Formula 1 returns to Singapore for the 18th calendar test between October 3rd and 5th. Known as “Humid Hell”, Singapore GP is one of the most demanding races of the season due to high temperatures and high levels of moisture. As for the World Pilot Championship, the siege begins to tighten and the number of points that separates the first three is increasingly reduced.
After a summer marked by several races on European soil, Formula 1 begins autumn on the other side of the world, with the long -awaited return of exciting night races. With the championship entering a decisive phase, teams and pilots are preparing for the 18th test of the calegendarybetween October 3 and 5, in the iconic and stunning Marina Bay circuit in Singapore.
The Great Prize for Singapore is one of the most demanding of the calendar. In addition to requiring greater performance by cars as to adhesion and stability, high temperatures and moisture levels during the night are the factor that makes the most performance two pilots, both Physical level as psychological.
The urban layout of the Marina Bay circuit has about 4,927 kilometerswith a total of 62 laps e Three DRS Zones (DRS REDUCTION SYSTEM). After the modifications made in 2023, the circuit now has 19 curvesinstead of the traditional 23.
What times are the Singapore GP?
Friday, October 3
- Free Training 1 (FP1): 10: 30-11: 30
- Free Training 2 (FP2): 14: 00-15: 00
- Free Training 3 (FP3): 10: 30-11: 30
- Qualification: 14: 00-15: 00
(Continental Portugal time)
The “Humid Hell”
Known as the “Humid Hell” of Formula 1, the Great Prize for Singapore It is distinguished by being the first night race in the history of the categoryperformed under 1,600 powerful reflectors that transform the city-state into a true stage of spectacle.
Marina Bay’s urban circuit is not only one of the most physically demanding for pilots, with temperatures that easily exceed 30 degrees and levels of moisture suffocatingas well as one of the longestoften the brush the limit of the two hours of proof.
Crashgate
In 2008, the layout was the scene of one of the largest controversies of the sport, the Famous “Crashgate”which involved the Renault team.
The deliberate accident of Nelson Piquet Jr., who He hit the barriers on purpose to favor the victory of his teammateFernando Alonso. The controversy burst months later and deeply shook the credibility of Formula 1, leading to severe sanctions against Renault and leaving an indelible stain in the history of the test.
And if the track requires surgical accuracyalso already charged quite expensive to some world champions: In 2017, the three front cars – Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari), Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) – collided early in, in one of the most chaotic starts than Formula 1 He has witnessed in artificial light.
A “stone in the shoe” of Verstappen
Interestingly, although Singapore has already crowned some of the greatest champions of the modern era, four -time world champion Max Verstappen never managed to win in this labyrinthic circuit.
Between azars, failed strategies and a trace that does not forgive errorsthe Dutch pilot saw in Marina Bay one of the few walls that still resist their almost absolute dominion.
The day Sainz waged Red Bull’s dominion (and saved the championship)
The 2023 Formula 1 Championship was for history for (almost) absolute domain of Red Bull and his two riders, Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez.
To the 16th test of a total of 22 in the calendar, the Austrian team added victories in all races disputed so far.
However, everything changed with the arrival of the Singapore Grand Prix, where Carlos Sainzbehind the wheel of the Ferrari monolugar, broke the hegemony of Red Bull and ended the impressive sequence of 10 consecutive wins do quadracous champion Dutch.
This year, the Spanish was the only pilotbesides Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez, winning a race.
A brand on the asphalt
One weekend marked by difficulties, the Australian pilot started from 16th position and ended in 18th, achieving a feat that was in memory: marked the fastest return of the racethe first made since 2021, rListening to the point A Lando Norris And making it clear that even at the end, he still had a small connection to Red Bull.
1:43.486: It is the record in the Singapore Circuit. Daniel Ricciardo abandoned Formula 1 but left your mark on Marina Bay’s asphalt.
Who leads the pilot and builders championships?
Azerbaijan’s Grand Prix was a real cold water bucket for McLarenwho seemed to be surfing a wave of luck since the beginning of the year. Oscar Pastri was out of the scoring tableafter packing on one of the walls of the Baku circuit and the team colleague Lando Norris took the opportunity to reduce the difference and is now just to 25 points of reaching the first world title of your career.
However, who most benefited from McLaren’s slip was Max Verstappen. By winning the race at Azerbaijan, the four -time champion managed to shorten the difference to 69 points in relation to Oscar Pistri and for 44 points compared to Lando Norriskeeping the fight for a possible Fifth consecutive world titlewhich would add another important milestone to its already impressive curriculum.
McLaren also missed the opportunity to win the builders’ world championship and set a new record in Baku, becoming champion with the largest number of races still by competing – 7 No total. Currently, this feat belongs to Red Bull, which in 2023, during the Japan GP, guaranteed the
The team led by Zak Brown just needs 13 points to win the much desired title in Singapore and repeat the achievement achieved the previous year.
