The Singapore Grand Prix has delivered some thrilling Formula 1 races in recent years and last year’s event was no exception.
Sergio Perez fought off Charles Leclerc to take victory, capitalising on teammate Max Verstappen’s lowly grid position.
Looking a little further back in history, 2017’s rain-soaked start saw Sebastian Vettel swerve off the line, colliding with Kimi Raikkonen and Verstappen, to end the race for all three drivers.
The Asian stop has also seen its fair share of controversy too.
2008 saw Renault instruct Nelson Piquet JR to crash, ultimately allowing teammate Fernando Alonso to pit under the resulting safety car and set himself up for victory.
Jumping back to the present, during a season where Red Bull look to sweep the board, the streets of Singapore present an opportunity for the chasers to break the team’s dominance.
But who could make a statement in Sunday’s Grand Prix?
Hungry Hamilton
Four-time winner in Singapore, Lewis Hamilton, returns eager for another victory to back up his season form.
The seven-time champion has fond memories of Marina Bay and 2018 saw the Briton deliver one of his most complete pole laps in a struggling Mercedes that weekend.
Hamilton, one race win from equalling the record for Singapore victories, will be keen to play on the strengths of his Mercedes.
Related: Mercedes’ Hamilton Keen to Continue Season Momentum
High downforce circuits have seen the team’s most competitive performances this season.
Hamilton claimed pole in Budapest and was P2 in Barcelona – a double podium for the Silver Arrows.
At a circuit he thrives on, the Stevenage driver will hope to break his on-going and rather thorny drought.
Leclerc lurks
Charles Leclerc was at the centre of much of the entertainment last time out at Monza.
His battles with Perez and teammate Carlos Sainz had the Tifosi on the edge of their seats at the Temple of Speed.
Leclerc will have been disappointed at being unable to challenge the pace of Verstappen, restricted to fight for the lower steps on the podium.
However, the Monegasque driver will have been encouraged that his Ferrari was the second quickest car.
Singapore’s twisty street circuit presents an alternative challenge to Italy and Leclerc has performed strongly on similar high downforce layouts this season.
Baku saw him convert pole into a podium finish, with a similarly strong result in Canada.
The Ferrari driver will hope to replicate his pace from 2022 here, when he pushed Perez closely throughout to finish as eventual runner-up.
Notwithstanding, Leclerc will be wary of better performing teams around him.
Alonso hopes
Marina Bay presents Fernando Alonso with another opportunity to win in 2023.
At the Monaco GP, the Spaniard had a chance to leapfrog Verstappen to take the lead had his team opted to pit a lap earlier.
Despite missing out on the win, it was Aston Martin’s most competitive showing of the season.
The similarity between the two circuits will offer encouragement to Alonso, who is winless since 2013.
With second place at Zandvoort recently, there is every chance both the team and Alonso can compete at the front end of the grid this weekend.
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