23.09.11

Stuart Codling's column

We have become so accustomed to the battle for the Formula 1 World Championship raging until the very end of the season that this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix could provide a major shock. Five drivers are in contention for the title but one of them can seal it here.

Even though this will be the fourth time F1 has visited Singapore, this unique event has lost none of its magic. Keeping to European time means that all the action takes place at night, under floodlights, as the cars sweep past famous landmarks in the very heart of the city.

The 23-corner layout places tyres under a different kind of stress. Most of the corners are slow, so there is relatively little lateral loading, but the sharp bursts of acceleration between the corners make traction important. The rear tyres could come in for a lot of punishment, and since this race has always run close to the two-hour time limit, anyone who has not got their car set up correctly will be making a lot of  pitstops.

If Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel wins this race, the drivers’ title is his unless Fernando Alonso finishes second or third. Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Mark Webber must win in order to stay in play for the championship, although if Vettel wins and Webber or Button finishes second they still have a theoretical chance.

With 172 points to Webber and Button’s 167, Alonso is the most realistic championship challenger. But Vettel has 284 points – his rivals really need a miracle this weekend to close the gap.