While the battle for the Formula 1 World Championship title in 2021 has stretched to the last race on the calendar and kept motor racing fans on their toes, there is every indication that the scenario will be very different in 2022. .
In fact, the suspense could end on Sunday if Dutchman Max Verstappen, driving his Red Bull, wins the Singapore Grand Prix and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) collapses.
In the drivers’ standings, Verstappen holds a 116-point lead over Leclerc, and he will be crowned champion on Sunday if he amasses 22 points more than the Monegasque, who wants to be his most likely contender.
Verstappen, who celebrated his 25th birthday on Friday, must first win the race to secure the second title of his career. Other scenarios must however be realized, including two involving Leclerc.
So if Verstappen wins the race, Leclerc won’t have to finish higher than ninth for the Dutchman to be crowned champion again. If Verstappen wins and gets a bonus point for fastest lap, Leclerc will have to do no better than eighth.
Verstappen himself feels his chances of winning the championship this weekend are slim.
“I’ll need a lot of luck for it to happen here, so I’m not counting on it too much,” he said.
In fact, it is more realistic to believe that Verstappen will confirm this second career title on October 9, at the Japanese Grand Prix.
“I think Suzuka will be my first real chance to win the title,” observed the Dutchman.
“Right now I’m looking forward to the race in Singapore, but I’m also very excited for next week. »
Unhappy for the fans
So there won’t be any tension in the air around the Marina Bay street circuit on Sunday night, unlike in Abu Dhabi last year when Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton lost the title to Verstappen in the last round of the final event of the season.
Hamilton squandered a golden opportunity to collect an eighth career title, which would have been a record in F1 history, in a controversial end to the race following a late and chaotic restart.
Hamilton, who has 103 career wins but none in 2022, laments that fans are deprived of such drama this season.
“I sympathize with the fans. […] Last year the end of the season was intense for everyone and it’s never great when the season ends early,” said Hamilton.
“For the one who wins, it’s great but for the sport as such, it’s not spectacular. Let’s hope for the future that it will be a little better. »
Mexican Sergio Perez (125 points behind), Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull, Mercedes driver George Russell (down 132 points) and Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz Jr. (148) are only in the race mathematically.
However, it is unlikely that Red Bull will give Perez the chance to beat Verstappen, probably preferring to put in place a strategy for him to protect the Dutchman.
Verstappen has won 11 of 16 races so far, including the last five, to bring his career total to 31.
“It’s been a really special season, and I really appreciate it,” he said. “But I’ll probably savor it more after the season, looking back. »
Verstappen also scored victories by starting races from seven different places on the starting grids – a record for an F1 season – including from 14th position at the Belgian Grand Prix last month.
Free practice
The first two free practice sessions for the Singapore Grand Prix took place on Friday, and Hamilton dominated the first, ahead of Verstappen and Leclerc.
Sainz fils set the fastest time in the second session, ahead of Leclerc and Russell. Verstappen placed fourth but spent less time on the track.
Quebecer Lance Stroll finished eighth in the first session and 10th in the second, after completing 12 and 21 laps respectively.
“Driving in Singapore is always fun, but it’s also really demanding in the hot weather,” Stroll said in a statement from Aston Martin.
“I hit the wall in the first session but luckily we didn’t damage the car too much. We did a lot of work, especially in the second session, and I think it will be a race of opportunities. We will analyze the data tonight and see where we can make progress before qualifying tomorrow. »
Shortly after the start of the first session, Leclerc returned to the garage, where his mechanics worked on his Ferrari’s brakes for 20 minutes.
Moreover, towards the end of the second session, Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) rushed out of his car, into the pits, while flames were coming out of the back of his car. His team members quickly took control of the situation.