Monza to Baku to Singapore - Formula 1 2024

Woo! What a crazy few weeks (well more like 4 or so) but wow! The championship battle is red hot, and it's so much more fun to watch than the past couple of years.

McLaren is perhaps too little too late in their team philosophy to get Lando a Drivers Championship, and his qualifying exit in Q1 of Baku didn't help matters. But a strong race and a 4th place finish ahead of Verstappen in 5th, kept the battle for first still within reach. Can he catch him? He will need a strong showing in Singapore this weekend in order to keep the momentum of the last few races going, and of course continued missteps and misfortunes over at Red Bull.

Speaking of Red Bull, Sergio finally made it to a track he continues to love, and be successful at. Unfortunately for him, that crash with Sainz at the next to last lap did him and Sainz in for what was a great race. Has he found his form again just in time for the end of the season? Sort of. The street tracks are always his bread and butter, and Singapore should be a good showing for him as well, depending on the car set up being manageable. And really that has been Red Bull's stumbling point since just before the summer break. Verstappen is lost in the mire of set ups and not finding a balanced car come race day, and Sergio is just finally making sense of it all. It will continue to be a topsy turvy weekend for them, and McLaren should continue to distance themselves in the Constructors championship as they seem to be firing on all cylinders.

Ferrari, oh Ferrari, welcome back to the track. The Tifosi were going absolutely wild in Monza with the win by LeClerc, and the Italian juggernaut has kept their foot to the floor since. Pole in Baku by LeClerc was unfortunately good enough only for P2 come the checkered flag after a hugely well fought battle by Piastri throughout once he got past on a terrific move. This sport is a game of millimeters, and milliseconds, and there is little to no room for error. LeClerc should continue his strong qualifying pace in Singapore, along with Sainz, and the Red vs. Papaya Orange battle will continue much to the delight of all of us non Red Bull fans.

So what happened to Mercedes? So good before the break. Now, depending on luck? Once again George lucked into a podium at Baku. Hamilton's struggles during qualifying continues. Tire management is more about temperature these days than degradation. And it's been a bit of a rough go over the past 3 races. They look brilliant at times in practice, and brief moments in qualifying. But somehow, someway, it's not coming together when it counts. The good? Both George and Lewis seem to be driving thru the issues as best they can, and it still is resulting in points. The car will come back to them, the tires will get in the right temp range, and brighter days are ahead. Singapore represents an interesting and possibly advantageous race for Mercedes. Hamilton has been absolutely stunning around this track previously, and if they can give him a good car to work with? Look for Lewis to be a not so long odds bet on at least a podium finish, if not a win here. He may just surprise Ferrari and McLaren, and well, even Mercedes!

Time to race under the lights!