Singapore Grand Prix: track and statistics

The temporary circuit will be constructed along city streets, with the exception of a 1.2 kilometer section with pits, a paddock and the starting line. This is the third fastest city circuit on the calendar – after Baku and Jeddah, but second to Monaco in terms of lowest average speed per lap.

The track is surrounded by a temporary fence with a unique design. Of the 2,000 blocks, a quarter will be placed just before the Grand Prix, so as not to disturb residents and tourists on normal days. After the race, the fence will be dismantled to be rebuilt next year. But the main reason for pride is the artificial lighting system.

The motto of the first night race in Formula 1 history is ‘Light as day’. The development of the lighting system was carried out by the company of Italian Valerio Maioli, which has forty years of experience in similar work in sports arenas.

The width of the track is 10 to 15 meters and the light streams must be directed so as to provide uniform illumination sufficient for racers and television, avoiding glare when turning and glare in rain.

Illuminating five kilometers of city streets, covered in trees in some areas, with unique architecture and features, is not an easy task. However, a stable luminous flux of 3,000 lux is provided over the entire distance – approximately four times more than a football field. stadium.

Valerio Maioli: “We could not illuminate the city streets according to the same principles as stadiums – it is impossible to place high towers of devices here, so it was necessary to evenly distribute the light sources, avoiding dazzling drivers and the appearance of shadows , for example from rival cars. Trees grow along the roads, so the electricity cable, along with the lighting fixtures, had to be laid from above.”

240 poles have been installed on the route, connected by 108 kilometers of electricity cables, and 1,500 spotlights, each with a power of 2,000 W, the total lighting power is more than three million Watts.

The weekend’s events will take place in the evening, but drivers and teams will live and work in Singapore on European time to avoid having to adjust to the time zone. The first and third practice sessions take place early, in the sun and in completely different conditions than during qualifying and the race, so the information gathered from them is not very relevant.

The asphalt compound has been specially developed for the Singapore circuit with the collaboration of Shell – engineers believe it provides 20% better grip than normal. Every year the surface is changed in certain areas, including this year, but it is not possible to achieve perfect flatness – riders complain about numerous bumps and engineers have to adjust the suspension to the maximum height during the season.

Characteristics of the trajectory

The route turns counterclockwise. Formally, overtaking is possible in three turns: the first, seventh and fourteenth, but in practice it is extremely difficult to fight for position in Singapore, so a good qualifying result, an effective start and a successful strategy are important.

The speed in the slowest bend is 75 km/h, in the fastest bend 275 km/h. The chance that a safety car will be deployed is 100%; the teams will take this factor into account when developing a strategy.

The circuit requires a high level of downforce and the load on the brakes is high. At this time of year in Singapore there are thunderstorms in the morning almost every day, usually the asphalt is completely dry in the afternoon, but in 2017 the race turned out to be rainy and last year it rained all weekend.

Last fall, the organizers of the Singapore Grand Prix presented an updated track configuration, specifying four corners: the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th. Instead, a straight line will appear between Turn 14 and the former Turn 20. Singapore hopes such a decision will increase overtaking, which has always been difficult.

Nick Chester: “Marina Bay is a relatively slow circuit with many bends. Finding the right settings is a challenge: getting the front end to perform well on corner entry without causing too much understeer in slow corners.

To perform successfully in Singapore you need good mechanical grip on the asphalt, high downforce and good dynamics when accelerating from slow corners, but a factor like resistance is not as important as in Spa and Monza.”

Weekend schedule

You can follow the progress of all Formula 1 sessions on our live broadcast page.

Tire kits issued to teams for the weekend

The Singapore lap is quite slow, but the tires will have to withstand the stresses associated with high temperatures and humidity, a large number of corners and the onslaught of curbs, while still providing good grip. Pirelli has once again chosen the softest tire compounds for Singapore.

Mario Isola: “The Singapore circuit has 23 slow corners where it is important to maximize grip. We will include the three softest compounds to provide speed and grip, but monitoring rear tire wear will be critical.

Given the tendency of today’s cars to understeer, it is important to find the right balance, ensuring sufficient control over the front axle, but without compromising the car’s performance under acceleration.”

Performance of current racers in Singapore

Kevin Magnussen: “One of the most difficult races awaits us, not only because of the heat and humidity, but also because of the configuration of the track – the turns are one after the other, so we have no time to rest. Most circuits have a few straights where you can catch your breath, but in Singapore, even on the stretches called straights, you still have to work the wheel. In addition, there are many bumps on the track, so you cannot really relax.

I don’t have a specific approach to preparation. I just train as hard as I can. I remind myself that the race in Singapore will be very difficult, which motivates me to work in the gym.”