IT’S RACE WEEK: 5 storylines we’re excited about ahead of the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix

After a thrilling race in Azerbaijan, we don’t have long to wait for our next installment of the drama that is the 2024 Formula 1 season, with Singapore closing this pair of races. With a new leader in the constructors’ championship, and after some eye-catching recent results, here are a few talking points heading into this weekend’s race at Marina Bay.

McLaren and Ferrari – round three?

The last two races have been characterised by thrilling battles between Ferrari and McLaren, with each taking one victory. In Monza it was an all-McLaren front row, but Charles Leclerc’s excellent one-stop strategy saw him able to keep Oscar Piastri at bay. In Baku the roles were reversed as Leclerc led from pole but Piastri brilliantly overtook him and held on to win.

As frustrated as he was to lose out in Azerbaijan, Leclerc focused on the positives that Ferrari are in good form and are backing up their expectations so far that they would be strong in Monza, Baku and Singapore. So that bodes well for the Scuderia this weekend…

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But McLaren have been competitive on every track since their major upgrade in Miami was introduced, maintaining that consistency as they’ve continued to develop the car, and they now lead the constructors’ championship.

Last year 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?

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - SEPTEMBER 15: Race winner Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren and Second — Piastri and Leclerc fought for victory in Azerbaijan, but will the McLaren vs Ferrari battle continue in Singapore?

Perez’s strong performance and Verstappen’s lead

While all of the recent history – both in terms of this season and last year’s Singapore race – point to 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.

Max Verstappen’s dominant start to the season feels a long time ago, but the championship leader keeps picking up solid points and only saw Norris close the gap by three points in Baku.

More encouragingly for Verstappen and Red Bull was Sergio Perez’s performance, as he looked much more comfortable on a track he has won twice at, and was in the fight for victory until the late collision with Sainz.

Perez’s showing coming when the Red Bull is not at its most competitive is a positive sign, and he’ll 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 struggle once again then we could see some big swings in terms of the championship points.

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - SEPTEMBER 15: Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Oracle Red Bull Racing — Perez looked to be in good form in Baku prior to his late-race collision with Sainz

Magnussen returns as Haas and Williams fight

Speaking of points, Ollie Bearman set a new record in Azerbaijan, becoming the first driver to score points for two different constructors in his first two starts in F1.

The super sub delivered again, but he will now step aside to allow Kevin Magnussen back into his car at Haas after the Dane’s one-race suspension for picking up 12 penalty points. It’s a competitive Haas he returns to as well, with Nico Hulkenberg looking set for points himself in Baku before some late race issues.

Magnussen 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 team mate 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.

Those ten points on Sunday saw Williams close the gap to Haas to 13 points in the constructors’ championship, and just opened up the possibility of being able to fight for sixth overall.

SPA, BELGIUM - JULY 27: 17th placed Kevin Magnussen of Denmark and Haas F1 walks in the Pitlane — Magnussen will return to action for Haas in Singapore after serving his race ban

RB’s poor form and driver uncertainty

Currently in sixth in the standings are RB, but they haven’t scored in the last three races and have seen Haas chip away at their advantage. Just five points separate the two teams now, and RB appear to be struggling for performance at this stage of the season.

Baku was particularly frustrating, with Yuki Tsunoda retiring for the second race in a row after early contact with Lance Stroll, while a one-stop strategy gamble didn’t pay off with Daniel Ricciardo as he ended up nearly a minute off the points.

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On top of the recent tough run of results, RB also have to deal with the uncertainty surrounding their driver line-up moving into 2025, with Ricciardo currently unconfirmed and Liam Lawson waiting in the wings for his full-time chance.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has suggested an announcement on Lawson’s future is likely in the coming weeks, but RB themselves will be looking nervously over their shoulders at the chasing pack if they can’t find a way to respond to the pace of Haas and Williams quickly.

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - SEPTEMBER 13: Daniel Ricciardo of Australia driving the (3) Visa Cash App RB — RB have faced a challenging run of late, while uncertainty remains over whether Ricciardo will drive for the team in 2025

A spectacular setting that’s a physical test for the drivers

The Singapore Grand Prix is an instantly-recognisable event given the amazing location of racing through the city streets at night. The skyscrapers towering over the circuit provide 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.

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The recent changes to the final sector have lowered lap times and brought that average speed up a little but, even so, last year’s race time was within 14 minutes of the maximum allowed under the regulations.

Keeping your concentration is particularly difficult during such a long race at high temperatures, and the slightest loss of focus can have big consequences, as George Russell found out when he crashed out of third place on the final lap last year.