Singapore Grand Prix
Marina Bay Street Circuit | |
Race information | |
---|---|
Number of times held | 17 |
First held | 1966 |
Most wins (drivers) | Sebastian Vettel (4) |
Most wins (constructors) |
Ferrari (3) Red Bull (3) |
Circuit length | 5.065 km (3.147 mi) |
Race length | 308.828 km (191.897 mi) |
Laps | 61 |
Last race (2016) | |
Pole position | |
| |
Podium | |
| |
Fastest lap | |
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The Singapore Grand Prix is a motor race on the calendar 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[3] for F1 races.
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 team mate Nelson Piquet Jr. had been ordered to crash on purpose by senior team management to bring out the safety car at a timely moment to catapult Alonso to the head of the line. The Singapore Grand Prix will remain on the F1 calendar until at least 2017, after race organizers signed a contract extension with Formula One Management on the eve of the 2012 event.[4] Since 2008, every race edition has featured at least one safety car, a total of 14 safety car deployments, as of 2016.[5]
The race under artificial lights start at 2 pm CET (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, given the race is held just about 137 km from the equator,[6] the cockpit temperature can reach 60 °C (140 °F).[7]
History
Origins
First organised in 1961, the race was initially known as the Orient Year Grand Prix.[8] The following year, the race was renamed the Malaysian Grand Prix.[8] 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.[9]
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.[10]
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.[11] The event went on to achieve a full sell-out for all of its tickets.[12]
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.
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.[13] The race was won by Fernando Alonso driving for the Renault team, however that result has since been tarnished by controversy.
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.[14]
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.[15]
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.[16]
On 15 April 2014, it was announced that Singapore Airlines would sponsor the Singapore Grand Prix, starting from that year.[17]
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.[18] 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.[19]
Track description
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.[20] 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 is pretty variable in that aspect, featuring technical sections with quick direction changes as well. 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 straightaways, but are very short by Formula One standards. At most parts of the track, cars run very close to the walls.
Winners
Multiple winners (drivers)
Embolded drivers are still competing in the Formula One championship.
A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.
Number of wins | Driver | Years won |
---|---|---|
4 | Sebastian Vettel | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 |
3 | Graeme Lawrence | 1969, 1970, 1971 |
2 | Fernando Alonso | 2008, 2010 |
Lewis Hamilton | 2009, 2014 |
Multiple winners (constructors)
Embolded teams are still competing in the Formula One championship.
A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.
Number of wins | Constructor | Years won |
---|---|---|
3 | Ferrari | 1970, 2010, 2015 |
Red Bull | 2011, 2012, 2013 | |
2 | McLaren | 1969, 2009 |
Mercedes | 2014, 2016 |
By year
Events which were not part of the Formula One World Championship are indicated by a pink background.
Year | Driver | Constructor | Class | Location | Report |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | Formula One | Marina Bay | Report |
2015 | Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari | Formula One | Report | |
2014 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | Formula One | Report | |
2013 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | Formula One | Report | |
2012 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | Formula One | Report | |
2011 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | Formula One | Report | |
2010 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | Formula One | Report | |
2009 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | Formula One | Report | |
2008 | Fernando Alonso | Renault | Formula One | Report | |
2007 – 1974 |
Not held | ||||
1973 | Vern Schuppan | March-Hart | Formula Libre | Thomson Road | Report |
1972 | Max Stewart | Mildren–Waggott | Formula Libre | Report | |
1971 | Graeme Lawrence | Brabham-Ford | Formula Libre | Report | |
1970 | Graeme Lawrence | Ferrari | Formula Libre | Report | |
1969 | Graeme Lawrence | McLaren-Ford | Formula Libre | Report | |
1968 | Garrie Cooper | Elfin–Ford | Formula Libre | Report | |
1967 | Rodney Seow | Merlyn–Ford | Formula Libre | Report | |
1966 | Lee Han Seng | Lotus-Ford | Formula Libre | Report |
Sponsors
- 2008–2013: SingTel Singapore Grand Prix
- 2014–2017: Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix
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.[21] The Malaysian Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Liow Tiong Lai stated that the Malaysian Government is unconcerned about possible competition from Singapore.[22]
Gallery
- Bird's eye view of the Marina Bay Street Circuit, with construction of the Integrated Resort in the background
- Same view of the circuit, circa 2012
- Esplanade stretch of the Marina Bay Street Circuit
- Kimi Räikkönen driving for Ferrari
Track layouts
- 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 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.
See also
References
- 1 2 3 "Singapore confirms 2008 night race". Formula1.com. 11 May 2007. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
- 1 2 "FIA green light Singapore night race". Formula1.com. 25 October 2007. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
- 1 2 "SingTel to sponsor first Singapore Grand Prix". Formula1.com. 16 November 2007. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Singapore stats - Rosberg the third driver to win 200th race". Formula1.com. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
- ↑ A Bird's Eye View of Singapore
- ↑ Singapore Grand Prix in Numbers
- 1 2 "A History of the Singapore Grand Prix". Snakes & Devils. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
- ↑ "Home – Sports in Independent Singapore – The Grand Prix". Singapore Sports Council. Archived from the original on 29 December 2006. Retrieved 18 May 2007.
- ↑ "Singapore wins right to host F1 race next year". Channel NewsAsia. 11 May 2007. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
- ↑ "Introduction to Singapore Grand Prix". Singapore GP. Archived from the original on 21 October 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2007.
- ↑ "F1 2012 | Live Formula 1 Grand Prix news | ESPN F1". En.f1-live.com. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
- ↑ "Let there be light – illuminating the Singapore Grand Prix". Formula1.com. 8 February 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
- ↑ Straw, Edd; Noble, Jonathan (7 January 2009). "Singapore to revise track for 2009 race". autosport.com. Retrieved 7 January 2009.
- ↑ "Singapore GP extends F1 deal through 2017". 22 September 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
- ↑ Seen in 'F1 Racing' http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BR5YlESCAAAjBHF.jpg
- ↑ "Singapore Airlines to be Title Sponsor of Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix". 15 April 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
- ↑ "Singapore GP: Track invader was crazy says Sebastian Vettel". Autosport. 20 September 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
- ↑ Parkes, Ian (20 September 2015). "Singapore GP track invader arrested by police". Autosport. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
- ↑ What To Watch For In Singapore
- ↑ "Singapore News – Malaysia jittery over Singapore F1 roar". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 18 May 2007.
- ↑ "Malaysia unconcerned about Singapore GP". Motoring & Independent Online (Pty) Ltd. Retrieved 18 May 2007.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Singapore Grand Prix. |