Road-Racing is getting sparse as series end their seasons, but F1 will still provide some action this weekend with the 2012 Formula One Singtel Singapore Grand Prix Sunday morning.
The Singapore street circuit is long and twisty with 23 turns in its 3.5-mile length setup. Besides the course giving drivers a lot of work, the hot and steamy climate is always challenging. Even though the race is held at night the heat tests both driver and car.
Singapore is totally different from the last two circuits; it is a high-downforce layout with slow corners but a couple of long straightaways. Teams will need to completely change their setups, and maybe cars which did well at Spa and Monza will find they are not on top at Singapore.
McLaren is on a roll, having won the last three Grands Prix, but Ferrari is bringing a major update package for its F2012. Red Bull has traditionally had lots of downforce, but the RB8, without a blown diffuser, hasn’t been as strong. Still Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber are great car-handlers, and Webber, with a pair of Monaco wins, is certainly comfortable on street circuits. Sauber, known for being easy on the tires, might make a good showing here.
With seven races left in the season, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso remains top of the heap with 179 points, trailed by McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton with 142. Kimi Raikkönen of Lotus is third by only a point at 141; Red Bull’s Vettel and Webber are next in line, Vettel with 140 and Webber with 132.
Several more drivers could mathematically win the championship, but realistically the 2012 champion will most likely come from these five.
Hamilton said the track reminded him of the Hungaroring—where he won—so he felt good about his chances.
