F1 Daily: Singapore's Weather Conditions, Russell's Engine Penalty, and FIA's Investigations

Last weekend, Formula 1 drivers entered Sunday in Malaysia with no straightforward weather conditions on the radar. The FIA declared the race a Heat Hazard, but it rained heavily prior to the start of the race. 

Drivers and teams might navigate the same tricky conditions this weekend in Singapore. 

The FIA has declared a heat hazard race for the second consecutive weekend. According to weather forecasts, the temperature in Sunday's race is expected to exceed 31 deg C. This forces drivers to pick between two options: wear a cooling vest or place an additional 5 kg of ballast to compensate for the weight.

Moreover, there's also a risk of rain at Marina Bay. Thunderstorms might affect the track on Saturday, particularly during the afternoon Sprint. Rain is also expected during daytime on Sunday, so drivers might find the track a bit slippery during the night.

After his power unit failed in Sepang, Mercedes driver George Russell will take a new engine in the Singapore Grand Prix. This forces him to exceed his power unit component allocation, which imposes a hefty grid penalty. Russell is expected to start at the back of the grid, no matter how well he does in Saturday's qualifying.

Russell is already trailing his teammate Kimi Antonelli by 84 points in the championship. His grid penalty in Singapore will make his championship climb much more insurmountable now.

The FIA has completed its investigation into the software problem that caused several cars to lose power during the formation laps at last weekend's Bahrain GP in Malaysia. The investigation found that some cars operating at low engine speeds in certain sectors experienced excessive power loss when a 250kW power reduction was applied. 

The FIA mentioned that if similar wet conditions occur, they will reinstate the Sepang software configuration for Singapore. 

Apple and Dolby announced this week that Formula 1 coverage on Apple TV will add Dolby Atmos beginning with the 2026 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas on October 23-25. 

Apple secured exclusive US broadcast rights for F1 through a five-year deal that began with the 2026 season. All practice sessions, qualifying, Sprint races, and Grands Prix are available live and on-demand via the Apple TV app for subscribers.

After his first win of 2026 in Sepang, Red Bull's Max Verstappen heads into the Singapore Grand Prix with good momentum. Save for a couple of DNFs, Verstappen has been on the podium in the last nine races, including finishing at least P2 in the last three.

It's also worth noting that the four-time World Champion has never won at Marina Bay. This might be his best chance yet.