While last year바카라s intense Formula One title battle went to the wire and captivated the world of sport, this year바카라s championship has long looked like a procession for Max Verstappen. (More Motosport News)
It could be all over by Sunday if the Red Bull driver wins the Singapore Grand Prix and Ferrari바카라s Charles Leclerc crumbles.
Verstappen leads Leclerc by 116 points and will clinch the title if he scores 22 points more than Leclerc, his most-realistic head-to-head challenger.
Verstappen, who turned 25 on Friday, must win to clinch a second world title, along with two other scenarios involving Leclerc. If Verstappen wins, Leclerc can finish no higher than ninth; if Verstappen wins and earns a bonus point for fastest lap, Leclerc can finish no higher than eighth.
바카라It바카라s quite a long shot,바카라 Verstappen said. 바카라I need a lot of luck for it to happen here, so I don바카라t really count on it.바카라
It is more realistic that Verstappen secures the title at the Japanese GP on Oct. 9.
바카라I think Suzuka will be my first proper opportunity to win the title,바카라 the Dutchman said. 바카라So I바카라m looking forward to Singapore right now, but I바카라m also very excited for next week.바카라
Still, there바카라ll be no tension in the air at the Marina Bay Street Circuit on Sunday night, like in Abu Dhabi last year when Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton lost the title on the last lap to Verstappen. Hamilton missed out on a record F1 eighth title in a controversial finish following a chaotic late restart.
That fans won바카라t get to see any such drama this season is much to Hamilton바카라s regret.
바카라I feel for the fans . . . Last year, going right down to the wire, that was intense for everybody and so it바카라s never great when the season finishes early,바카라 Hamilton said. 바카라For you, as the one individual (winner) it바카라s great, but for the actual sport (it) is not spectacular. Let바카라s hope for the future that it바카라s a bit better.바카라
Verstappen바카라s teammate Sergio Perez (125 points back), Mercedes driver George Russell (132 behind) and Ferrari바카라s Carlos Sainz Jr. (152) are mathematical title challengers only.
Red Bull is unlikely to allow Perez an opportunity to beat Verstappen, though, and would deploy him to defend its star driver. Verstappen has won 11 of 16 races, including the past five, taking his career tally to 31.
바카라It바카라s been a really special season and I바카라m enjoying it a lot,바카라 he said. 바카라But I (will) probably enjoy it more after the season, looking back at it.바카라
He바카라s also won from seven different grid positions 바카라 a single-season F1 record 바카라 including starting from 14th at the Belgian GP last month.
바카라It바카라s even good to watch when you바카라re when in the car,바카라 McLaren driver Lando Norris said. 바카라Especially when he starts (far back) and still wins quite easily.바카라
Hamilton hasn바카라t got close enough to challenge Verstappen this year, after so long in the spotlight.
Two of Hamilton바카라s titles were on the last day: in 2008 with an overtake on the last corner of the final race, and in 2014 when he beat then-Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg in Abu Dhabi. Two years later he lost the title in the last race to Rosberg.
Hamilton won the championship with three races left in 2015, and when he won the 2020 title at the Turkish GP in a shortened season due to the coronavirus pandemic.
That moved him level on seven titles with fellow great Michael Schumacher, who won in 2002 with six races remaining. An outstanding campaign saw Schumacher place first or second in 16 of 17 races, and third in Malaysia 바카라 a race won by his younger brother, Ralf.
ELUSIVE WIN
Hamilton was won a record 103 races but none this season.
Mercedes has struggled with ground effect, where the floor generates aerodynamic grip 바카라 an issue known as porpoising or bouncing 바카라 that has been particularly difficult on street circuits like Monaco or Azerbaijan.
Singapore바카라s tight and sinewy 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) street track could again be challenging.
바카라We hope that the car works better here. It really depends how bumpy it is, and the bumps often set the car off,바카라 Hamilton said. 바카라Maybe the car will be fine. Maybe it won바카라t.바카라
He does think Mercedes has figured out how to maximize opportunities when they do come.
바카라We know where those limitations are 바카라 We just have to try and work around them,바카라 he said. 바카라I think we were very fortunate, we바카라re in a much better place I think. So I hope that we바카라re not far away (from a victory).바카라
Russell seems to have coped better, however, and leads sixth-place Hamilton by 35 points in the standings. He has seven podium finishes compared to six for Hamilton.
ALBON BACK
Williams driver Alex Albon returns to racing just three weeks after being hospitalized with appendicitis and then suffering subsequent respiratory failure.
Albon jumped back into the Williams FW44 for the first practice session on Friday in hot and humid evening conditions.
바카라It바카라s definitely audacious to come back for the toughest race of the season having only just recovered,바카라 Russell said. 바카라But it just goes to show the sort of grit and determination he has.바카라
Drivers lose around 5 kilos (11 pounds) in weight through dehydration during Sunday바카라s race.
