Truth be told, the Singapore Grand Prix is actually more than just a huge entertainment showcase with some racing on the side. Auto racing fans will point out that it’s also definitely the perfect storm of precision driving, strategic warfare and mechanical endurance, held under the dazzling glow of massive floodlights.
That’s right. What appears to be a glowing snake from the air is actually the Marina Bay Street Circuit, illuminated by 1,700 floodlights. This is because the Singapore Grand Prix also has the privilege of being the original night race of Formula One way back in 2008, laying the foundation for other sundown speed circuits of the Bahrain Grand Prix, Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Qatar Grand Prix, Las Vegas Grand Prix, and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in more recent times.
On top of this, the Singapore Grand Prix is also internationally regarded as the fastest, most difficult street circuit — just ask Daniel Ricciardo of team Oracle Red Bull Racing, who’s the current lap record holder with a time of 1:34.486 from last year’s race.
Endurance race
Drivers face high humidity, relentless corners, and the constant threat of a wall that’s just a slight steering error away. This race is undoubtedly part of a very high-stakes game, but it’s also very unique because it combines the tight confines of a street circuit with the spectacle of racing under lights in the heart of a spectacular city. Some even say that it possesses a fair bit of Monaco’s glamour, but coupled with a fair bit more of endurance-test grit.
No other race in this international racing franchise offers more curves, higher bumps and more sweat-inducing temperatures. Drivers can reach a top speed of up to 300 km/h on the short straights of this city course, while numerous 90-degree curves also lurk, thus demanding maximum concentration, exquisite driving technique and skill.
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Many long-time fans of the sport will also tell you that the most exciting curve of the race up until 2013 was once dubbed the “Singapore Sling”, which is also, incidentally, the name of the city-state’s famous unofficial national cocktail.
Why so? Well, suppose it’s because of the notorious triple curves that once really sent drivers into a bit of uncontrollable spin. These days, however, the infamous chicane at Turn 10 of the Marina Bay Street Circuit has been (thankfully) replaced with a simpler, much safer, single-apex left-hand bend.
Regardless of such improvements, even to this day, the Marina Bay Street Circuit remains one of F1’s hardest tracks to race on. Some drivers say it’s very similar to the Circuit de Monaco, as it winds through the city’s streets with a series of iconic corners that make it one of the most difficult F1 tracks.
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Totalling some 4.94km in length and endowed with 19 corners, the Marina Bay Street Circuit is certainly a physical and mental gauntlet. Its long straights are followed by heavy braking zones, and overtaking opportunities are rare, making qualifying and pit strategy somewhat critical. On top of this, the track surface is very bumpy, while grip levels change as the night goes on and temperatures drop. Couple this with the humid air, and teams have the added headache of ensuring their machines run cool and composed throughout, or risk the catastrophe of not finishing the race.
Twists and turns
Totalling some 62 laps (or about 306km in distance) altogether, this street circuit is perhaps as tight as it gets. Following the start-finish straight, cars brake from speeds over 290 km/h into Turn 1 at the Sheares Corner, which also represents a significant overtaking and strategic opportunity.
Then, rapid-fire corners come up just a few moments later at Turns 2 and 3, requiring precision driving as cars accelerate out of the first corner and then brake hard immediately for the follow-up right-hander.
Drivers then blast onto a long straight, building speed before the next set of corners off Republic Boulevard. At this grandstand area, spectators are offered generous views of cars accelerating at speed after Turn 4 and threading through Turn 5 on the circuit. Meanwhile, Turn 6 at Raffles Boulevard is a quick slowdown, then a flat-out affair where drivers brake hard to slow down for a tight corner, before accelerating to 127 km/h into the following straight.
Then, Turn 7 off the Stamford Grandstand comes into view as drivers brake heavily again into a challenging 90-degree corner. Here, they often struggle to find the right braking point due to track bumps, leading to potential mistakes, crashes and exciting position battles. As drivers pass Turns 8 and 9, they come to the revamped Turn 10 — the former Singapore Sling.
These days, as mentioned earlier, the challenging chicane there has been removed, creating a faster, flowing sequence that requires sharp, decisive steering. Turns 11, 12 and 13 have also been reprofiled before the 2015 race, creating a more challenging left-kink and a shift to the left of Fullerton Road.
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The lap then continues into the Marina Bay Street Circuit’s concluding corners: A fast, open sequence that demands high speed and careful throttle control to avoid the walls. Cars finally race across the iconic Esplanade Bridge, with the stunning Singapore skyline in the background. They then speedily filter into the final section of the Pit Straight, leading back to the start-finish line, while allowing for maximum acceleration before hitting the braking zone just before returning to Turn 1.
More than anything, the Singapore Grand Prix often turns into a chess match played at 300 km/h. Tyre degradation, safety car timing, and the split-second decision to pit or not can easily win or lose the race. Qualifying times are also crucial, as track position is king, and a well-timed undercut can easily turn a midfield runner into a podium contender. Thus, perhaps it’s hardly a wonder that every Singapore GP since 2008 has featured the deployment of the safety car.
In the end, the Singapore Grand Prix is a race that’s not just tough on the cars, it’s also equally brutal on the drivers. Cockpit temperatures soar, g-forces in the corners punish the neck and core, and the constant focus required over two hours pretty much pushes each driver’s mental endurance to the limit. But such are the ingredients of a Formula One weekend unlike any other.
