2025 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix – Race Preview & Predictions

The Formula 1 calendar moves to Marina Bay this weekend for the Singapore Grand Prix, one of the most demanding and dramatic races of the season. Since its introduction in 2008, Singapore has been a stage where strategy, patience, and endurance often outweigh raw speed. 

Track Overview

Circuit Length: 4.927km (3.061 Miles)

Race Distance: 62 laps

Corners: 19, with several heavy braking zones

Lap Record: Race Record – 1:34.486 (Daniel Ricciardo 2024) Qualifying Record – 1:29.525 (Lando Norris 2024)

2024 Race Winner: Lando Norris

The track’s tight nature makes overtaking difficult, ensuring that qualifying performance is crucial. The high likelihood of Safety Cars—seen in every edition of the race so far apart from the 2024 GP—adds an unpredictable twist to race strategy.

Current Championship Standings

Drivers’ Championship (Top 5)

1. Oscar Piastri – 324
2. Lando Norris – 299
3. Max Verstappen – 255
4. George Russell – 212
5. Charles Leclerc – 165

Constructors’ Championship (Top 5)

1. McLaren – 623
2. Mercedes – 290
3. Ferrari – 286
4. Red Bull – 272
5. Williams – 101
   
   

What to Expect

• Qualifying Will Be Key – Pole sitters have historically held a massive advantage in Singapore. Expect teams to trim setups for maximum one-lap performance. Singapore is a high-downforce circuit where teams have to carefully balance traction and tire degradation through the medium and slow corners.

 

• Strategy Around Safety Cars – With attrition high, pit wall decisions will likely decide podium finishes. A poorly timed stop could spell disaster. During the Singapore GP, many teams tend to opt for a one-stop strategy opting to run a soft or medium compound tire then switching to the hard compound. With the increase in pit lane speed to 80 km/h a possible two-stop strategy under a safety car could be in the cards.

 

• Driver Fitness Under Fire – The race remains one of the most physically draining of the year, with cockpit heat often exceeding 50°C. With the ambient temperatures predicted to reach 31ºC the FIA has declare the first Heat Hazard Warning of the season requiring all drivers and teams to utilize the cooling vests or if the drivers opt-out run more ballast in the car. All of the cars are required to be fitted with the necessary equipment for the vests to operate properly (pumps, coolant reservoirs, and heat exchanger)

 

Teams to Watch

Red Bull – Back in the Fight

After a rocky first half of the season, Red Bull seems to have found new life. The team’s major upgrade package at Monza has transformed the RB21 into a more competitive car, reigniting their championship push at a critical stage of the year. The transition in leadership from the Christian Horner era to Laurent Mekies has also brought a noticeable change in atmosphere and focus within the team.

Max Verstappen has been the biggest beneficiary. The reigning champion has claimed victory in the last two Grands Prix, cutting into what once looked like an insurmountable gap in the standings. With 7 races and 3 sprint events remaining, Verstappen sits 69 points behind Oscar Piastri and 44 points behind Lando Norris, keeping his bid for a fifth consecutive Drivers’ Championship alive.

Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda has shown his strongest form since being promoted to the senior team. His standout drive in Baku reminded everyone of his pace and potential, and if he continues this upward trend, he could play a pivotal role in supporting Red Bull’s constructors’ campaign.

The question now is simple: can Verstappen close the gap in time? Singapore will be a major test—not only of Red Bull’s upgrades but also of Max’s ability to keep pressure on McLaren when every point counts.

McLaren – The Benchmark in 2025

If Red Bull has rediscovered form, McLaren remains the benchmark this season. Their consistent pace, strong strategic calls, and the rise of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris as genuine title contenders have reshaped the championship narrative. Piastri leads the standings with a 69-point advantage over Verstappen, while Norris is just 25 points behind his teammate, keeping both drivers in the fight. McLaren only need to score 13 points to claim the 2025 Constructors’ Championship.

Piastri will be looking to bounce back after what could be described as the worst weekend of his F1 career in Azerbaijan having had a power unit issue during FP1, crashing out during Q3, jumping the start and getting stuck in anti-stall to crash out on the first lap of the race.

McLaren’s strength lies in qualifying pace and tire management—two key ingredients for success at Singapore. Both drivers have proven comfortable on street circuits, and with the car’s balance continuing to improve across different track layouts, Marina Bay could play directly into their hands.

The looming question is whether internal team dynamics will stay cooperative as the title fight intensifies. With both drivers chasing their first world championship, Singapore could be a flashpoint for how McLaren handles its dual-pronged challenge.

Ferrari – A New Era with Hamilton

Ferrari entered a new chapter this season with Lewis Hamilton joining Charles Leclerc at the Scuderia. The move has brought renewed optimism and a wealth of experience to Maranello, with Hamilton chasing his record-extending 8th world title in red.

The team’s biggest challenge has been consistency. While both drivers have shown pace—particularly in qualifying—the SF-25 has been prone to tire wear and mid-race drop-offs. Still, Singapore could play to Ferrari’s strengths. Hamilton has a rich history of success at Marina Bay with four previous wins, and Leclerc’s street circuit precision makes him a constant threat under the lights.

Though Ferrari isn’t leading the title race, their combination of star power and raw pace ensures they’ll be a factor in the battle for podiums—and possibly more if strategy falls their way.

Drivers to Watch

• Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – Always a favorite, but Singapore has historically been one of the tougher venues for Red Bull. His qualifying performance could determine whether he controls the race or is forced into risky strategies. Singapore is the only circuit on the current calendar in which Verstappen has yet to claim a victory. Can this be the year in which he gets his first win in Marina Bay?
• Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – The current leader in the drivers’ title fight will be looking to bounce back after a tough outing in Baku and try to extend his current 25 point lead over teammate and championship rival Lando Norris.
• Lando Norris (McLaren) – Having won this race last year, Lando will be looking to repeat that performance this time around and attempt to further close the gap in the Drivers’ Championship to his teammate Oscar. With only a race win’s worth of points between the two drivers this will be a championship that will go down to the final race in Abu Dhabi.

Race Predictions

My Top 3 Qualifying Picks

1. Oscar Piastri
2. Max Verstappen
3. Fernando Alonso

My Top 3 Race Finish Picks

1. Max Verstappen
2. Oscar Piastri
3. Lando Norris

Final Thoughts

The Singapore Grand Prix rarely disappoints. With the championship battle heating up, points gained—or lost—under the lights of Marina Bay could prove decisive. Expect a race filled with tension, strategy, and the trademark drama that makes Singapore one of the crown jewels of Formula 1.