The original Formula 1 night Grand Prix returns to the calendar for the first time since 2019 after Covid-19 restrictions forced its cancellation. The last time F1 visited the Marina Bay Circuit, Sebastian Vettel was driving for Ferrari and scored his fifth win at the Southeast Asia race.

On the track, the street circuit is one of the most demanding on the calendar. Drivers can expect to lose up to three kilograms thanks to battling with the 80% humidity during Sunday's 61-lap race covering a distance of 308km.

Since 2008, the Singapore GP has showcased the glorious liveries under the powerful 1 600 lights as the cars scythe through the city's CBD. A total of 23 corners features four high-speed sections, seven slow turns, and with 49% of the lap at full throttle. The maximum speed of around 325km/h is reached as the driver heads out of Turn 5 lefthander and pins the throttle through the kink at Turn 6 before braking hard into Turn 7.

In terms of the car setup, maximum downforce is needed to offer drivers the most grip through the high-speed corners. This is where we've seen reigning champion Max Verstappen dominate with the RB18 in 2022. One aspect all the drivers mention is the bumpiness of the street circuit that requires full concentration, as it can unsettle the car at high speed. Since 2008, 21 Safety Car deployments have taken place, at least one every race.

Verstappen has won the last five races and will be looking to put the Red Bull in pole position, as eight pole-sitters have gone on to claim the chequered flag. The Dutchman can claim the championship if Charles Leclerc finishes outside of the top eight and Sergio Perez fails to claim a podium place.

Ferrari's inconsistent performances have seen them last taste victory at the Austrian GP in July. Charles Leclerc's title hopes have disappeared like a gust of wind blowing away scarlet flare smoke at Monza and he looks like a deflated figure. Ferrari's F1-75 should be well suited for the high downforce nature of this weekend's race. Spaniard Carlos Sainz is 16 points behind Mercedes' George Russell and will hope to move into the top four.

The Mercedes duo of Russell and Lewis Hamilton should pose a major threat to Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in Singapore. The Woking team says its package should suit the Marina Bay Circuit's nature and with a three-week break after the triple-header. Now is the time for Mercedes to make a strong surge towards P2 in the constructors' championship.

Verstappen, Hamilton, Russell
Fastest lap: Verstappen
Pole position: Verstappen
First to retire: Sebastian Vettel
Most Team Points: Mercedes
Both Cars Qualify for Q3 Shootout: Red Bull
Free Practice 1/2/3 Winning Car: Verstappen / Red Bull
Safety Car: Yes
Top 6: Alonso
Top 10: Norris, Ocon, Magnussen

Host Carl Lewis is joined by rugby punter Neal Hoogwerf as the pair preview the weekend action in the United Rugby Championship and the Gallagher Premiership. Handicap bets for every match this weekend.

Bulls vs Connacht

Cardiff vs Lions

Ulster vs Leinster

Stormers vs Edinburgh Rugby

Ospreys vs Glasgow Warriors

Munster vs Zebre

Benetton Treviso vs Scarlets

Gwent Dragons vs Sharks

Newcastle Falcons vs Bristol

Saracens vs Leicester

London Irish vs Bath

Sale Sharks vs Exeter Chiefs

Harlequins vs Northampton

After an enthralling weekend, things get back on track with ‘standard’ 72-hole events on both sides of the pond.

In Europe, the DP World Tour continues an excellent, varied, schedule by hosting the 21st running of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, taking in rounds at Kingsbarns, Carnoustie and St. Andrews, before finishing the pro-am format at the Home of Golf.

It’s been just a few weeks since Cam Smith broke Rory McIlroy’s heart here at the 150th Open, and much has changed since, most notably the Aussie’s defection to the LIV tour. Given the proliferation of amateurs, the course won’t be set up anywhere near as tough as it was in August, but with some wind and rain expected, it will be as unpredictable as we can get it.

The PGA Tour resumes the always-bizarre wraparound season, this time at the Sanderson Farms, once an ‘opposite’ event, but now a fully fledged member of the schedule.

‘Average’ is the word I’d use to describe this event, as that is exactly what it is.

Average width, average length, average greens, and whilst fairways and greens will always help, the last four winners have ranked in the top four for strokes gained off the tee. 2018 champion, Cameron Champ, summed it up best by saying, “I felt like if I was further up, even in the rough versus hitting a 3-wood being 40 yards back, I would rather be up there. I guess that’s the game plan.”

Here are this week’s best bets at each:

India take on South Africa on Wednesday in the first of three T20Is as the preparations for next month’s T20 World Cup intensify. The hosts come into this match full of confidence after a fantastic 2-1 series win against the current T20 World Cup holders Australia. Their opponents, the Proteas, were last in action in this format when they beat Ireland 2-0 in August of this year.

India are hitting form at just the right time. Their key batsmen are also playing well after brilliant batting performances against Australia. Their bowling on the other hand is a bit of a concern, especially in the death over which will be a huge test against South Africa’s firepower in the middle order.

South Africa proved earlier in the year that they are more than capable of going toe-to-toe with India in the sub-continent and their recent form in T20I cricket cannot be understated. They are the value bet at 2.65 but I just see the team that has played more T20Is recently winning this match.

Suggested Bet: India to win 1.45

Yadav is India’s form batsman if not world cricket’s. He’s climbed to number three in the T20I rankings and was the highest run scorer for India in the series against Australia, batting with aggression throughout the series. Suryakumar Yadav has scored 34 runs or more in four of his last seven T20Is and I expect him to get more than that in this game.

Suggested Bet: S Yadav to be India’s top batsman 5.50

Along with Aiden Markram, Miller has been the Proteas’ best batsman in this format in the last 12 months. He has scored 850 runs in T20 cricket this year at an average of 42.5 while striking at 140.5. I like both him and Markram for this match with the latter averaging at an immense 58 with a strike rate of 141 in Asian conditions.

There’s more value in backing David Miller at 6.50 as I feel this could be a low-scoring game with the middle to lower order playing a huge role.

Suggested Bet: D Miller to be SA’s top batsman 6.50

Alternative Bet: A Markram to be SA’s top batsman 5.50

India have hit 62 sixes in the powerplay this year which shows their change in approach. The Proteas take a different approach with Temba Bavuma or Reeza Hendricks usually needing a couple of overs to get their eye in. I expect India to get off to a faster start than the visitors.

Suggested Bet: India to score the highest runs in the 1st 6 overs at 1.71

The average score across the 16 T20 matches at Greenfield Stadium from 2017-2019 stands at 141 runs, with the 10 teams not managing to surpass the 200-run mark even once in this two-year period. I expect this to be a low-scoring encounter with also some of the Proteas batsmen not having played in this format recently.

Suggested Bet: The highest individual score to be under 67.8 at 1.86

Host Carl Lewis is joined by coach Dacve Wessels and journalist Simnikiwe Xabanisa for another episode of the School of Hard Knock-Ons Podcast, South Africa's best rugby show.

In this episode we do a complete Springboks review of their Rugby Championship campaign and try to answer some of the burning questions around the Springbok camp and selection.

Host Carl Lewis and coach and analyst Grant de Smit and the review Orlando Pirates season so far. Orlando Pirates have been one of the busiest clubs in terms of player movements during this ‘off-season’, welcoming in the likes of Bienvenu Eva Nga, Evidence Makgopa, Miguel Timm, Azola Matrose, Tapelo Xoki and Nkosinathi Sibisi.

Pirates also dropped something of a bombshell during the pre-season with the appointment of little-known Spaniard Jose Riveiro as the club’s new head coach.

We review everything of their season so far including their DSTV Premiership campaign.

Rugby punter Neal Hoogwerf joins host Carl Lewis as they provide the best handicap bets for the Rugby Championship, United Rugby Championship & the Gallagher Premiership.

Host Carl Lewis chats with coach and analyst Grant de Smidt about Kaizer Chiefs 2022/23 season so far. The Amakhosi are currently floundering in ninth spot on the DSTV Premiership table but their recent win against Supersport United has done a lot to lift spirits around Naturena.

The pair discuss head coach Arthur Zwane and the start of his first full season in charge and also Kaizer Chiefs Kamohelo Mahlatsi, Zitha Kwinika, George Matlou, Dillon Solomons, Ashley du Preez, Yusuf Maart and Siyethemba Sithebe.

Host Carl Lewis chats with the team at Laduma Analytics as they chat statistics and data in the DSTV Premiership. In this week's episode, they focus on Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs, Amazulu and Bafana Bafana.

Goals

Goals are lacking again - why is that?

Big difference in the total number of expected goals (140) vs approx 121 goals. Games are creating good quality chances - 2.15 expected goals per game but games are only just under 2 goals a game.

Which teams are creating well but struggling to score?

Sundowns

• A game for the goalkeepers, with this week being an International week
• Themba Zwane had a great opportunity to score 0.25 xG = a more clinical Zwane on his day would have converted that

Sundowns vs AmaZulu game stats

• 17 shots - the second highest total of shots taken this 2022/23 season.
• 2.3 xG - the second highest total of xG accumulated this 2022/23 season.
• 9 - the highest number of chances in games this season.

20 opposition box entrances on average - next best team CT City with 16 entrances into Opp box

Allende sees Mothwa and the gap at the near post

• Reminded me of Van Persie against Barcelona
• Maicon for Brazil against North Korea at the 2010 FIFA world cup @ Ellis Park?

AmaZulu

Where to start?

• Fantastic off-season with lots of quality players coming in
• Also losing players. 
• A really strong start to the season - 3 wins out of first 4 games but the underlying data was never strong and indicated differently to how they were positioned on the log prior to the MTN 8 break (see below)

• That followed suit and performances caught up with results
• Never been overly strong this season in creating good quality chances, currently 12th on log for xG
• Early season - 7 goals from 3.73 xG & 1 goal from 3.63 xG

Up and down with chance creation and got results when ultimately (based on probability) may not have deserved them - SuperSport United & CT City in the league. Played well very good against

8th on the log for shots taken - 10 shots

84 shots - 47 inside box / 37 outside bo

13th for shots on target - 30%

12th for xG - 0.92 xG

Kaizer Chiefs

A win against SuperSport - very much needed but a very poor opening 15-20 minutes.

7 goals in 8 games (0.88 goals per game)

12 xG in 8 games (1.5 xG per game - 5th on log)

Most teams with penalties

4 penalties & 2 goals scored from penalties

9 xG when we remove 4 penalties that they have had (1.13 xG per game - 10th)

They went through a similar problem exactly 11 months ago and at the time also had a poor conversion rate of their chances at 13%, now it is 19%, league average is 4%

Bafana Bafana talk

Mashego to Sundowns / Ndumiso Mabena to Pirates rumours / Dan Masela to Marumo Gallants

Lakay / Modiba / Mashego all at one club

• Players suffer but so does the national team

Shame that it will only be friendlies

Squad looks exciting