Hamilton and Verstappen call for changes to Singapore circuit

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are calling for changes to the Marina Bay circuit in Singapore. Hamilton believes a layout better suited to overtaking could make more of the circuit’s potential, while Verstappen agrees that a longer straight or a proper hairpin would help.

Hamilton stressed that he enjoys racing at the circuit, while describing discussions with Verstappen about possible layout changes. “I don’t know. I mean, I love the race here. I really do love the race,” he said after the sprint, when asked about the possibility of holding a sprint race there.

The British driver then outlined one idea: “I was just saying to Max, I think they need to change the track to maybe a longer straight somewhere in order to allow for it to be truly a great racing circuit.” Verstappen also said Marina Bay would benefit from a longer straight or a “proper hairpin”. “I fully agree we need to have a longer straight or more of a proper hairpin to overtake. But even with that, also we need a bigger delta on the straight,” the Red Bull driver said.

Both drivers pointed to the same challenge: making overtaking more achievable. Their discussion came after the sprint in Singapore, which Verstappen won ahead of Hamilton, then with Ferrari, and Charles Leclerc.

Verstappen also tempered expectations for Austin. “I mean, it's very difficult to say. I don't want to say now that I will be in the fight in Austin, but yeah, the last few weekends have been great,” he said at the Singapore Grand Prix post-race press conference. He added that he prefers to take things race by race and that Austin is a very different track.