It's been three years since Sebastian Vettel took his last victory for Ferrari during the Singapore Grand Prix. Since then the iconic night race around the Marina Bay Street circuit, which often tests drivers physically due to the hot and humid conditions, has been called off due to Covid restrictions. This year it returns with the extra challenge that the drivers haven't raced in the new cars or with the 18-inch tyres yet. Pirelli's Motorsport Director Mario Isola says it will be 'a brand new race' as the drivers grapple with managing tyres around the toughest track on the calendar. "With the 18-inch tires that have a completely different composition and structure than the tires used three years ago - and with new asphalt this year - it is almost a completely new race," says Isola. "In Singapore there are a lot of slow corners and it's all about maximizing traction. We have chosen the three softest compounds for maximum speed and grip, but it is important to manage the rear tires well to ensure the necessary traction."
Important to find right balance around resurfaced track
The Marina Bay Street Circuit has been resurfaced ahead of the 2022 race, but the drivers will still find the "aggressive tarmac" a challenge to find the right balance for setup. Isola explains: "As the new cars tend to suffer from understeer, it becomes important to find the right balance of set-up to get enough grip at the front without sacrificing acceleration at the rear." "I think Singapore is a pretty difficult track. Everyone thinks it's a street circuit with smooth tarmac, but the tarmac is much more aggressive than Monaco or other street circuits." Pirelli will be bringing the three softest compounds including the C5, C4, and C3.
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