Toto Talks Singapore
Malaysia was obviously a very difficult weekend for us. We have spent the days since then working hard to understand why our performance was not where it should have been. We have identified several areas we need to investigate further, but F1 doesn't offer simple answers and we need more evidence before drawing firm conclusions.
Singapore gives us an immediate opportunity to continue that work. The characteristics of the circuit are very different and that will help us build a clearer picture of where we are. That is why we will evaluate both the latest update package and our previous specification across the weekend to ensure we fully understand the direction we need to take.
George has the added challenge of a power unit penalty, which will mean starting from the back of the grid on Sunday, following the engine failure in Malaysia. That is particularly frustrating given the way he drove last weekend and the result he deserved to be fighting for. Unfortunately, these things are part of the sport and our focus now is on giving him the best possible car and opportunities to fight back through the field. We need to maximize this final Sprint weekend of the year, keep learning, and score the strongest result we can with both cars. Singapore will be an important test of our understanding and our resilience as a team.
Third Driver Insight
Singapore is one of those circuits that really makes you feel alive as a driver. In qualifying, you have to put absolutely everything on the line. It's a place that has produced some incredible laps over the years, laps where a driver was able to make a genuine difference.
That's something you don't often see in F1. George's victory there in 2025 was one of the standout moments of the season because it's such a difficult track to master and getting everything right across a race weekend is a huge challenge.
The circuit demands total concentration and patience, similar to tracks like Monaco and Baku. You're constantly moving from left to right between the walls, and even the smallest mistake can end your race. At the same time, that's exactly what drivers love about it. You're always trying to find that extra bit of performance and push the limits as far as you can, which makes it one of the most exciting challenges on the calendar.
Physically, it's also one of the toughest races of the year. Racing at night, dealing with the heat and humidity, and completing so many laps around such a demanding circuit takes a lot out of you. Safety Cars can make the race feel even longer, so if you're leading, it can sometimes feel like it will never end. It's a real test of both physical and mental endurance.
Did you know?
- For the first time, the Singapore Grand Prix will host an F1 Sprint weekend.
- The Singapore Grand Prix first appeared on the F1 calendar in 2008 and is known as the original "F1 night race".
- The Singapore Grand prix is one of the most physically demanding races of the season. The intense humidity, warm temperatures, combined with the stop/start nature of the track, make it very challenging.
- Due to these factors, drivers can lose up to 5kg of weight during the race through sweating alone.
- Last year's Singapore Grand Prix saw George Russell score his first win in the streets of Marina Bay. This marked the fifth win of the team in Singapore ('14, '16, '17, '18, '25).
- With 5 victories, Mercedes is the most successful team at this track.
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