Damon Hill is expecting Ferrari to have an edge over Red Bull at the Singapore Grand Prix due to the bumpy nature of the track. F1 will return to the Marina Bay Circuit for the first time since 2019, with the venue having been absent in recent seasons due to the coronavirus pandemic. The high-speed 23-corner track is known to be demanding and, coupled with humid weather conditions despite the race being held at night, Hill admits that it poses a huge challenge to the drivers. "It's a Monaco times two," Hill told the F1 Nation podcast.
Why tempers can flare at the Singapore GP
One consequence of the tough nature of the event is that drivers can easily lose their cool, according to Hill. "It really is a big challenge for drivers, because they get stuck behind a car and they get frustrated," the former F1 driver said. "If they've got a faster car, it's very difficult to pass. You've got the DRS [Drag Reduction System], but really there isn't a straight long enough. "You've got to take a brave lunge down the inside of a corner to get past people, and people get frustrated and they lose concentration. "And when you're very dehydrated, and hot and bothered, you get a little bit short-tempered as well."
Can Ferrari take the advantage over Red Bull?
An additional feature of the Marina Bay Circuit is its bumpy surface, and this is something that Hill believes could benefit Ferrari. The Scuderia were the last team to win the race back in 2019, in what proved to be Sebastian Vettel's final victory with the squad and his last to date in Formula 1. "Talking about the kerbs, this is going to be a Ferrari track, because the Ferrari is the one car that seems to cope better than the Red Bull over kerbs," Hill explained. However, with many of the 2022 F1 cars having experienced issues with bouncing and porpoising, Hill admits that this aspect of racing in Singapore could prove to be even more difficult to manage than in the past. "It's much more physical now," the 1996 World Champion added. "These cars are more physical than they were two years ago. Because they can push the tyre a little bit harder perhaps than they used to, so there are going to be more demands on them now. "I think they're going to be in for a shock."
Most read
