"I don't look at it as a dry spell"- Lewis Hamilton dismisses recent struggles
Max Verstappen could claim his second world title this weekend as Formula One returns to the Marina Bay street circuit for the first time since 2019 for the Singapore Grand Prix.
Following his fifth win in succession at Monza two weeks ago, Verstappen’s championship lead stands at 116 points with only 164 available, meaning he will take the crown if he outscores Charles Leclerc by 22 points, Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez by 13 points, and Mercedes’ George Russell by six points.
Verstappen has won the last five races, stretching back to France in mid-July, and with 11 Grand Prix victories this season has the opportunity to break Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher’s joint-record of 13 wins in a single season.
Due to Covid, Singapore was missing from the calendar in 2020 and 2021 but returns this year. Vettel won in 2019 for Ferrari, the last time the soon-to-be retired German triumphed in F1. Lewis Hamilton, looking for his first win of the season, is a four-time winner in Singapore.
Follow all the action live with The Independent - first practice is at 11am (BST).
F1 practice LIVE - Lewis Hamilton goes fastest in first practice at the Singapore Grand Prix!
Wow! Out of nowhere, Lewis Hamilton records the fastest lap of the session late on - just 0.084 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen in second!
Hamilton, a four-time winner in Singapore, was yet to top a session this year but has now broken that duck!
Charles Leclerc comes home third, four-tenths from Hamilton, with Sergio Perez fourth and George Russell fifth.
6-10: Sainz, Ocon, Stroll, Gasly, Alonso
Lando Norris, incidentally, all the way down in 19th! He was complaining of bouncing in his McLaren...
(AFP via Getty Images)
F1 LIVE - Singapore Grand Prix: Session resumed!
The session continues with cars back out on track after Stroll’s car is cleared from the circuit.
Less than 15 minutes to go in FP1 - current top-five: Verstappen, Perez, Ocon, Stroll, Alonso
Hamilton and Russell running 17th (!) and 10th respectively so far...
F1 LIVE - Singapore Grand Prix: Red flag!
The session is stopped in Singapore after Lance Stroll crashes into the wall at turn five!
He keeps his Aston Martin going - but is told to stop the car further down the road by his engineer! And on a track with barely any run-off area, the session is red-flagged with 20 minutes left at Marina Bay!
(AFP via Getty Images)
F1 LIVE - Singapore Grand Prix: 30 minutes gone in FP1!
Max Verstappen still top of the pile, with Fernando Alonso now second.
3-10: Perez, Vettel, Sainz, Russell, ALbon, Ocon, Hamilton, Stroll.
Alpine a trialling a new floor this weekend but aren’t using it in this lighter, warmer session - looks like they’ll save it for later and for the weekend.
Meanwhile, Sainz says to his enginner that they “should go for the setup we talked about”. Interesting... a reminder that Ferrari have not won a race since Austria in early July
F1 LIVE - Singapore Grand Prix: 15 minutes gone in FP1!
Two weeks off but no change at the top early on - Max VerstappenSergio Perez.
Carlos Sainz is third, with Fernando Alonso fourth. George Russell has a scare at turn 10, just locking up and gently driving into the barrier - no damage as far as the eye can see. The Mercedes boys are in the midfield at the moment.
Charles Leclerc in his inconsistent Ferrari is complaining of a brake issue early on; he is back in the garage early on with a crowd of mechanics around him. Lando Norris in his McLaren complaining of bouncing, too....
Alex Albon, competing for the first time since that respiratory failure in Monza, is 10th early on. Great to see the Williams man out their driving, especially at the most physically demanding race of the year!
(Getty Images,)
F1 LIVE - Singapore Grand Prix: FP1 is underway!
We’re underway with first practice at the Marina Bay circuit in Singapore - for the first time since 2019!
Max Verstappen could win his second world title this weekend - he is 116 points ahead of Charles Leclerc and needs to win this Sunday and hope other results go his way to claim his crown. He turns 25 today - and must outsocre Leclerc by 22 points and Sergio Perez by 12 points to win it this weekend.
Elsewhere, four-time winner Lewis Hamilton is still striving to win a first race of the year and keep up his record of winning a race in every year he has competed in F1. Mercedes are also looking to avoid their first winless season since 2011...
(Getty Images,)
F1 LIVE - Singapore Grand Prix: BREAKING NEWS - Sky UK & Ireland will remain the exclusive home of F1 until 2029
Sky has today announced a new multi-year extension of its broadcast partnership with Formula 1, cementing Sky as the official broadcaster of the sport in all Sky markets. Sky UK & Ireland will remain the exclusive home of F1 until 2029.
The 2022 season has set viewing records with millions of new viewers for the sport across all of Sky’s markets, driven by younger and female fans.
Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1, said: “We are incredibly proud of our long-term partnership with Sky, and we are delighted to announce that we will continue working together until 2029, a very important commitment from Sky.
“Since the beginning of our relationship in 2012 we have both strived to bring the excitement, emotion, and drama of Formula 1 to our traditional fans while engaging new and more diverse audiences. Formula 1 has seen huge growth in recent years, and I can’t think of a better partner to continue to reach our fans with dedicated, expert and in-depth coverage.
“Sky not only brings fans live coverage but a range of behind-the-scenes access and content that brings F1 to life. We are hugely excited about the future of the partnership and the journey of Formula 1.”
(Getty Images)
F1 LIVE - Singapore Grand Prix: Odds for this weekend!
Verstappen to win 14 races in 2022 season 2/5
Verstappen to win 8 world titles 10/1
Verstappen to retire with a record of most career wins 20/1
Lewis Hamilton to win a race in 2022 season 6/4
George Russell to win a race in 2022 season 3/1
Lewis Hamilton to retire at end of 2022 season 5/1
Odds provided by Betfair
F1 LIVE - Singapore Grand Prix: Ross Brawn backs Mercedes to improve before end of F1 season
Ross Brawn has backed Mercedes to adapt to Formula 1’s new regulations, declaring: “They are not idiots.” Rule-changes introduced for the 2022 F1 season have seen alterations made to the front and rear wings of cars, as well as to the vehicles’ floors.
Mercedes won the constructors’ championship in 2021 and only missed out on the drivers’ title after a controversial final lap in the last race of the season, as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claimed his first championship. Mercedes have been well off the pace this year, however, but Brawn believes that they will improve.
The F1 managing director, who previously worked as Mercedes’ team prinicipal, discussed the new regulations with F1 Insider and said: “Basically, I am very satisfied. The cars can follow each other more closely and overtake better as a result. Side-by-side driving has also become easier.
“Before, not many people knew that a car also lost performance there. [Tyre manufacturer] Pirelli has also contributed to the improvement. So, everything has worked well up to this point.
“The fact that some teams were able to implement the new rules better and the others are upset about it is Formula 1 folklore and was planned beforehand. It has hit Mercedes in particular. But they are not idiots, they will get it right.”
The team are without a win so far in the 2022 Formula 1 season
F1 LIVE - Singapore Grand Prix: Alex Albon to race at Singapore Grand Prix after missing Monza and suffering health scare
Alex Albon will take part in this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, three weeks after he suffered respiratory failure and was left on a ventilator. The London-born Williams driver endured complications from surgery when he was sidelined from the last round in Italy with appendicitis.
But the 26-year-old insists he is ready to return to his Williams cockpit, despite Sunday’s race in the humidity of Singapore considered among the hardest challenges of the year.
“My preparation for Singapore has been a little different than normal, but I’m feeling good and I’ve done everything possible to get ready for one of the most physical races on the calendar,” said Albon.
“I am not underestimating how big of a challenge this is going to be, but I am looking forward to hitting the track on Friday and getting back driving. It’s a great street circuit and the closest race to home for me in Thailand, so I’m really excited to be here and to see the fans that have turned out.”
Albon, who races under the Thai flag because of his mother Kankamol’s nationality, fell unwell in Monza and was replaced by the team’s reserve driver and Formula E champion Nyck de Vries.
The Williams drive said he is ‘not underestimating how big of a challenge this is going to be’.