Monday 19 September 2016 14:33, UK
The unpredictability of the Singapore Grand Prix will level the playing field and give teams lower down the grid the chance to challenge for a podium spot, according to F1 Report guests.
Mercedes have won 13 of the 14 races so far in 2016, but failed to even get a driver onto the podium at the street-circuit track last year.
And Marc Priestley, speaking on the F1 Report on Sky Sports F1, claims the midfield teams could contest nearer the top this weekend.
"[Singapore] gives opportunities to everybody, so it's not about the team that has the best engine," said Priestley. "That's why the advantage of Mercedes is negated a little bit.
"It gives the midfield teams like Force India and McLaren an opportunity. If they don't make any mistakes, they have a really good opportunity to start knocking on the door of the top four, maybe even a podium.
"It's tough, because it should be Mercedes, Red Bull or Ferrari at the top, but they have a chance here and I think that's exciting for fans."
Meanwhile, former Ferrari driver Patrick Tambay, who joined Natalie Pinkham and Priestley in the studio, believes the Singapore race will be an extremely tight affair.
"The track is so special, conditions are very difficult in terms of the bumps and they had to lay out a new surface to make it less bumpy, so anything can happen," he said.
"I don't think it's as difficult [to drive] as Monaco. But the problem is visual at night and if you make a mistake, you're in the wall and you pay the price of the points [you lose].
"It's going to go to the wire."
Priestley added that the weather in Singapore could also play a part in the result of the race.
"It will make it even more challenging that there's a high chance of rain this year," he said. "On a street circuit like that where you've got manhole covers and white painted lines, when they get wet it's treacherous and that's an added challenge."
Also on the show, the panel discuss the problems at Ferrari this season, Liberty Media's takeover of F1, Max 'The Menace' Verstappen, who could replace Felipe Massa at Williams in 2017 and a host of other topics.
