Welcome to the Singapore Grand Prix
Piastri ready to ‘help’ Norris
Oscar Piastri says McLaren is ready to use him to help Lando Norris’ championship bid if the circumstances arise at the Singapore Grand Prix. Going into last weekend’s race in Baku the team said they would “bias” their approach towards Norris, as the driver closest to championship leader Verstappen.
However a poor qualifying for Norris threw that out the window as the Englishman was knocked out in Q1 after he was caught out by a yellow flag, but in the race managed to finish ahead of the Dutchman despite starting nine places behind. The Australian said his win in Baku last weekend has “not really changed anything” in McLaren’s approach.
Piastri said “Lando is still ahead in the championship and just being honest has a more realistic chance of winning the championship. If I am in a position to still win races, that’s what I want to do. But naturally if there are times I can help out for Lando’s championship bid, then I’ll be happy to help if I can.”
Ahead of this weekend, the gap between Verstappen and Norris is fifty-nine points with six race weekends remaining. Team principal Andrea Stella had said McLaren’s approach would be “reviewed” after Baku.
Piastri, speaking in Singapore before this weekend’s grand prix, pointed to Norris’ assistance on his way to victory in Baku as an example of how McLaren want to go racing. Norris backed up Red Bull’s Sergio Perez on the lap before Piastri made his pit stop to ensure his team-mate rejoined the track still ahead of the Mexican.
Piastri then overtook Charles Leclerc for the lead three laps later and held off the Ferrari driver for the rest of the race to win. Piastri said: “Lando was definitely a factor in the race. He helped with some ‘tyre saving’ with Checo.”
But he said it was impossible to discuss how things might develop between the McLaren drivers in Singapore. Piastri said: “Until you arrive in a specific situation it’s difficult to discuss apart from demonstrating it on track.”
Ferrari ‘caught out’ by flexi wing in Baku
Charles Leclerc says that Ferrari was caught out by McLaren’s top speed in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, as he described the flexible rear wing a “controversial” design. On Sunday in Baku, he was locked in a race-long battle with Oscar Piastri for victory in Baku last weekend, but his hopes of a triumph were dashed just a few laps from home when his rear tyres faded.
Having reflected on the factors that cost him the win, he admits that one of the most important was the fact that, after losing the lead to Piastri, he and Ferrari never anticipated the McLaren’s top speed to be as high as it was – especially when DRS was not open. This would explain why Leclerc didn’t defend aggressively on lap twenty.
The Monacan explained, “I mean it was a good move. However, as I said when I saw him going on the inside, I knew he was there. I knew it was an opportunity for him to get past, but I was not more worried than that.”
“I knew that he could take the lead, but I also knew that I was at the beginning of the warm-up of the tyres, and I didn’t want to push on them, so I didn’t want to start going stupid in terms of how defensive I would get. However, I was wrong because obviously, his straight-line speed was really, really strong and after that I never had the opportunity to pass again.”
Leclerc thinks he could have defended better but he didn’t know how quick they were on the straights. Their as we said has been intruge over McLaren’s rear wing appeared to flex back on the straights and open up the slot gap to help reduce drag. It quickly earned the tag of acting like a ‘mini DRS’.
He said the team had discussed the matter internally, although he did not wish to get too drawn into the matter.
When asked for his thoughts on the wing. he said “Yes, [there is] definitely a dialogue that we’ve already had. I mean, I think Fred will go on that matter a bit more into detail, but from what I’ve been told, it’s controversial to say the least. So, yeah. I’ll leave that here and I’ll let Fred comment on it a bit further.”
Drivers on swearing being broadcast
Lewis Hamilton has criticised FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem for suggesting that drivers sound like “rappers” when using swear words over team radio. Ben Sulayem said ahead of this weekend’s race he was trying to make changes so FOM/Liberty, who produce the broadcast, reduce the amount of bad language
The FIA President told Autosport: “I mean, we have to differentiate between our sport – motorsport – and rap music. We’re not rappers, you know. They say the F-word how many times per minute? We are not on that. That’s them and we are [us].”
Hamilton said he understood Ben Sulayem’s concerns over excessive swearing but there was a “racial element” to the FIA president’s reference to rap music. Saying “With what he said, I don’t like how he expressed it. Saying rappers is very stereotypical as most rappers are black.”
“It really kind of points towards ‘we are not like them’, so I think those were the wrong choice of words and there’s a racial element there. I agree things need clearing up a bit but it is also good to have some emotion as we are not robots.”
Sky Sports has approached the FIA for comment on Hamilton’s remarks.
Team radio is a key part of coverage as it gives not just viewers but rivals insight through being able to hear the team and driver discussing strategies, plus immediate reaction to incidents and race situations.
Hamilton, who rarely uses expletives over team radio, says he considers the children watching races when choosing his language. The seven-time world champion said, “On one side, when I was 22, I didn’t think of it as much. It was more your emotions just firing and you just saying whatever comes to mind, forgetting how many people are listening in, the kids that are listening, all those different things.”
But accepts not all drivers haven’t got it yet and at some stage, they probably will.
However Max Verstappen dismissed Ben Sulayem’s suggestion that drivers should swear less, insisting the onus is on the FIA to not broadcast foul language. Verstappen has been criticised, as recently as the Hungarian Grand Prix in July, for his conduct over team radio, where he often uses expletives.
He said, “I think you will swear anyway. If it’s not in this room maybe somewhere else. Everyone swears, some people a bit more than others. It also depends a bit what language you speak. Of course, abuse is something else. I think a lot of things get broadcast nowadays where in other sports you don’t run around with a mic attached to you.”
Shortly before being asked about Ben Sulayem’s comments, Verstappen had sworn during Thursday’s official press conference in Singapore when describing his struggles at last weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Charles Leclerc, Sergio Perez and Lando Norris, is that swearing should not be banned.
Norris says F1 has the option to not broadcast bad language and thinks swearing can emphasise a message on the radio. Adding “They can just not play the radios. We are the guys in the heat of the moment, under stress, under pressure, having big crashes. It’s just a lot easier for them to say than for us to do because we’re out there putting our hearts on the line on trying to race people and we’re giving it our all. Our heart rates are so high.”
Red Bull abandon fan livery
Red Bull has abandoned their plan to run a fan-inspired livery at this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix because of concerns about the extra weight it would add to their car. The reigning Constructors’ Champions had invited fans to design bespoke liveries to be used in select races this year, the first of which was showcased at the British Grand Prix in July.
However, Red Bull have now ditched plans to run the custom livery planned Singapore after it was found that it would add 1kg to the team’s RB20 car during the concept phase of creating it. While it only cost three-hundredths of a second in terms of performance, the team has opted not to risk running it around Marina Bay.
Red Bull has seen their performance advantage disappear over the summer, since Max Verstappen’s seventh win of the season in Barcelona in June the team has seen its performance advantage disappear and they have failed to win a race and in Baku were overtaken by McLaren in the constructors.
Added to that is the fact last year’s Singapore Grand Prix proved to be Red Bull’s worst of the year, where Verstappen and team-mate Sergio Perez could only manage to finish fifth and eighth respectively after both failed to make it through to Q3.
However, sister team RB will, however, be running a special livery in Singapore after unveiling a denim-inspired look that has been designed by their apparel partner HUGO, featuring zips along the sidepod and a denim look across the front of the VCARB 01.
Mercedes will also be displaying a new look for the race to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of title sponsor Petronas, with the company’s emerald colour replacing the team’s traditional silver on the nose and side pods.
Ricciardo uncertain of seat in Austin
Daniel Ricciardo has admitted he is uncertain as to whether he will keep his RB seat for the remainder of the season following this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix. There has been growing speculation over the last few months that the Australian could be replaced by Liam Lawson at various points, before his contract ends at the end of the year.
On Thursday Ricciardo said he expects a decision following Sunday’s race in Singapore over whether his contract will be extended, but has had no indication that he could be axed immediately.
He told Sky Sport, “I know how it is and how it works, and I knew there was always going to be some dates and deadlines this year, whether it was summer break or now post-Singapore, so post-Singapore is the next one.”
“Honestly, it’s still, so many things are up in the air. Let’s see how the weekend goes. Obviously, I’m going to give it all I can, as I have. There’s always something to fight for. We’ll see what happens. Try to get the thing on the podium, that’s my plan.” Ricciardo’s future has been under question for several races.
Ricciardo was brought back into a race seat to replace the struggling Nyck de Vries midway through 2023, but the experienced driver has struggled to match teammate Yuki Tsunoda and find his best form consistently and is fourteenth in this season’s driver standings.
Asked in a written briefing on Thursday whether Sunday’s race could be his last for the team, in light of the terms of his contract, Ricciardo replied: “I don’t think so. But I also don’t want to start here and be the lawyer. I would say no, but also we know how the sport works. So, I don’t want to say ‘100 per cent I will bet all my house on it’. I’ve been around for too long.
Magnussen hits out at Baku ban
Kevin Magnussen says the FIA’s current penalty points system is “punishing ridiculous things” in F1, which led to his ban and means “it’s not the sport I love” anymore. The Haas driver was banned from last weekend’s race in Baku after he was given three points for an incident at Monza which pushed him over the twelve-point limit.
Magnussen had been on the verge of a ban ever since he accumulated points across six races in 2024, but his final pre-suspension incident caused controversy due to its mild nature of an overtake going slightly wrong, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly (who Magnussen hit) sticking up for him and because the Dane became the first driver to ever be banned under the current system.
In Baku, several of his F1 colleagues argued for the system to therefore be altered, which was relayed to Magnussen as he faced the media in Singapore on Thursday. he replied “I haven’t seen what’s been said but it’s nice if that’s the case. My own opinion is that it’s not a great situation for F1 to restrict racing in that way. It feels bad when the sport you love so much changes in a way you don’t appreciate.”
“I’m certainly one that… I like hard racing and I think that’s a big part of the beauty of motorsport – the battles and [being] on the limit and slightly over. That balance is what makes or breaks your race and at the moment it feels like they’re punishing ridiculous things.” Magnussen called for tougher self-policing by both drivers and circuit design, suggesting a system similar to IndyCar.
In IndyCar he explained they are punished by the tracks and going wide the driver gets punished by going off track because of damage, but Magnussen admitted that the circuits are different. Adding “I got all my penalty points pretty much for track limits at the end of the day. I think that’s kind of stupid to be a few centimetres out of a wide line and end up with a race ban because of that. It’s not the sport I love.”
Now he is returning to racing on zero penalty points, Magnussen joked about how he has been “punished and then you come back and you’re like, ‘oh, ready to f**k shit up now!'”
Talking Points Singapore
Round seventeen sees the sport return to the Far East and Singapore 3.062-mile Marina Bay Street Circuit. The sports ‘original’ night races is one of the most challenging given drivers face threading their cars around the barrier-lined street circuits in the hot and humid conditions, once one of the longest races track changes have seen it reduce from nearly two hours to around the normal ninety to a hundred minutes.
While not as high speed as the last two races, they play a factor given they have been defined by the fight between Ferrari and McLaren while Red Bull has appeared to be on the backfoot. McLaren has been competitive at every circuit since the upgrade they introduced in Miami and have apart from Norris’ Q1 knockout last weekend, finished fourth in Baku.
Last year’s race was the only one Red Bull didn’t win as Carlos Sainz took a hugely impressive tactical victory in Singapore when he held off Norris and the two Mercedes drivers, so could there be another Ferrari v McLaren fight this time around?
Last years race and recent performances suggest McLaren and Ferrari being the teams to beat, Red Bull will be hoping those examples are not a precursor to the form guide this weekend. 2023 was so nearly a clean sweep of race victories for Red Bull, but they came unstuck in Singapore where they couldn’t get the car to perform on the street circuit and were unable to challenge for the podium. It was the only race they didn’t win, but this year they arrive in a very different position.
The dominance all but gone with the team not winning a race since Barcelona in June, while McLaren has been proving really consistent and while Verstappen continues to pick up points the team are under threat in the constructors as Sergio Perez has been inconsistent with his results. But the Mexican was more comfortable in Baku.
He will need to replicate that in Singapore to try and help keep McLaren in range in the constructors’ championship. He can also play a role in helping defend Verstappen’s lead, too, but if Red Bull struggles once again then we could see some big swings in terms of the championship points.
Kevin Magnussen returns from his one-race ban, he has scored points on three occasions in Singapore and set the fastest lap on two other visits as well, but to improve on that return he will have to fight with an increasingly competitive Williams. Alex Albon and rookie teammate Franco Colapinto were seventh and eighth respectively in Azerbaijan, backing up the two points Albon scored in Monza as an upgraded car has now been quick on three straight tracks since Zandvoort.
Marina Bay is one of the eye conic circuits under the lights with the skyscrapers towering over the circuit providing a stunning backdrop, but down on the track itself it’s one of the most challenging events for the drivers. That challenge comes from the humidity that means they can lose a lot of fluid during the race, and the lower average speed of a street circuit with a number of slow-speed corners, coupled with a high likelihood of a Safety Car, has often pushed the race towards the two-hour time limit.
FIA add fourth DRS Zone
The FIA has decided to add a fourth DRS zone to the Marina Bay circuit for this weekends Singapore Grand Prix. The decision comes after the drivers failed to lobby the governing body for the change as their was “no consensus” between the teams, drivers and the FIA.
A statement provided to Motorsport.com ahead of the event last year read: “It is something that was considered following the change in layout for this year, and the FIA contacted all of the teams several weeks ago to ask for their feedback and input. There was, however, no clear consensus from those teams that responded and, following our safety simulations, it was decided that we wouldn’t take the matter any further.”
But that has changed for this weekend’s event, with a fourth zone added to the configuration. Between Connaught (Turns Fourteen) and Sixteen, a straight – with the Turn Fifteen kink – replaced the former ‘grandstand’ section of the circuit, owing to construction work. This will now be the home of the fourth DRS zone.
It was at this section of the track that a bump, specifically at the apex of the kink, had prompted safety concerns last year which also played against the introduction of the extra zone. Speaking last year, Alpine’s Esteban Ocon explained: “The FIA is concerned about safety in that little left kink. I reckon personally, and the other drivers too, that it’s not going to be an issue.
“We are pushing at the moment to be able to try it at least in FP1, see how it feels and if it’s OK, potentially keep it. There’s no reason why we would not be able to keep it. In the simulator, there was a big bump on that left kink, which could be the cause of not having it. But I don’t think it is there in real life.”
S6 | FIA says McLaren wing legal
The FIA has ruled that McLaren’s rear wing complies with the rules after rivals Red Bull raised questions about its legality. Television footage from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last weekend appeared to show a part of McLaren’s rear wing flexing upwards on the straight.
The footage appeared to show the rear wing flexing at the front corners of the flap as speed increases on the straight. The flap is the upper part of the wing that flips upwards when the DRS overtaking aid is deployed. Red Bull asked if this breached the regulation which states, aerodynamic components must be “must be rigidly secured and immobile”.
The McLaren’s rear wing appears to flex at the front corners of the flap as speed increases on the straight. The flap is the upper part of the wing that flips upwards when the DRS overtaking aid is deployed.
This creates a larger gap between the main plane and the flap, which may reduce drag and increase straight-line speed. The wing then returns to its normal position for the corners, increasing downforce and grip.
Today following a review of data and evidence in the last few days, the governing body said: “The FIA is closely monitoring the flexibility of bodywork on all cars and reserves the right to request teams to make modifications at any point during the season. However, if a team successfully passes all deflection tests and adheres to the regulations and technical directives, they are deemed to be in full compliance, and no further action will be taken.”
“The FIA is currently reviewing data and any additional evidence that has emerged from the Baku GP and is considering any mitigating measures for future implementation. This is part of the standard process when scrutineering technical legality.”
McLaren has always insisted that their car was legal and complies with deflection tests as well as the regulations. A Red Bull spokesperson declined to comment.
The Weekend Ahead
Singapore is always an exciting and can be chaotic given we are at a street circuit and its hot and humid this can lead to drama and lots of variables like last weekend in Baku. I think McLaren look to be the strongest given their strength not only in Baku but across recent races, straight line speed is important but not as critical as in Monza and Baku, this could be interesting.
The climate in Singapore is hot and humid which requires drivers to focus and the humid conditions, coupled with the corners places high physical stress causing them to lose as much as 3kg in body weight over the course of a race. Every race has been over a hundred minutes long and has featured at least one safety car, and is a race of attrition.
Lando Norris was a good example of the thing teams need to get right in qualifying as track evolution is rapid on a street circuit and we have the cooling track temperate throughout qualifying as we move further into the evening. Norris, however, demonstrated that he will do his best to fight back and he did limit the damage. We know he was caught out as well by yellow and red flags in Q1 but still finished ahead of Max Verstappen.
Red Bull are in a difficult position in recent weeks we have had plenty of speculation why they have been caught and beaten, we know they haven’t won since Barcelona in June its been a remarkable turnaround in fortunes as we saw them lose the lead of the constructors I think this could be a sizeable moment in this championship, the shift after Baku which we have been seeing in this season.
Mercedes and Ferrari are going to have an important role in these final six races as they can challenge when the top two aren’t as strong. Ferrari, I feel has a better car but there are still the odd slip-up, but they have solved their biggest issues with strategy and tyre wear.