ROUND
RACE PREVIEW / 2022 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX, 30 SEPT-02 OCT
Following a final triple-header of races in Europe, Formula 1 this weekend embarks on a six-race closing sequence of ‘flyaway’ races, starting with a first visit to the Marina Bay Street Circuit since 2019 for Round 17 of the FIA Formula One World Championship, the Singapore Grand Prix. Marina Bay represents one of the toughest challenges of the season. The 23-corner circuit features extreme temperatures, unforgiving walls and a bumpy circuit that stresses both car and driver to the limit over a race that regularly lasts the full two hours. Coming to Singapore, Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen is 116 points clear of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and could win the title at Marina Bay on Sunday. There are many permutations, but essentially Verstappen has to win the race and outscore Leclerc by 22 points. He also has to outscore team-mate Sergio Pérez by 13 point and Mercedes’ George Russell by six to end their slim title hopes. In the Constructors’ battle Red Bull Racing also have a commanding lead. Going into this weekend they have 545 points, 139 ahead of Ferrari who have 406. Mercedes are third on 371 points.
17
MARINA BAY STREET CIRCUIT Length of lap: 5.063km Lap record: 1:41.905 (Kevin Magnussen, Haas, 2018) Start line/finish line offset: 0.137km Total number of race laps: 61 Total race distance: 308.706km Pitlane speed limits: 60km/h in practice, qualifying,and the race
DRS ZONES DRS 1
Detection – Exit of Turn 4 Activation – 48m after Turn 5
DRS 2
Detection – 102m before Turn 13 Activation – 78m after Turn 13
DRS 3 Detection – 180m before apex Turn 22 Activation – 43m after apex Turn 23
CIRCUIT CHANGES » The circuit has been resurfaced in a number of areas, most significantly full-width sections the length of the pit straight to shortly after T1, from T5 to just before the braking point for T7, from T12 to T13, from the braking point for T14 to just after the corner, and from before T15 through to T19.