Time On Track: Episode 16 – Singapore

Racing returns this week with the first of a double header featuring Singapore and Japan, and the Marina Bay Street Circuit offered what is to this point, the best race of the season. For the first time this season, and the first time more than 15 races, a team other than Red Bull claimed victory, and without the dominant Verstappen in the lead, the door was opened to the most competitive racing out front we’ve seen all season long. There was effectively a 4 way battle for the top spot that ran right to the end of the race, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz taking the checkered flag just ahead of Lando Norris, and Lewis Hamilton.

Singapore’s relatively bumpy street circuit meant Red Bull wasn’t able to run their suspension in it’s usual, very low, sweet spot. This threw the car’s aerodynamics off just enough to bring the car back to earth a bit, with high mid field pace that saw Verstappen finish in P5, and Perez in P8. Ferrari took advantage this week, qualifying in pole position, and a good enough race strategy to maintain the lead through the race. Both Mercedes cars the McLaren of Lando Norris made thing interesting out front, however, with a brilliant strategy call by Mercedes late in the race nearly handing them the victory.

We’ll return next week with a look at the race in Japan around the iconic Suzuka Circuit, which we expect a full return to form by the Red Bull cars, but this is a sport where nothing can be taken for granted, so here’s hoping we’ll get some more competitive racing.