Formula One is gearing up for a thrilling night at the Marina Bay Street Circuit as the Singapore Grand Prix returns under the dazzling lights of the city. Though relatively young by F1 standards, this race has already earned a reputation for excitement and drama.
The Singapore Grand Prix made its debut in 2008 as the sport’s first-ever night race, but its early years were overshadowed by the infamous “Crashgate” scandal. Despite this, the Marina Bay track has become known for its challenging layout, with tight, twisting corners that demand precision from the 20 drivers navigating the circuit. The course is also notoriously tough on brakes, making it a true test of skill.
In preparation for the 2023 race, changes were made to reduce the number of corners from 23 to 19, aiming to make the track slightly less punishing. For the upcoming 2024 edition, further modifications have been introduced. A fourth DRS (Drag Reduction System) zone has been added between Turns 14 and 16, designed to improve overtaking opportunities. Additionally, resurfacing work continues in various areas of the track. As Marina Bay Street Circuit runs along public roads, there’s always the question of how smooth—or bumpy—the surface will be post-resurfacing, adding another layer of unpredictability to the race.
Initially designed by the renowned Hermann Tilke (whose CV includes circuits in Jeddah, Baku, Austin and Abu Dhabi) and refined by KBR Inc., the track presents a physical challenge for the drivers and teams because of Singapore’s hot and humid tropical climate. And though the race is held in Asia, the paddock operates on European time — meaning inverted sleep schedules.
“You need to put a lot of work into the car to get a good lap,” Lewis Hamilton said in 2008. “I’d say it requires double the energy of Monaco over a single lap. One lap around here is like two laps of Monaco.”
Before F1 hops into the thick of the sticky Singapore night, here’s what you need to know about the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
Specs
Making the night race happen
“If you survive Singapore, you’re fit for anything else in Formula One.”
Carlos Sainz isn’t wrong in highlighting the Singapore Grand Prix as one of the most physically and mentally grueling races on the Formula 1 calendar. Held entirely under floodlights, the race uses advanced lighting systems to simulate daytime conditions, while the entire paddock operates on European time. This means drivers, teams, and media personnel go to bed around dawn and wake up in the early afternoon, creating an unusual disconnect with the local time zone. Despite the odd schedule, this timing works well for F1’s global audience.
But the quirky time setup isn’t the only challenge of the Singapore GP—drivers also face sweltering heat and intense humidity. Some drivers are known to prepare by training on stationary bikes in saunas to acclimate to the conditions, although not everyone takes this approach. The race’s oppressive heat causes drivers to lose up to three kilograms (6.6 pounds) of body weight during the event, pushing their physical limits and making it even harder to maintain focus throughout the demanding circuit.
“You have to stay super alert because you have to drive full speed between the walls, need to be extremely precise where you put the car, and that’s usually where it gets tough, where you’ve got to be still at the limit of the car playing with centimeters having lost quite a few pounds or liters inside your body,” Pierre Gasly said in 2022. “So that’s definitely the biggest challenge of the year.”
The Singapore GP is known as F1s most demanding race.
— Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) September 18, 2024
Our drivers are put to the test but always with support from our friends at @Myprotein.#DrivenByMyprotein pic.twitter.com/cCr5GibBqw
And the obstacles don’t stop there. The Singapore Grand Prix is one of the longest races on the calendar by time, given the low average speeds, and can become processional on Sundays because of the track’s tight nature. There are a few overtaking opportunities, like Turn 1 (though it’s still difficult there), but the slightest mistake can send a driver into the wall.
“It just drains you a lot mentally and physically, and not making any mistakes, performing at the level you’ve got to perform at, is where it becomes a bigger challenge,” Lando Norris said in 2023. “Also, from that point, one of the coolest tracks I would say to race, to put everything together, the curves, the bumps, it’s a very fun track to drive. I’ve always loved it, that’s why I look forward to it so much.”
Tinkering with the layout
The Marina Bay Street Circuit layout underwent a significant change last year.
As drivers approach the final section of the Marina Bay Street Circuit, they’ll encounter a significant change. Turns 16-19, which previously ran under a grandstand, were reconfigured ahead of the 2023 race to create a longer straight. This adjustment reduced the corner count from 23 to 19 and shortened the overall circuit length, prompting organizers to increase the number of laps by one for the Singapore Grand Prix.
But the revised track layout isn’t the only unique challenge of the race. The extreme heat and humidity of Singapore add another layer of difficulty for drivers. Many prepare for the race by training in saunas, using stationary bikes to simulate the intense conditions they’ll face on race day. However, not every driver takes this approach. During the race, drivers can lose up to three kilograms (6.6 pounds) in body weight due to the sweltering temperatures, placing an immense physical and mental strain on them. Maintaining focus throughout the grueling race becomes all the more challenging with these demanding conditions, making Singapore one of the toughest stops on the F1 calendar.
“I feel it’s definitely a bit less intense,” Nico Hülkenberg said in 2023. “It’s a few seconds in a straight line rather than grip-limited zones and walls where you really tip-toe with the car and the walls. It could change a little bit, but it still isn’t going to be a walk in the park.”
Swapping the tight 90-degree turns for a straight section on the Marina Bay Street Circuit should ease the strain on both brake systems and tires. For the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, Pirelli once again brought their softest tire compounds—C3 for hard, C4 for medium, and C5 for soft. These softer compounds degrade more quickly than harder ones, adding a strategic element to tire management throughout the race.
In normal conditions, a one-stop strategy remains the most efficient due to the time lost during pit stops—about 28 seconds, assuming everything goes smoothly. Overtaking is notoriously tough on this track, which often leads to drivers extending their first stint and forming DRS trains. To improve overtaking opportunities, a fourth DRS zone was added between Turns 14 and 16 for the 2024 race.
DRS played a pivotal role in the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix, most memorably when Carlos Sainz used it to secure the only non-Red Bull victory of the season.
A Debut to Remember
The inaugural Singapore Grand Prix in 2008 was highly anticipated, with the championship battle between McLaren and Ferrari adding extra tension. The race, which marked Formula One’s first under floodlights, was an instant success with the paddock, as the night setting proved less of a factor than expected, and the circuit became a favorite. However, the event is now infamous for the “Crashgate” scandal.
During that race, Renault’s Fernando Alonso took an unlikely win after qualifying 15th. His teammate, Nelson Piquet Jr., crashed deliberately under team orders, causing a safety car that reshuffled the grid and allowed Alonso to take the lead. The scandal later led to investigations and punishments for Renault team members involved. This incident also played a significant role in the championship, which Felipe Massa ultimately lost to Lewis Hamilton by just one point.
Halving its energy emissions by 2028
F1’s push to be net zero by 2030 presents unique challenges for each circuit as different markets vary in resources and what is actually possible for that community.
Take the Singapore Grand Prix, a race under the lights and stars, for example. Race organizers conducted their first carbon footprint report and discovered that energy made up 96.1% of the 2022 emissions, while 3.9% came from water, transport and waste. Based on the results, changes are being made, starting with the 2023 race.
During the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix, a feasibility trial was conducted to explore renewable fuel options, replacing diesel with more sustainable alternatives such as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). The use of R100 HVO, particularly in power generators in Zone 1, led to a significant reduction in emissions. According to Formula One, Scope 1 emissions from combustion fuels decreased by 40.97 percent.
In addition to renewable fuels, other sustainability measures were implemented ahead of the 2023 race. Solar panels were installed atop the pit building by the Singapore Tourism Board earlier in the year, helping to reduce the event’s carbon footprint. The track lighting was also upgraded to energy-efficient LED lights, cutting energy consumption by at least 30 percent. Furthermore, over 100 solar-powered, water-efficient toilets were deployed, saving an estimated 129,600 liters of water over the race weekend.
On the technical side, changes to the circuit layout in 2023, including the removal of several 90-degree turns in favor of a straight section, helped ease the strain on brakes and tires. For both the 2023 and 2024 races, Pirelli supplied the softest tire compounds (C3 for hard, C4 for medium, and C5 for soft), which degrade faster but offer better grip, adding another layer of strategic complexity to the race.
In most cases, the optimal strategy for the Singapore Grand Prix is a one-stop race, provided there are no safety car interruptions. This is due to the significant time loss during a pit stop—about 28 seconds for a well-executed tire change. Overtaking is notoriously difficult on the tight Marina Bay Street Circuit, so drivers often attempt to extend their first stint while DRS trains form. To improve overtaking chances, a fourth DRS zone was introduced between Turns 14 and 16 ahead of the 2024 race.
DRS played a crucial role in the 2023 race, with Carlos Sainz using it masterfully to claim the only non-Red Bull victory of the season.
A Debut to Remember
The 2008 Singapore Grand Prix was highly anticipated, with McLaren and Ferrari locked in a fierce championship battle. The race, Formula 1’s first held under floodlights, quickly became a favorite among fans and drivers alike. However, the event is most remembered for the “Crashgate” scandal.
In short, Renault’s Fernando Alonso won the race despite qualifying in 15th position. This surprising result came after his teammate, Nelson Piquet Jr., deliberately crashed on team orders, causing a safety car that shuffled the field. The controversy tainted the race’s outcome, and following investigations, Renault team personnel faced sanctions. The race played a pivotal role in the championship, which Felipe Massa eventually lost to Lewis Hamilton by just one point.
In March, Felipe Massa filed a groundbreaking lawsuit against Formula One Management (FOM), former F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone, and the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). This unprecedented legal action in the F1 world draws on precedents from other legal cases. Massa’s lawsuit demands over $80 million in damages and seeks a ruling that the FIA breached its own regulations by failing to investigate the 2008 Crashgate scandal promptly.
Halving Energy Emissions by 2028
Formula One’s ambitious goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2030 poses distinct challenges for each circuit, as different markets have varying resources and capabilities.
For example, the Singapore Grand Prix, which takes place under the city’s dazzling lights and stars, has taken steps toward sustainability. Following its first carbon footprint report, organizers discovered that energy consumption accounted for 96.1% of the event’s 2022 emissions, with the remaining 3.9% coming from water, transport, and waste. In response, the race organizers have begun implementing changes starting with the 2023 event to reduce their environmental impact.
During the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix, a feasibility trial tested the substitution of diesel fuel with renewable options, such as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). The use of R100 HVO, particularly in power generators in Zone 1, led to a notable reduction in emissions, with Scope 1 emissions from combustion fuels decreasing by 40.97 percent, according to Formula One.
Ahead of the 2023 race, additional sustainability measures were implemented. The Singapore Tourism Board installed solar panels on the pit building earlier in the year, and the track lighting was upgraded to energy-efficient LED lights, resulting in at least a 30 percent reduction in energy consumption. Additionally, over 100 water-efficient, solar-powered toilets were introduced, saving approximately 129,600 liters of water throughout the race weekend.
Circuit Curiosities
- The older, iconic Singapore Sling chicane — which Hamilton described in 2010 as the “worst corner I’ve ever driven in Formula One” — was removed in 2013 due to safety concerns. There was a fear that if a car was out of control and hit the curbs just right, the vehicle would go airborne. Though the curbs were lowered numerous times, race organizers eventually changed the corner entirely.
- Sebastian Vettel has won the most Singapore Grands Prix (five). Hamilton has the most wins (four) among active drivers.
- Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull are tied for the most wins here by a constructor (four each).
(Lead image: Mario Renzi – Formula 1, Bryn Lennon – Formula 1, Clive Mason / Getty Images; Design: Drew Jordan, The Athletic)
