Six races from the end of the championship, the identity of the future crowned is hardly in doubt.

Victorious eleven out of 16 times, Verstappen is 116 points ahead of Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and 125 over Sergio Pérez (Red Bull), his teammate.

It remains to know the place of the coronation.

With its nocturnal race, its intractable street circuit and its extreme physical conditions, Singapore and its skyscrapers would provide a spectacular setting for a new crowning glory.

If Verstappen wins at Marina Bay, where he has never won before, and at the same time Leclerc finishes at best ninth and Pérez fourth (without obtaining the point for the fastest lap), then he would be titled a second time. in a row.

But the Dutchman "doesn't really think about the championship".

He prefers "to take race after race" because, he recalls, "there is no urgency".

No rush, that's an understatement, as the Dutchman is comfortably leading.

If he does not achieve this first title shot in the city-state, he could put a definitive end to the false suspense in Japan next week... Not sure that the pressure will overwhelm the driver, who turns 25 on Friday , in this Asian fortnight.

Singapore 'back to business'

Singapore is in any case ready to return to the premier category of motorsport, which returns to Asia after two seasons of absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Organizing this 13th edition "shows the world that Singapore is back in business and that our ability to organize world-class, high-quality events remains intact," Ong Ling Lee, director of the sports division at Singapore, told AFP. Tourism Board (STB).

Authorities have not released figures, but ticket sales for Singapore's biggest event since the pandemic have already surpassed those of 2019 (268,000 spectators), Ms Ong said.

For the drivers, returning to Singapore means finding a very demanding Grand Prix, above all because of the tropical climate.

In the furnace, cut off from the wind by the surrounding buildings, the route clocked by 23 bends and short straight lines offers little respite to the pilots for whom, icing on the cake, visibility is reduced by the night start.

"The humidity there is hard on the body and it is very difficult to do a perfect lap because of the tight turns and the proximity to the walls", recalls Verstappen, who does not forget "the many safety cars" which have punctuated each of the twelve races in Singapore since 2008.

"Ruthless"

It is "one of the most difficult races" for Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), "a complicated street circuit where you have no room for error" according to Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri).

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"The circuit is tight and winding, add the heat and humidity, and you understand why it puts a strain on both the car and the driver", underlines Esteban Ocon (Alpine).

In recent days, we have seen the preparation exercises for the Singaporean oven flourish on the Instagram accounts of the twenty athletes, where they will lighten a few kilos on Sunday.

In particular a teasing Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) who, naked in his sauna at 100°C, launches in a video for his opponents: “preparation in Singapore for some, daily ritual for us Finns!”.

Singapore is "ruthless, with endless turns and incredibly fast sections", underlines Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin), record holder of victories with five successes - and last winner in 2019.

In 2008, Fernando Alonso (Alpine) was the first to win here.

An episode tainted with cheating - the "Crashgate" - which had tarnished the image of Renault and its director Flavio Briatore.

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Sunday, the Spaniard double champion (2005-2006), still there at 41, will set a new record with his 351st Grand Prix, overtaking the Finn Kimi Raikkonen.

© 2022 AFP