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Singapore Grand Prix

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Singapore Grand Prix
Marina Bay Street Circuit
(2018–present)
Race information
Number of times held19
First held1966
Most wins (drivers)United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton (4)
Germany Sebastian Vettel (4)
Most wins (constructors)Germany Mercedes (4)
Circuit length5.063 km (3.146 miles)
Race length308.706 km (191.821 miles)
Laps61
Last race (2018)
Pole position
Podium
Fastest lap

The Singapore Grand Prix is a motor race which forms part of the FIA Formula One World Championship. The event takes place on the Marina Bay Street Circuit and was the inaugural night race[1][2] and first street circuit in Asia designed for Formula One races.[3]

Spaniard Fernando Alonso won the first Formula One edition of the Grand Prix, driving for the Renault team amid controversial circumstances, when it emerged a year later that his teammate Nelson Piquet Jr. had been ordered to crash on purpose by senior team management to bring out the safety car at a time chosen to benefit Alonso. The Singapore Grand Prix will remain on the F1 calendar until at least 2021, after race organizers signed a contract extension with Formula One Management on the first day of the 2017 event.[4][5] The previous contract extension was signed in 2012 and lasted until 2017.[6] Since 2008, every race edition has featured at least one safety car, a total of 18 safety car deployments, as of 2018.[7][8][9]

The race under artificial lights start at midday GMT (8 pm local time), which is the standard time for European Grands Prix, moderating the extreme daytime apparent temperature in the tropical climate. Even so, cockpit temperatures can reach 60 °C (140 °F).[10][11]

History

Non-championship race (Formula Libre)

First organised in 1961, the race was initially known as the Orient Year Grand Prix.[12] The following year, the race was renamed the Malaysian Grand Prix.[12] After Singapore attained its independence in 1965, the race at the Thomson Road circuit was renamed to the Singapore Grand Prix. The event was discontinued after 1973 and a variety of reasons have been suggested, including an increase in traffic, the very high danger and unsuitability of the track for racing, the inconvenience of having to close roads for the event and fatal accidents during the 1972 and 1973 races.[13]

Formula One

Announced in 2008, an agreement for a five-year deal was signed by Singapore GP Pte Ltd, the Singapore Tourism Board and Bernie Ecclestone.[1] In November 2007 it was announced that the telecommunications company Singtel would sponsor the event, and also they televised the show on Channel 5 called SingTel Grid Girls. The official name of the event became the Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix.[3] The race was co-funded by the Government of Singapore, footing 60% of the total bill, or S$90 million, out of a total tab of S$150 million.[14]

Around 110,000 tickets were made available for the country's first Formula One race. Corporate hospitality suites and packages went on sale at the end November 2007, three-day passes to the public went on sale in February 2008. Single-day passes went on sale a month later.[15] The event went on to achieve a full sell-out for all of its tickets.[16] The 2008 race hosted the famous Amber Lounge after party and in 2010 Singapore became the second location to host the Amber Lounge Fashion show.

2008 Singapore Grand Prix

Main article: 2008 Singapore Grand Prix

The first race held at the new Marina Bay Street Circuit was the 15th round of the 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship, and was also the first night-time event in Formula One history.[2] The timing of the night event meant that it could be broadcast live at a convenient time for European TV audiences.[1] The track was also illuminated by a series of projectors which adapt their output to match the shape of the course.[17] On track, Felipe Massa was the first man to sit on the Singapore pole in his Ferrari, but the Brazilian blew that advantage with an early release from his first pit stop. The race was won by Fernando Alonso driving for the Renault team, however that result has since been tarnished by controversy.

2009 Singapore Grand Prix

Main article: 2009 Singapore Grand Prix

For the 2009 race, the circuit was reprofiled slightly, including modifications to turns 1, 2 and 3 to aid overtaking, and also at turn 10 where high kerbs caused many accidents in 2008.[18] McLaren's by then the latest World Champion – Lewis Hamilton took pole position and sprinted away to win. With Timo Glock finishing an unlikely second for Toyota, the resilient Fernando Alonso was rounded off on the podium again as Renault started to rebuild a reputation ruined at the start of race week.

2010 Singapore Grand Prix

Main article: 2010 Singapore Grand Prix

This race is regarded as one of the greatest of all time. As one of the sport's most thrilling title battles raged, Fernando Alonso became the first man to win twice in Singapore. Now flying the Ferrari flag, the Spanish star took pole and resisted everything Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel could throw at him on his way to the 25th victory of his F1 career. A former Ferrari champion making his F1 comeback in 2010 also caught the headlines, for the wrong reasons as Michael Schumacher's Mercedes had an incident-packed evening and was 13th, while Heikki Kovalainen coolly leapt from his burning Lotus T127, borrowed a fire extinguisher and dealt with the problem himself.

2011 Singapore Grand Prix

Main article: 2011 Singapore Grand Prix

It was with Sebastian Vettel, an eight-time winner in 2013 before the circus arrived at Marina Bay. The German was over 100 points clear of the field. Using his 11th pole of the season to perfection, Vettel shrugged off Safety Cars and second-placed Jenson Button to win going away. F1's 'Gang of Five' – Vettel, Button, Webber, Alonso and Hamilton – filled the top five places but the 'new Schumacher' – Sebastian Vettel was en route to his first title win. Singapore caught out 'old' Schumacher – Michael Schumacher again as he slammed into the Sauber of Sergio Pérez.

2012 Singapore Grand Prix

Main article: 2012 Singapore Grand Prix

On 22 September 2012, the AP reported that Bernie Ecclestone and the Singapore Grand Prix agreed that the Grand Prix will remain on the Formula One calendar through the year of 2017.[19] As F1 people in Singapore and the world over mourned the passing of the much-loved Prof Sid Watkins, Lewis Hamilton refocused quickly enough to claim his fifth pole of the season for McLaren and his second in Singapore. A surprise visitor to the front row alongside him was the Williams of Pastor Maldonado, but it was Vettel's Red Bull that inherited the race lead when Hamilton pulled out with gearbox problems. Sebastian Vettel then dedicated his 23rd Grand Prix win to 'The Prof'.

2013 Singapore Grand Prix

Main article: 2013 Singapore Grand Prix

For the 2013 race, it was announced that the 10th turn of the track, the "Singapore Sling" chicane, will be reconfigured so the cars will have to navigate a flowing left-hander before accelerating towards the Anderson Bridge.[20]

It was Sebastian Vettel who stole the show with a 'hat-trick': his third successive win in Singapore with Red Bull and the 33rd of his career as a fourth straight title also loomed. He did it from his second Singapore pole, recovering from the surprise of seeing Nico Rosberg's Mercedes briefly ahead at race start to take victory by over half a minute. Fernando Alonso was on the podium yet again before stopping his Ferrari to pick up Mark Webber, whose Red Bull was in flames at Turn 7.

2014 Singapore Grand Prix

Main article: 2014 Singapore Grand Prix

On 15 April 2014, it was announced that Singapore Airlines would sponsor the Singapore Grand Prix, starting from that year.[21]

F1's new-generation turbo-charged, hybrid-powered cars brought a new look to the track, ending the reign of the 2.4-litre power unit, but a controversial ban on radio communications dominated pre-race proceedings. Mercedes's Lewis Hamilton sailed to his seventh win of the year, becoming Singapore's third multiple winner in the process as teammate Nico Rosberg fell victim to the technical gremlins inherent in the new formula. For once Sebastian Vettel, bound for Ferrari in 2015, had to settle for second ahead of new Red Bull partner Daniel Ricciardo.

2015 Singapore Grand Prix

Main article: 2015 Singapore Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton arrived in Singapore one pole position shy of his idol Ayrton Senna's record run of eight in a row. Another win would also put Hamilton on 41 – the same number as Senna. Sebastian Vettel was unmoved as he chose Singapore as the venue for his first Ferrari pole, then made it four wins at Marina Bay as Hamilton retired with a loss of electrical power just after half-distance. Daniel Ricciardo did well to split the two Ferraris in second place, while Formula One rookie Max Verstappen belligerently bellowed 'No!' when told to move over for Toro Rosso teammate Carlos Sainz.

During the 2015 race a spectator entered the track on the straight after Anderson Bridge, as leaders Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo sped by. Given that he crossed the track, the accident probability was high, but he climbed over the fencing himself when the safety car was deployed. Eventual race winner Vettel described the man as 'crazy' in his post-race interview.[22] The 27-year-old man was arrested by Singapore police after the incident. CCTV footage showed he had sneaked through a gap in the fencing.[23]

2016 Singapore Grand Prix

Main article: 2016 Singapore Grand Prix

Nico Rosberg had not visited the Marina Bay podium since 2008, so his 200th Grand Prix start seemed the perfect moment to put things right; especially as the German was locked in a two-man tussle for the title with Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton. A stunning run to pole position laid the perfect foundation, and when Hamilton's hopes faded along with his brakes victory seemed certain. Nobody told Daniel Ricciardo: the Australian mounted a thrilling late charge to keep Rosberg's supporters on the edge of their seats, finishing second with another Singapore fastest lap. Victory was the springboard for Rosberg's title success.

2017 Singapore Grand Prix

Main article: 2017 Singapore Grand Prix

On 19 June 2017, the FIA's World Motor Sport Council in Geneva released its provisional 2018 calendar where the Singapore Grand Prix was given a tentative date of 16 September. At the time, the race (as well as the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai) were subject to confirmation by the commercial rights holders.[24] On the eve of the 2017 race, the track and F1 announced an extension for the race through 2021.[25] This race was a critical event in the season as polesitter and title contender, Sebastian Vettel, was involved in a first corner collision with Ferrari teammate Kimi Räikkönen and Red Bull's Max Verstappen, which led to the retirement of all 3 drivers. Vettel's title rival, Mercedes's Lewis Hamilton was not going to let this go unpunished and took full advantage of this chaos and took victory from 5th on the grid and extended his championship lead over Vettel from 3 points to 28 points.[26]

2018 Singapore Grand Prix

Main article: 2018 Singapore Grand Prix

After a disappointing weekend in Monza, Ferrari arrived in Singapore with high hopes of a victory. However, a stunning lap by Lewis Hamilton in qualifying put him on pole, ahead of Max Verstappen and the Ferrari of Vettel. At the start, the two Racing Point Force India drivers, Sergio Pérez and Esteban Ocon had an incident which resulted in the latter retiring. Vettel overtook Verstappen right before the Safety Car commenced. Vettel was the first of the front runners to pit, on lap 15. He was put on ultrasoft tyres, while most other people who pitted during that time went for the softs. He exited behind Pérez and struggled to overtake him, but after a lap he managed to do it. Verstappen pitted on lap 18, and exited just in front of Vettel. He was on softs. Vettel, being on the higher wear ultrasofts did not attack in order to be able to make it to the end. On lap 34, Pérez had a clash with Sergey Sirotkin which resulted in him getting a drive-through penalty. Sirotkin himself got a 5 second time penalty after forcing Brendon Hartley off the track.[27] Later on in the race, he was battling with Romain Grosjean as Hamilton and Verstappen approached to lap them. Instead of letting the leaders pass, Grosjean continued to attack Sirotkin which allowed Verstappen to close the gap to Hamilton and nearly overtake him. The Frenchman was handed a 5 second penalty and 2 penalty points on his license.[28] In the end Hamilton won, with Vestappen second and Vettel third,[29] increasing his championship lead over the German to 40 points.

Track description

Main article: Marina Bay Street Circuit

Although the track has seen some minor changes as seen above, the basic layout has in many aspects remained unchanged. It is a twisty circuit that is the slowest in Formula One running at normal race distance above 305 kilometres (190 mi), which combined with its features of proximity to walls leads to frequent safety cars, further extending the running to nearing the race time limit of two hours.[30] The bumpiness, the heavy braking zones, the lack of daylight and the humidity makes the race very testing for both drivers and cars. It has some 90-degree turns, but with a high degree of variability, featuring technical sections and quick direction changes. Overtaking is primarily done at the end of the first sector, where top speeds are at their highest. Runoff areas exist at the end of the long straights, but are very short by Formula One standards. At most parts of the track, cars run very close to the walls.

Attendance

Year Average Daily Attendance Total Attendance (3-Day) Source
2008 100,000 300,000 2008 Singapore Grand Prix Attendance
2009 83,000 249,000 2009 Singapore Grand Prix Attendance
2010 81,350 244,050 2010 Singapore Grand Prix Attendance
2011 82,500 247,500 2011 Singapore Grand Prix Attendance
2012 84,317 252,951 2012 Singapore Grand Prix Attendance
2013 87,509 262,527 2013 Singapore Grand Prix Attendance
2014 84,454 253,362 2014 Singapore Grand Prix Attendance
2015 86,970 260,912 2015 Singapore Grand Prix Attendance
2016 73,000 218,824 2016 Singapore Grand Prix Attendance
2017 86,800 260,400 2017 Singapore Grand Prix Attendance
2018 87,666 263,000 2018 Singapore Grand Prix Attendance

Winners

Repeat winners (drivers)

Drivers in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season.
A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

Wins Driver Years won
4 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton 2009, 2014, 2017, 2018
Germany Sebastian Vettel 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015
3 New Zealand Graeme Lawrence 1969, 1970, 1971
2 Spain Fernando Alonso 2008, 2010

Repeat winners (constructors)

Teams in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season.
A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

Wins Constructor Years won
4 Germany Mercedes 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018
3 Italy Ferrari 1970, 2010, 2015
Austria Red Bull 2011, 2012, 2013
2 United Kingdom McLaren 1969, 2009

Repeat winners (engine manufacturers)

Manufacturers in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season.
A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

Wins Manufacturer Years won
5 United States Ford * 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971
Germany Mercedes 2009, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018
4 France Renault 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013
3 Italy Ferrari 1970, 2010, 2015

* Built by Cosworth

By year

A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

Year Driver Constructor Class Location Report
2018 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Formula One Marina Bay Report
2017 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Formula One Report
2016 Germany Nico Rosberg Mercedes Formula One Report
2015 Germany Sebastian Vettel Ferrari Formula One Report
2014 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Formula One Report
2013 Germany Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault Formula One Report
2012 Germany Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault Formula One Report
2011 Germany Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault Formula One Report
2010 Spain Fernando Alonso Ferrari Formula One Report
2009 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes Formula One Report
2008 Spain Fernando Alonso Renault Formula One Report
2007
–
1974 		Not held
1973 Australia Vern Schuppan March-Hart Formula Libre Thomson Road Report
1972 Australia Max Stewart Mildren–Waggott Formula Libre Report
1971 New Zealand Graeme Lawrence Brabham-Ford Formula Libre Report
1970 New Zealand Graeme Lawrence Ferrari Formula Libre Report
1969 New Zealand Graeme Lawrence McLaren-Ford Formula Libre Report
1968 Australia Garrie Cooper Elfin–Ford Formula Libre Report
1967 Singapore Rodney Seow Merlyn–Ford Formula Libre Report
1966 Singapore Lee Han Seng Lotus-Ford Formula Libre Report

Sponsors

Concerns

Before the first modern race took place, Malaysian Sports Minister Azalina Othman Said said that the proximity of the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, which hosts the Malaysian Grand Prix and is about 300 kilometres from Singapore, would create unhealthy competition.[31] The Malaysian Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Liow Tiong Lai stated that the Malaysian Government is unconcerned about possible competition from Singapore.[32] But this concern came to an end after Malaysia decided to withdraw from the Formula One Calendar after 2017.

Track layouts

  • The Original Marina Bay circuit with the "Singapore Sling" chicane (used in 2008–2012)
    The Original Marina Bay circuit with the "Singapore Sling" chicane (used in 2008–2012)
  • Revised circuit with the "Singapore Sling" chicane removed (used in 2013–2014)
    Revised circuit with the "Singapore Sling" chicane removed (used in 2013–2014)
  • Revised circuit with turns 11–13 modified (used in 2015–2016)
    Revised circuit with turns 11–13 modified (used in 2015–2016)

Further reading

  • Solomon, Eli (2008). Snakes & Devils: A History of the Singapore Grand Prix (Hard cover). Singapore: Marshall Cavendish. ISBN 978-981-261-584-8.
  • De Cotta, Ian (2008). The Singapore Grand Prix – 50 Years in the Making. Singapore: MediaCorp Pte Ltd. ISBN 978-981-08-1341-3.
  • Davison, Julian (September 2008). "Gambling For Matchsticks" (PDF). The Expat. pp. 49–58. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 September 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Singapore confirms 2008 night race". Formula1.com. 11 May 2007. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b "FIA green light Singapore night race". Formula1.com. 25 October 2007. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ a b "SingTel to sponsor first Singapore Grand Prix". Formula1.com. 16 November 2007. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Meng Meng, Wang (15 September 2017). "Formula One: Singapore Grand Prix signs 4-year extension to host night race". The Straits Times. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Singapore GP handed new four-year deal". motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. 15 September 2017. Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Collantine, Keith (22 September 2012). "Singapore confirms F1 contract extension to 2017". Formula 1 Fanatic. Retrieved 22 September 2012. The Singapore Grand Prix will remain on the F1 calendar for at least the next five years.
  7. ^ "Singapore stats – Rosberg the third driver to win 200th race". Formula1.com. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  8. ^ "Race – Hamilton wins dramatic wet-dry Grand Prix in 2017 Singapore Grand Prix with 3 safety car periods". Formula1.com. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  9. ^ "Hamilton extends championship advantage with faultless Singapore victory". Formula1.com. 16 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  10. ^ "A Bird's Eye View of Singapore". 20 September 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2017 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ "Singapore Grand Prix in Numbers". 20 September 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2017 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ a b "A History of the Singapore Grand Prix". Snakes & Devils. Archived from the original on 17 September 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ "Home – Sports in Independent Singapore – The Grand Prix". Singapore Sports Council. Archived from the original on 29 December 2006. Retrieved 18 May 2007.
  14. ^ "Singapore wins right to host F1 race next year". Channel NewsAsia. 11 May 2007. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  15. ^ "Introduction to Singapore Grand Prix". Singapore GP. Archived from the original on 21 October 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2007.
  16. ^ "F1 2012 | Live Formula 1 Grand Prix news | ESPN F1". En.f1-live.com. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  17. ^ "Let there be light – illuminating the Singapore Grand Prix". Formula1.com. 8 February 2008. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ "Singapore to revise track for 2009 race". autosport.com.
  19. ^ "Singapore GP extends F1 deal through 2017". 22 September 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  20. ^ Seen in 'F1 Racing' http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BR5YlESCAAAjBHF.jpg
  21. ^ "Singapore Airlines to be Title Sponsor of Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix". 15 April 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  22. ^ "Singapore GP: Track invader was crazy says Sebastian Vettel". Autosport. 20 September 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  23. ^ Parkes, Ian (20 September 2015). "Singapore GP track invader arrested by police". Autosport. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  24. ^ Noble, Jonathan. "Formula 1 2018 calendar revealed with first triple-header". autosport.com. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  25. ^ "Singapore Grand Prix: Circuit to host race until at least 2021". 15 September 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2017 – via www.bbc.com.
  26. ^ [1]
  27. ^ Smith, Luke (16 September 2018). "Perez, Sirotkin accept Singapore penalties were fair". Crash.net. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  28. ^ Collantine, Keith; Rencken, Dieter. "Grosjean's block on Hamilton "one of the worst cases of ignoring blue flags"". www.racefans.net. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  29. ^ "Standings". Formula1.com. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  30. ^ "What To Watch For in Singapore". 20 September 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2017 – via YouTube.
  31. ^ "Singapore News – Malaysia jittery over Singapore F1 roar". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 18 May 2007.
  32. ^ "Malaysia unconcerned about Singapore GP". Motoring & Independent Online (Pty) Ltd. Retrieved 18 May 2007.
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