As the Formula 1 World Championship heads to Marina Bay for the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, Ferrari is eager to capitalize on its recent strong form. With team principal Fred Vasseur eyeing a repeat of Carlos Sainz’s 2023 victory, the Scuderia faces the intense physical demands and strategic complexities of one of the sport’s most challenging circuits.
A Grueling Race Ahead
Ferrari’s drivers, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, will endure the unforgiving conditions of Singapore’s night race, notorious for its heat and high humidity. Despite being held under the lights, drivers are expected to lose up to 3 kilograms in body weight over the course of the race. Add to that the unpredictable tropical weather, which often threatens downpours, though typically before race sessions, and it’s clear Ferrari will have their work cut out.
Strategically, Ferrari has mapped out a potential one-stop race, starting on Medium tires before switching to Hards around lap 30. However, with the Marina Bay Circuit’s history of frequent Safety Car interruptions—seven in the last seven races—the team’s strategists will need to remain nimble, ready to pivot their approach at a moment’s notice.
Sainz’s 200th Grand Prix and a Bittersweet Farewell
This weekend marks Carlos Sainz’s 200th Grand Prix and his 82nd with Ferrari. The “Smooth Operator” will hope to replicate his impressive 2023 Singapore win, where he held off competitors on fresher tires to take a crucial victory from pole. However, the event will also be tinged with emotion, as Sainz departs Ferrari for Williams next year, making way for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. A win in Singapore would be the perfect send-off for Sainz’s Ferrari chapter.
Coming off a disappointing Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Sainz crashed out battling Sergio Perez for P3, and Leclerc’s tire issues cost him the lead, Ferrari is determined to bounce back. Vasseur acknowledged the team’s pace in Baku, where they were competitive until disaster struck: “We are very much on the pace at the moment, and Formula 1 is putting on a great show with very little to choose between the top four teams.”
Fierce Competition for Ferrari in a Tight Constructors’ Battle
The battle at the top of the Constructors’ Championship is fierce, with Ferrari currently sitting in third, 51 points behind leaders McLaren and 31 points down on Red Bull. The top eight drivers are separated by mere fractions, and in this era of tiny margins, a tenth of a second can mean the difference between pole position and a mid-grid finish. McLaren and Ferrari seem to have the slightest edge, but nothing is guaranteed.
Vasseur remains optimistic, noting the team’s recent form: “We want to maintain this strong form in Singapore, another demanding street circuit. Both our drivers like it, and one of them won here last year. We have seen in the last two Grands Prix how important tire management is, and we’re well-prepared for Singapore.”
The Road Ahead
With seven race weekends remaining—three of which include Sprint Races—the battle for the Constructors’ Championship remains wide open. Ferrari will be looking to claw back points from McLaren and Red Bull, and Singapore presents an excellent opportunity to do just that.
As Vasseur summed up: “Qualifying takes on great importance at the Marina Bay track, and we are well prepared for it. We can give all our opponents a hard time.”
With Ferrari’s strong pace, unpredictable weather, and the demanding nature of Singapore, this weekend promises to be a thrilling showdown as the Scuderia pushes for victory and a late-season surge in the Constructors’ Championship.
