Singapore Grand Prix: Marina Bay’s Intense Street Circuit

From one street race to the next, Formula 1 has packed its bags after an epic Azerbaijan Grand Prix and travels southeast, to the Republic of Singapore. To host round 18 of the Formula 1 2024 season. The Singapore Grand Prix. Located on an island country in maritime Southeast Asia, Formula 1 returns to the Asian continent after the Chinese Grand Prix and a circuit that has created a mixture of track action and carbon-tastic moments.

History of the Singapore Grand Prix

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The Marina Bay Street Circuit was first introduced to Formula 1 back in 2008. But this technical street circuit also embodies a sense of richness from other circuits within the realm of Formula 1. As it became the first-ever night to be introduced in F1.

From close battles between Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel in 2010, the Lap 1 melee between Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Räikkönen and Max Verstappen in 2017 or the famous ‘crashgate’ controversy where Renault orchestrated their driver, Nelson Piquet to purposefully crash, hitting the wall at Turn 17. Thereby, allowing his teammate Fernando Alonso to take the victory.

The Singapore Grand Prix has always delivered on the action as we count down to the beginning of the weekend starting today.

The Evolution of the Marina Bay Street Circuit

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In 2007, Formula One Management CEO, Bernie Ecclestone, Singapore entrepreneur, Ong Beng Seng and the Singapore Tourism Board, came together to bring Formula 1 to the Republic of Singapore in May 2007. An agreement was struck and the announcement was made that Formula 1 would host their opening race around the streets of Singapore in 2008.

The lap begins at the start/finish line, weaving its way into the tight Turn One-Two-Three complex. Drivers then race beneath the towering Benjamin Sheares Bridge and onto Republic Boulevard. From there, the track flows into the iconic stretch along Raffles Boulevard before speeding down Nicoll Highway.

As the cars zoom past Stamford Road and Saint Andrew’s Road, they circle the historic Padang, with City Hall standing proudly in the background. The excitement builds as they cross the Anderson Bridge, leading into a tight hairpin turn and onto Esplanade Drive, right beside the stunning Merlion Park.

The circuit then merges onto Raffles Avenue, before a sharp right takes it into the floating grandstand section. Where cars speed beneath the spectators. Finally, the lap finishes thrillingly as drivers navigate a temporary road around the towering Singapore Flyer. Returning to the pit area to complete the circuit.

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After an eventful 2008 grand prix, there was already a need for changes. As the pit lane exit would feed onto the race as the drivers approached Turn 1. In 2009, the pit lane exit would feed out as the drivers headed for Turn 2 to allow the drivers to reenter the track more safely. But entering the pits was also a concern. The drivers would dart into the pits just after Turn 22 at high speed. To ensure no drivers would enter the pits at such high speeds the pit lane would begin before Turn 22 to make the drivers slow down accordingly before Turn 22 before entering into the pit lane.

However, those safety changes did not stop the Marina Bay Street Circuit from creating more challenges. More notably the ‘Singapore Sling’. A small left, right, and left section that grew with more fear every time the drivers approached the ‘Sling’. Which would raise the cars briefly into the air with no control to keep the car out of the wall. So to reduce any risk of uncontrollability, the ‘Sling’ would be repositioned to allow the drivers to enter the section more easily. But such a modifaction left a bad taste in the mouth for the drivers. And with Lewis Hamilton making his thoughts clear on the ‘Singapore Sling’ stating it as the worst corner he has ever driven in F1.

So in 2013, the left, right and left ‘Sling’ was abolished and replaced with a single apex left-hand bend.

The changes would not stop there. In 2015, the Turn 11-12-13 complex underwent significant changes to enhance the racing experience. Turn 11, a right-hander, was re-aligned closer to the left side of Fullerton Road, making it tighter and reducing cornering speed slightly compared to 2014. , Turn 12, a left-hander, was also adjusted, guiding drivers into the left lane of Anderson Bridge before they unleash their speed, putting the pedal down on the approach to Turn 13.

And for a time Formula 1 would continue with no need for change. That would be up until 2023. The final turns that are located on the Marina Bay Platform have been removed due to reconstruction. Being replaced by the NS Square. Which is an outdoor venue for other events to be made available. As that final section is now replaced by a straight. Which comes as a benefit to teams, including that of Mercedes’ Riccardo Musconi, Head of Trackside Performance, who states:

“The final six corners really took the tyres to the edge so in the final turns, you were really fighting oversteer.”

The Head of Track Performance goes on further, praising the new section as:

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“The new straight into what is now turn 16 will give the tyres a bit more of a rest.”

Track Layout

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The Marina Bay Street Circuit has evolved but has been shortened to a 4.94-kilometre circuit consisting of 19 Turns, 10 to the left and nine to the right of this anti-clockwise circuit. Because of the reduction of the circuit length, the drivers will have to traverse 62 laps of this challenging night race.

With a new section introduced in Sector 3, the street circuit has also evolved with its opportunities for overtaking. From three DRS Zones in 2023, now transformers into four DRS Zones. The first DRS Zone is located after Turn 5, the second is located just after Turn 13. But the action does not stop after Turn 14, with this new revised Sector 3, comes the new DRS Zone straight after Turn 14 and the final DRZ Zone is down the Start/Finish straight.

So strap yourself in. Four DRS Zones? It does sound like whoever is in front of the pack, will have to endure the constant pressure of the 19 cars who have DRS behind them.

Iconic Features

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The Marina Bay Street Circuit is one of the most physically tracks demanding in Formula 1. The bumpy street surface becomes physically stressful to the drivers which does become exhausting. As well as the humidity, where the drivers can lose up to 3kg in body weight throughout the race.

And when the sun sets what we see is Formula 1 turn into a movie set, with over 1,500 LED lights illuminating the circuit standing 10 metres high above the circuit. But this system to set up over 1000 lights does not take a few days or a week to set up. It takes up to four months to set up just for the race weekend.

Memorable Races of the Singapore Grand Prix

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Where to start? What about the opening race around the Marina Bay Street Circuit in 2008. More notably, when Fernando Alonso took the chequered flag under controversial circumstances. Renault’s masterful plan took effect when the team instructed Nelson Piquet to purposefully crash his Renault R28 and in doing so, crashed into the barrier coming out of Turn 17. The crash was to ensure the Renault team would secure victory. A victory that came with drastic consequences… Not to Alonso but to his Team Principal, Flavio Briatore would who depart in September the following year.

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Skip ahead to 2010. And the duel between Red Bull and Ferrari. Mainly, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel. From Lap 45 of 61, Sebastian would close down to Fernando to just nine-tenths and keep the pressure up towards the end of the race. Itching forever closer to the back of the Ferrari, Sebastian’s charge would be halted by a slow-moving Lotus of Kovalainen, bellowing smoke out the back of his Lotus T127. Eventually coming to a halt at the start/finish straight. With the smoke converting to fire. Signalling double waved yellow flags, gave the Scuderia driver the breathing room he needed to fend off the raging bull to take his second win around the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

Or what about a carbon-tastic moment that came before the drivers reached Turn 1? Let’s jump to the hybrid era, more specifically 2017. A year when Sebastian Vettel would go head to head with Lewis Hamilton for the 2017 Formula 1 Championship. But a reversal of fortune would strike the Maranello team. Lining up 1st and 4th, Kimi Räikkönen would get ahead of both Red Bull drivers and make it three abreast heading to Turn 1.

But before the race could reach the first corner, the Ferrari drivers would sandwich 2nd place starter Max Verstappen resulting in all three drivers colliding with Verstappen and Räikkönen coming out the melee the worst, colliding with Fernando Alonso who got a good start. All three crashed out on the escape road of Turn 1. For Vettel, the damage he suffered poured fluid from the side of his car, forcing him to retire as well. Ferrari commiserated while Mercedes celebrated as Lewis Hamilton to a well needed victory in his fight with Sebastian for the title.