Singapore Grand Prix 2014: B/R Experts Predict Pole, Race Winner and More

The summer break is over, and the title run-in to the 2014 Formula One continues with the Singapore Grand Prix.

Singapore is a relatively new but exciting stop on the calendar, a street race through Marina Bay which takes place late in the evening.

Kicking off the Asian autumn of the campaign—and closing in on the end of the season—it's a crucial race in the title battle.

Here are our best guesses as to how the race will play out:  

Mark Patterson: Lewis Hamilton's victory in Monza restored his claim to the title, but the street race could play into team-mate Nico Rosberg's hands. The German turned his season around earlier in the year with victory in Monaco, and Singapore will be no less important as he looks to stop Hamilton in his tracks once more. If he can take pole, he will keep that position to the flag.

Oliver Harden: The Singapore Grand Prix should be the scene of the biggest battle between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton since Spain, with both Mercedes drivers having credible records at Marina Bay. You would, however, expect the latter to convert his post-Monza momentum into another 25 points. All eyes are on Sebastian Vettel to spring a surprise at a track he enjoys, which—given the way 2014 has gone for the German—probably means Daniel Ricciardo will be the Red Bull to watch out for.

Matthew Walthert: I am hedging my bets this weekend. Mercedes obviously have the car to win every race by 20 seconds, if everything goes right, and that could happen here. But everything has rarely gone right for the Silver Arrows over the last few months. I was thinking of taking Vettel for the win, but he might end up with a grid penalty for exceeding the five-engine limit, so...Ricciardo it is!

Neil James: The title race needs another result for Lewis Hamilton, and he'll deliver at a circuit he has gone well at in the past. Sebastian Vettel won't reproduce the dominant form he showed in 2013, but maybe he'll pull a special lap out of the bag to remind us that he's still one of the world's best.

Bob Margolis: If Ferrari cannot beat the competition by having a faster or better car, then they can use strategy to do it. Alonso was very good last year at this circuit, finishing second. He'd like to win for Ferrari (before a possible return to McLaren) and Singapore is an excellent place to do it. Meanwhile, fans have to be tiring of the Mercedes soap opera and would prefer the two drivers just do their job.

B/R Expert Picks: Singapore GP

Columnist	Mark Patterson	Oliver Harden	Matthew Walthert	Neil James	Bob Margolis
Pole Position	Nico Rosberg	Lewis Hamilton	Lewis Hamilton	Lewis Hamilton	Nico Rosberg
Race Winner	Nico Rosberg	Lewis Hamilton	Daniel Ricciardo	Lewis Hamilton	Fernando Alonso
Fastest Lap	Nico Rosberg	Lewis Hamilton	Lewis Hamilton	Nico Rosberg	Nico Rosberg
Top Team	Mercedes	Mercedes	Mercedes	Mercedes	Mercedes
Number of Finishers	17	16	15	16	17

Lars Baron/Getty Images

Here's how we did at Monza, and what the results of the race did to our scores so far this season: 

B/R Expert Picks: After Italian GP

Columnist	Mark Patterson	Oliver Harden	Matthew Walthert	Neil James	Bob Margolis	RESULT
Pole Position	Nico Rosberg	Nico Rosberg	Nico Rosberg	Lewis Hamilton	Nico Rosberg	Lewis Hamilton
Race Winner	Daniel Ricciardo	Nico Rosberg	Lewis Hamilton	Lewis Hamilton	Fernando Alonso	Lewis Hamilton
Fastest Lap	Nico Rosberg	Nico Rosberg	Valtteri Bottas	Lewis Hamilton	Nico Rosberg	Lewis Hamilton
Top Team	Red Bull	Mercedes	Mercedes	Mercedes	Mercedes	Mercedes
Number of Finishers	18	15	16	16	17	20
Italy Points	1	1	2	4	2
Points This Season	30	30	29	31	-*

How the Scores Are Calculated

The right answer earns you one point, except in the case of total finishers, where you can be two cars either side. However, if you predict the exact correct number of finishers, you pick up two points.

Feel free to play along in the comments to see how you fare against our predictions.

*Bob Margolis does not have an overall score as he joined our predictions midway through the season.