GET TO KNOW
THE CIRCUIT
Few races light up the Formula 1 calendar like the Singapore Grand Prix, where cars roar through the city streets under a canopy of floodlights. The Marina Bay Street Circuit transforms the city into a theatre of speed and spectacle, framed by skyscrapers and waterfront views that give the race its unmistakable character.
What’s the circuit like?
The Marina Bay Street Circuit is one of the most physically demanding on the calendar, its bumpy street surface coupled with humid conditions giving the drivers plenty to think about. Even after a 2023 layout change reducing the number of corners from 23 to 19, they are working the wheel a lot, too, around the high-speed lap – the physical stress causing them to lose as much as 3-4kg in body weight over the course of a race.
When was the track built?
The Marina Bay Street Circuit arrived on the scene in 2008. A street track with the city's famous skyline as its spectacular backdrop, the initial circuit plan by Herman Tilke was refined by KBR Inc, and the event quickly established itself as one of the standouts on the F1 calendar.
When was its first Grand Prix?
In 2008, Singapore had the honour of hosting the first night-time race in F1 history. The Grand Prix – the 15th round of that season – proved a huge hit with the teams and drivers, while Renault’s Fernando Alonso claimed a controversial victory.
SAFETY CAR
PROBABILITY:
VSC
PROBABILITY:
Trivia
Due to the physical demands of the climate and circuit, drivers can lose as much as 3-4kg in body weight over the course of a race in Singapore
FIRST GRAND PRIX:
2008
TRACK LENGTH:
4.940km
LAP RECORD:
1:34.486
Daniel Ricciardo (2024)
Previous winners
2024 Lando Norris (McLaren)
2023 Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
2022 Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
2019 Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
2018 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Previous polesitters
2024 Lando Norris (McLaren)
2023 Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
2022 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
2019 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
2018 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
PIT STOP
TIME LOSS
29.1s
(including 2.5s stationary)
OVERTAKES COMPLETED IN 2024:
62
POLE RUN TO TURN 1 BRAKING POINT:
The Driver's Verdict
Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault F1 driver
Marina Bay is a long, complex circuit, and draining as well – a little bit like Monaco – with plenty of bumps. It’s all about the low-speed and having decent turn-in without losing the rear or suffering snaps of oversteer.
There are still 19 corners after the removal of the Turns 16-19 section, which has become a long straight, and towards the end of the lap you’re starting to worry about your rear tyres overheating, particularly if you’ve not been kind to them earlier on.
Braking is particularly tricky at Turn 7, where it’s easy to run wide. The newer Singapore Sling through Turns 10 and 11 is also one of those ones that can lure you into going too deep, often catching drivers out.
Coming over the bridge, where you brake to the right and then turn to the left, induces lock-ups, while a lot of traction events mean you’re spiking rear tyre temperatures – and there’s an emphasis on rear grip here.
A huge amount of concentration is required for this circuit and Grand Prix. You can lose a few kilos of liquid during the race, so hydration is the order of the day. Monaco might be the only venue with a slower average speed, but Singapore can be an absolute slog.
Current Form
What can be expected going into the Grand Prix weekend?
The Drivers’ title fight has taken an interesting turn across the last two race weekends, with Max Verstappen’s run of back-to-back victories seeing him close the gap to championship leader Oscar Piastri down to 69 points with seven rounds remaining.
While the reigning World Champion has admitted that this margin is still “a lot”, McLaren boss Andrea Stella has stated that Verstappen is “definitely” in contention for the crown – and that Piastri and team mate Lando Norris “cannot afford errors”.
Speaking of which, Piastri will be keen to bounce back in Singapore after a rare mistake in Baku saw him crash out on Lap 1, while Norris arrives into the event as the most recent winner at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, having converted pole position at last year’s race into a win.
Can the pair hold off the challenge from Verstappen this time out? The weekend could also see McLaren secure the Teams’ Championship, with only Mercedes and Ferrari still mathematically in with a chance of preventing the Woking-based outfit from doing so.
Behind the top four teams, Williams strengthened their hold on fifth place in the standings thanks to Carlos Sainz’s podium in Azerbaijan. The midfield scrap around them remains incredibly close, however, with Racing Bulls currently holding P6 after Baku brought an impressive double top-10 finish for Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar.
With the Marina Bay Street Circuit known for its demanding nature, a high level of concentration is required from the drivers – meaning that valuable points could be up for grabs should anybody ahead slip up.
Iconic Moment
Vettel's Epic Comeback
Many a memorable moment has played out under the lights of the Marina Bay Street Circuit since it arrived on the F1 calendar back in 2008, but on this occasion we’re taking a short trip back to 2019 to relive the final victory of Sebastian Vettel’s record-breaking run at the circuit – which also proved to be his last win in Formula 1.
The four-time World Champion had arrived into the weekend off the back of a disappointing performance at the Italian Grand Prix, where a spin saw him cross the line down in P13 while Ferrari team mate Charles Leclerc was victorious.
Leclerc again looked like the favourite in Singapore after clinching pole position, but an early pit stop allowed Vettel to undercut the Monegasque – as well as the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton – and put himself into the lead, a position he held through three Safety Cars en route to the chequered flag.
