We here at Karting Nation live and breathe all things racing, and the action on the F1 circuit is certainly no exception. After Lewis Hamilton stormed to victory in Italy last week, we can’t wait for the drivers to head to Singapore – delivering what is sure to be an action-packed event.
As things stand, Hamilton is enjoying a 30 point lead at the top of the Drivers Championship. However, his closest rival Sebastian Vettel has been hot on his tail throughout the season so far. So much so, it definitely looks like the race for the title will go down to the wire. It really could go either way, and it’s certainly too soon to say whether Hamilton will be able to retain his title.
Ahead of this weekend’s race at the Marina Bay circuit, Karting Nation looks at what to expect prior to the main event. So, read on and find out everything you need to know in our 2018 Singapore Grand Prix preview.
What Time Does The Singapore Grand Prix Start?
With a time difference of +7 hours when compared with BST, you might just think that you’d have to get up ridiculously early and miss out on your Sunday lie in. Thankfully, the main event kicks off at 13:10 BST this Sunday, 16th September. For those who can’t wait until then, you have the practice rounds and qualifying to look forward to. The first practice round commences at 09:30 BST on Friday 14th September, followed by practice round two at 13.30 BST. Practice three then begins at 11:00 BST on Saturday 15th September, with qualifying taking place at 14:00 BST on the same day.
History of the Singapore Grand Prix
The Singapore Grand Prix takes place at the Marina Bay Street Circuit which is located in yep, you’ve guessed it, Marina Bay! Constructed at a cost of around $33 million, the racetrack was designed by renowned track architect Hermann Tilke – the designer of a whole host of F1 circuits over the years. The circuit itself measures up to 5.065 km (3.147 mi) which equates to a total race distance of 308.828 km (191.897 mi) over the course of 61 laps.
Prior to its introduction to the F1 calendar 10 years ago, the Singapore Grand Prix took place at Thomson Road, although this was in the Formula Libre racing format instead. This occurred between 1966 and 1973, before the event was discontinued between 1974 and 2007.
The particular event is most definitely one of the most eagerly anticipated races of the season, mostly down to the fact the race takes place at night. You might just think that this presents a safety concern for the racers, but hugely effective floodlighting ensures that visibility isn’t an issue.
The main concern for racers is the tropical climate. Even once the sun has set, cockpit temperatures can often reach 60 °C (140 °F) which can be hugely uncomfortable for racers. Other challenges includes the fact the surface of the track is bumpy due to it being a street circuit. As well as this, there are a total of 23 corners – the most of any circuit in the F1 calendar.
In terms of repeat winners of the Singapore Grand Prix, it’s Sebastian Vettel who comes out on top – with a total of 4 career victories on this particular circuit. His close rival Lewis Hamilton has been able to storm to victory a total of three times – tied with New Zealander Graeme Lawrence who is the most successful Formula Libre racer on the previous circuit at Thomson Road.
Who Won The 2017 Singapore Grand Prix?
In the last edition of the Singapore Grand Prix in 2017, German racer Sebastian Vettel was able to earn himself pole position. However, he was forced to retire from the race after his car sustained collision damage. Ultimately, this paved the way for Lewis Hamilton to storm to victory with a time of 2:03:23.544. Red Bull racer Daniel Ricciardo finished in second position with a time of +4.507, whereas Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas claimed the final spot on the podium with a time of +8.800.
Who Is Likely To Win The 2018 Singapore Grand Prix?
Given the back and forth between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel in this year’s F1 season, either of them remain in contention to earn themselves a victory in this weekend’s race. Each of the two racers have proven themselves on this circuit before, although it was Lewis Hamilton who claimed bragging rights last time round.
In spite of this, Vettel will look to return to winning ways in this particular event. After all, he is currently the most successful racer on the Marina Bay circuit. If the German is able to storm to victory ahead of his rival Hamilton, then he might just be able to close the gap at the top of the driver’s championship once more. However, it might just be easier said than done, as three of Vettel’s Singapore wins came with his previous team Red Bull-Renault, and he has only won with Ferrari once at Marina Bay, that being back in 2015.
Fernando Alonso has also shown his worth in Singapore with wins in 2008 and 2010 respectively. However, he has only been able to accumulate 44 points so far this season, as his woes at the McLaren F1 team continue. The Spanish racer recently announced that he won’t be racing in F1 in the 2019 season. So, it would be very surprising indeed to see him finish on the podium.
Final Thoughts
Now that you’ve found out everything you need to know about the Singapore Grand Prix, all that’s left is to tune into the action from this Friday, 14th September. As we always say here at Karting Nation, it’s sure to be an eventful race, and we can’t wait for the action on the circuit to commence! Be sure to catch the main event this Sunday at 13:10 BST, and keep an eye out for our preview of the 2018 Russian Grand Prix which is due to take place on 30th September.
*All times are in UK time.