Singapore Grand Prix: Checo to win again; Verstappen for his first victory
The Singapore Grand Prix is one of the tracks where Checo Pérez has performed exceptionally well, and he aspires to reach the top of the podium once again.
On the other hand, Max Verstappen is experiencing the peak of his Formula 1 career, holding the record for consecutive wins, but he has never managed to win the Singapore Grand Prix.
For Verstappen, the Singapore GP will be his significant challenge this season.
Sergio “Checo” Pérez won the Singapore Grand Prix last year and has a great chance of standing atop the podium once more, provided Verstappen doesn’t dominate this circuit as he has throughout his career.
After 9 seasons in Formula 1, Verstappen clinched his first win of the season in Australia.
Whether due to bad luck or team issues, in his six appearances at Marina Bay, Verstappen has only made it to the podium twice (2018 and 2019).
Verstappen’s first podium at the Singapore Grand Prix came in 2018, but not without its ups and downs. He missed Pole position due to a software issue in the internal combustion engine of his power unit, starting from P2.
He lost this position to Sebastian Vettel just before the Safety Car came out following Esteban Ocon’s crash at Turn 2 but regained it after a pit stop on lap 18.
In 2019, Verstappen qualified in P4 behind Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton, and Charles Leclerc on pole position.
In 2022, in one of the rare cases where Red Bull faltered, during the final minute of the qualifying session, Verstappen was on track to secure pole position after two sectors.
However, he received an unexpected team call to abort the lap because the RB18’s fuel wouldn’t be sufficient for the FIA post-qualifying test, resulting in a penalty that sent him to the back of the grid.
The Dutchman started from P8 while Charles Leclerc secured pole position.
Verstappen lost several positions at the start and ended up in P12 at the end of the first lap but gradually climbed his way up to P9 by lap 7, and his progress continued until the Safety Car came out following a collision between Nicolas Latifi and Zhou Guanyu.
Singapore Grand Prix: Checo Pérez’s 250th Race in Formula 1
On the other hand, Checo Pérez believes that being at the front of the podium is necessary in the Singapore Grand Prix.
“It’s going to be a weekend where anything can happen, and I hope to have a very strong Saturday because if you don’t start at the front, it’s very unlikely you’ll have a chance to win. I hope to repeat what I did last year,” said the Mexican.
The Marina Bay circuit is a street circuit where Checo Pérez often delivers his best performances, making it a viable option for victory.
It’s worth noting that Sergio Pérez will be celebrating his 250th race in Formula 1 at the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix, putting him just two races behind Jarno Trulli, who occupies the tenth position for the most races in the history of the category.
At the top of the list is Fernando Alonso with 370 races, 46 more than Lewis Hamilton.
Also read: Monza Grand Prix: Verstappen with a tenth consecutive victory and Pérez on the podium.
