Why Singapore Is F1’s ‘Toughest Challenge’ as Verstappen Goes for Clincher

• To win the championship on Sunday, Max Verstappen would need to extend his current 116-point advantage to a 138-buffer over his nearest rival, whether that be Charles Leclerc, Sergio Perez or George Russell.

• Marina Bay Circuit in Singapore has one of the slowest average laps of the season, with 61 laps required for a race distance, and it has hit the two-hour cut-off time more than once.

• Singapore will be on the F1 calendar through at least 2028 after a new contract was agreed during its COVID-19 hiatus.

Singapore is back on Formula 1’s calendar for the first time since 2019, with the 2020 and 2021 editions having been scrapped due to COVID-related entry restrictions.

The city state joined the schedule in 2008, as Formula 1’s first night race, and it will be on the calendar through at least 2028 after a new contract was agreed during its hiatus. It is often regarded as the toughest race of the season for teams and drivers for a multitude of reasons.

“The track is epic to drive,” said Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton on Thursday.

Remaining on European time and spending most of the traditional daylight hours in artificial light beneath the night sky presents its own challenges, while the tropical climate means it is relentlessly hot and sticky.

The bumpy street circuit features 23 turns—the second-highest number of turns drivers will face during the season—while there is little in the way of runoff. Marina Bay has one of the slowest average laps of the season, with 61 laps required for a race distance, and it has hit the two-hour cut-off time more than once. When drivers are training, this is the event they have in mind as one that will push them to the physical limit.

“It’s one of the toughest races because of the weather and also just because the track layout is how it is with corner, after corner, after corner without any rest,” said Haas driver Kevin Magnussen. “On most tracks, you get a couple of straights around the lap where you can get a breather but in Singapore, even on the so-called straight, it’s still kind of turning. It’s also very bumpy so you can’t really relax.”

It is set to be a particular challenge for Williams’ Alexander Albon, who is due to attempt a return on Friday. He missed the last race in Italy after suffering from appendicitis, which was followed by a brief stint in ICU after enduring respiratory failure following surgery. Nyck de Vries is again on standby in the event that Albon cannot complete the weekend.