of Lando Norris in Monza) in the last two European events. Team leader Carlos Sainz, has complained firmly about his issues with the MCL34.

In any case, the Spaniard arrives at the 2019 F1 Singapore GP Singapore with optimism. This is one of his favourite races and the circuit where he has achieved his best-ever Formula One result back in 2017, when he finished fourth with Toro Rosso.

Meanwhile, their French rivals for the fourth place at the constructors’ standings, sealed in Italy their best individual and team result of the year with Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.

Images of ‘2019 F1 Singapore GP’: F1.com