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Why F1 drivers fear an 'insane' challenge at the Singapore GP

The Singapore Grand Prix is known for its humid weather conditions, but there is an added factor to this year's event that looks set to pose an additional challenge for the drivers.

Several F1 drivers are expecting an extra challenge at this year's Singapore Grand Prix in regards to how the 2022 cars could feel on the bumps. Formula 1 is about to return to the Marina Bay Circuit for the first time since 2019, a venue known for pushing drivers to the limit with humid weather conditions and the added factor of the race being held at night. Now, with the issue of cars experiencing bouncing and porpoising having been much discussed throughout the season, the event could prove to be even tougher than before.

Albon: It's going to be insane!

Alex Albon is amongst those curious to see how the 2022 cars will fare in Singapore, with his expectation being that the race could prove to be "insane". Speaking in a Williams team video recorded before he contracted appendicitis, Albon explained to teammate Nicholas Latifi what he was anticipating at the Marina Bay Circuit. "I'm interested because these cars have been so bumpy," the British-Thai driver said. "Remember Monaco, how bad that was? Singapore is bumpier than [Monaco]. Singapore felt like Monaco back then, so it's going to be insane." With this in mind, Albon joked to Latifi: "Bring a gum shield, bring some sick tablets! "It's going to be physical, but the track itself is actually quite nice. I found it weirdly flowing, but to be quick, you really do need to push quite hard. "It's the kind of feeling like in Monaco where a lap feels like... on the edge, because the corners are quicker than you think."

Norris expects "even more difficult" race

Lando Norris has also voiced his belief that the tendency of the 2022 F1 cars to bounce more will pose an additional challenge at this year's Singapore Grand Prix. "Singapore is one of my favourites of the whole season," Norris told Sky Sports F1 . "Obviously I only drove there back in 2019. As a qualifying track, it's one of the best of the whole season. "[It's an] extremely difficult track. It's going to be even more [difficult] in these cars, which are terrible over the bumps and [with] the bouncing, porpoising, all of these things. "It's, in a way, not going to be nice to drive. But at the same time, it's one of the most difficult to put together – [there's] 24 corners or something – so nailing a lap here is extremely difficult. "But when you maybe get close to doing that, it's a cool achievement and feels amazing. And just the whole event, a night race, Singapore, it's a lot of fun."

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