Singapore track to suit Mercedes
SINGAPORE: Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton can return Mercedes to the top of the podium on Monday with an unprecedented fifth win around the floodlit streets of Singapore.
Winner of 10 of the season’s 14 races so far, Mercedes suffered a double defeat in Belgium and Italy to Ferrari as the fast straights of SpaFrancorchamps and Monza gave the Italian team a rare edge.
However, the Marina Bay layout, winding through the heart of the glittering city state, has 23 corners, more than any other circuit, and should restore Mercedes’ status as the team to beat after wins at similar venues such as Monaco and Hungary.
‘‘For a long time, Singapore used to be one of our weakest tracks,’’ Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said. ‘‘We’ve made some inroads into that and performed well last year.
‘‘However, there are no home runs at a track like Singapore,’’ added the Austrian.
‘‘We take absolutely nothing for granted in our approach to the weekend.’’
Hamilton, who leads teammate Valtteri Bottas by 63 points with seven races left, is tied with Ferrari rival Sebastian Vettel for most Singapore wins.
The only drivers of the current crop to have triumphed in the citystate have each won four times.
Two of Hamilton’s wins have come in the past two years. Another victory on Monday will enable the fivetime champion to secure his third in a row and hand Mercedes its fourth successive Singapore success.
Ferrari, on a high after winning two races on the trot, could face a reality check.
Its hopes could rest on the weather or a safety car, which has made an appearance in every race Singapore has hosted since it joined the calendar in 2008.
Vettel involved in a multicar startline crash that cost him victory in 2017, will have to stay out of trouble.
The German fourtime champion was sanctioned after spinning out and rejoining the track in a dangerous manner in Italy and is now only three penalty points away from a onerace ban.
‘‘After two positive weekends in Belgium and Italy, the race in Singapore doesn’t look as good on paper for us,’’ Monegasque Charles Leclerc, winner in Belgium and Italy, said.
‘‘It might be a more difficult weekend for us, but we will give our all to have a good result.’’
Red Bull may be Mercedes’ closest challenger.
Singapore has tended to suit the team’s typically nimble chassis allowing the former champion to finish second for the past five years.
Max Verstappen, who battled Hamilton hard for victory in Hungary and was runnerup to the Briton last year, will be eyeing Monday as an opportunity to go one better.
His rookie teammate, Alexander Albon will also aim to impress in the closest race the Britishborn Thai has to a home appearance in Asia. — Reuters