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Norris in the Spotlight

The Marina Bay Street Circuit of Singapore hosts the iconic night race of Singapore and Lando Norris is in the spotlight once again this time round.
The young McLaren star has been gradually establishing himself as one of the most thrilling performing talents in the grid and many are asking themselves whether this is the weekend he will break into a much-needed victory under the Singapore floodlights.
He is currently priced up at 15/8 at Bet365 to take the chequered flag while Ladbrokes have him as their favourite at 2/1.
If he was to win it would come at a big time as Norris currently trails McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri by 25 points in the drivers championships.

Last year in the event Norris led from pole to chequered flag to win the Singapore Grand Prix, third career GP win and his first from pole at his sixth attempt in the process.
Back then he held off a Max Verstappen challenge, and it will be the Dutchman who he will be looking out for once again this time round - and that is even with his current McLaren teammate leading the charge at the top of the pile.

Verstappen’s Rising Form

That is because right now Verstappen is at the very top of his game.
He has won his previous two races, in Italy and Azerbaijan and he is cutting the lead at the top of the drivers championship in the process.
Verstappen is currently 5/2 with Bet365 to win this time round as well, while Ladbrokes have him at 2/1 also, as the Dutchman is right up there with Norris as the man to beat.

Norris has not won since Belgium, in race day-13 as this season has mainly been about Piastri and himself battling it out at the top.
Piastri, who won in the Netherlands in race-day 15, was seen by many as the heir apparent to Verstappen's Formula One crown, but the challenge of Norris, and of Verstappen again lately, could put paid to that.

Ferrari and the Championship Battle

Not that the bookmakers think that Piastri will be far off once again this weekend.
He is currently 2/1 with Bet365 and 5/2 with Ladbrokes to earn what would be a huge win for McLaren.
And it would be a huge win, especially after the last race in Baku.

Piastri was completely out of sorts, crashing out of qualifying to leave himself ninth on the grid, before jumping the start of the ace and then shunting into the barriers once more on the opening lap to end the weekend pointless.
But remaining pointless again this weekend is not really an option for any of the McLaren drivers as they look to finally seal the Constructors Championship for the team.

Mercedes must outscore McLaren by at least 31 points to stay in mathematical contention, while Ferrari need to outscore them by 35 points.
And the best bet for Ferrari to do that would come from Charles Leclerc.
Charles Leclerc is currently 9/1 with Bet365 to win on Sunday, while Ladbrokes have him at 8/1.
His teammate at Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton is currently priced at 25/1 with Bet365 and 20/1 with Ladbrokes meanwhile.

But all of them will have to beat Norris, according to the bookmakers, as he is the favourite going into the event.
And for Norris it is something he is looking forward to. Especially in Singapore.

Speaking at at Ralph Lauren Fragrances’ Polo Red Racing pop-up event at Plaza Singapura, he said:
"I definitely have more confidence now than I had last year. But it’s also a very different situation, fighting against my teammate.
“Every year is different, you’re always learning... believing in yourself, having confidence, that’s the most important thing.”