Singapore Grand Prix Review

Sebastian Vettel is going to be Formula 1 world champion again this year – no one doubts this anymore.

With a 112-point lead and 150 available over the final six races, Vettel could miss quite a few grands prix before anyone else approached his current tally - and given the fact that no single rival has managed to emerge as the Red Bull man’s main challenger this year, the chances are that even if he were hit by a meteorite, Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button, Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton would split the points between them and never quite manage to overhaul Vettel even in his absence.

The only remaining question is when he will clinch the now inevitable second straight crown, and it could be as early as Singapore this weekend.

After being spoiled with last or penultimate round deciders in recent years, many fans will be disappointed to see a title sealed in September.

If Vettel does put the championship beyond reach this weekend, it will be the earliest clincher in month terms since Alonso wrapped up his first title at Interlagos in September 2005 – although only two races remained then, whereas in this scenario there would be five – and the earliest in F1 calendar terms since Michael Schumacher became 2002 champion with six rounds to spare by winning that year's French Grand Prix.

To become champion in Singapore, Vettel needs to out-score Alonso by 13 points, Button and Webber by eight, and to avoid being out-scored by Hamilton.

So if Vettel wins, he needs Alonso to be fourth or lower, Button and Webber to be outside the top two, and whatever Hamilton does is irrelevant.

Such a result is a relative long shot (as it largely relies on it being Hamilton who takes second rather than any of the trio for whom the runner-up spot would mean a delayed celebration for Vettel), which means Vettel might not get to have his celebration pictures in Singapore's evocative night-time backdrop, but he surely won't complain if he can instead wrap things up at the majestic Suzuka circuit – where he has been unbeatable in recent years – instead.

Thrill and spill potential

Quite high. Marina Bay has a good balance for a street circuit - with barriers close enough that errors really do have consequences, but sufficient space that not every minor incident triggers a safety car.

Every grand prix held there so far has been eventful, and with DRS and Pirelli set to tackle the only problem with the track – a lack of scope for overtaking – this ought to be a highly entertaining weekend.

Talking points

* Were Mercedes and Renault's gains real? After their seasons started going into freefall, both the contenders for the 'best of the rest' honours rebounded in Belgium and Italy. But both teams are nervously waiting to see if it was just a case of F1's remaining fast tracks suiting their car, or whether they really have made enough progress to feature nearer the front in the remaining races.

* Which McLaren will be on top? Button has started to assert himself over Hamilton recently, with Lewis driving relatively tentatively in Italy - his confidence knocked by recent errors. As always with Hamilton, you suspect he's just one epic win away from returning to his full glory. He won in Singapore in 2009, but collided with Webber last year – but that 'glory or disaster?' unpredictability is part of the Lewis magic.

Singapore trends

* Something unusual will probably happen – A race-fixing scandal, Felipe Massa driving out of a pit stop with his fuel hose still firmly attached, Heikki Kovalainen putting out a blazing Lotus by himself... Singapore does tend to see the unexpected.

* Something involving Alonso – Winner in tainted circumstances in 2008, back on the podium as the scandal finally erupted in 2009, and thrusting himself right into title contention by triumphing again in 2010, whether it's been through brilliance or controversy, Alonso has always seemed to be at the centre of the Singapore story.