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Oscar Piastri’s brilliant win in Baku on Sunday and Lando Norris’s fantastic drive into 4th place, ahead of World Championship rival Max Verstappen, really shows the strength and confidence which McLaren now enjoys. The fact that they now lead the World Championship for Constructors is an incredible achievement for everyone in the race team, at the factory and also their technical suppliers and partners such as Mercedes.

I have admit that I am really happy to see this because the team has been through a long period of hard work and redevelopment, and to see all that work being so well rewarded is just brilliant. Although I like watching how all the teams in F1 perform, you can imagine I have a special association with McLaren thanks to my championship wins back in ’98 and ’99.

Ferrari was strong in Baku and, following their win in Monza, we can see the team has made a positive step which means McLaren will continue to face a consistent battle with them and Red Bull Racing. Mercedes is not consistent enough to be a threat at every race but, as we know, they can never be discounted.

What impressed me most about Oscar’s win on Sunday was his confidence, the decisive overtaking manoeuvre he made on Charles Leclerc and his ability to absorb incredible pressure, managing the gap and defending from Charles’ DRS attacks. For a guy who is in only his second season, this was a really incredible performance.

It was brilliant to see Oscar, Charles and Red Bull’s Checo Perez running 1-2-3 in a group, then being joined by Carlos Sainz Jr. It looked more like a kart race at times, a great advertisement for Formula 1 racing with the best drivers and teams going hard.

The question now is whether Lando, Charles or even Oscar can challenge Max in the World Championship for drivers. I believe they can because while McLaren and Ferrari have developed speed and consistency, Red Bull are looking a little fragile and they cannot afford to keep having difficult weekends.

Checo Perez’s strong weekend in Baku showed that the RB20 has responded well do recent changes, but the accident with Carlos’s Ferrari showed just how easily a great result can disappear. Max needs to be back on the podium this weekend, a win for Lando would put him within striking distance of the Drivers’ title and, with six Grands Prix after Singapore, this championship has a long way to go.

Take Note

Singapore is hot and humid, a huge test for the drivers who will lose Kgs in weight during the race. The track is very quick in places, but also bumpy and accidents often occur. Based on past experience, a Safety Car is a certainty here.

Modifications to the track removed 4 corners last year, reducing the lap time but also giving the tyres less work to do. It doesn’t make the race any easier on the drivers, so if you want the full Singapore F1 experience I suggest you watch the race in a sauna while using an exercise bike!

Mika’s Tip

McLaren has the advantage but Ferrari and Red Bull will be going for the win too. This is a war of technology and teamwork between three fantastic teams and, when you consider that Checo Perez won in 2022 and Carlos Sainz took a brilliant win last year, anything can happen. My tip is to ignore any predictions and enjoy the unpredictability of F1 2024!

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