2023 Singapore Grand Prix: Fast Facts

2023 Singapore Grand Prix: Fast Facts – The Singapore Grand Prix is one of the most exciting and glamorous events in the Formula One calendar. The night race around the Marina Bay Street Circuit is a unique spectacle that combines high-speed action, stunning city views, and a vibrant atmosphere that attracts fans from all over the world.

Ahead of the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix, several drivers and team bosses share their thoughts on the race and their expectations. From seasoned veterans to rising stars, they shared their insights on the challenges of racing under the lights, the importance of strategy and teamwork, and the thrill of competing in one of the most iconic circuits in the world.

Maiden Marina Bay win for Max Verstappen?

“I’m looking forward to the night race in Singapore. Marina Bay is a cool circuit. This year it will be interesting to see how the revised track layout will impact the general behaviour and set up of the car, I think the lap times will be much quicker. Singapore is probably going to be the most challenging weekend out of the upcoming races as the stakes are heightened on a street circuit and the field is usually very close, not to mention the heat and humidity. Last year we had a very unlucky weekend, hopefully this year it will go a bit better and we’ll of course do our best to make sure we score maximum points this weekend.”

Sergio Perez 250th F1 start

“I am looking forward to going back to Singapore, last season was probably one of the best races of my career. It was such a hard one to navigate, with the heat, the track conditions and the concentration that is required around a street circuit. Of course, I would love to repeat the win but it will be tricky, the new track layout is going to make things quicker in sector three and there will be rain, so it could be fun! This weekend is my 250th race in Formula One and I never would have imagined I would race an F1 car that many times when I started my career. It has been a dream and I am proud to have represented Mexico all over the world for this many years and I would love to give them another win this Sunday. I have a one-off helmet to mark the moment and I think it’s going to look very special under the lights at night.”

Liam Lawson getting to grips with F1

“I definitely felt more comfortable in Monza than in Zandvoort, even if there’s still a lot to learn. When you get more comfortable in these kinds of cars, it can make quite a big difference. Having done two races now, I’m also getting a better understanding of the difference between the tyre compounds, which is so important. I’d say Monza was pretty successful, even if it was disappointing to finish so close to the points. I think if I had had a better start, perhaps things could have been different, but it’s something that I will learn from, and I’m just excited moving forward.

“I was in Singapore last year as a reserve driver. When I was a kid, it was my favourite circuit. I think because it was a night race and just looked really cool. I used to play it on the Formula 1 games all the time. My dad actually used to promise me every year that he would take me to the Singapore Grand Prix, and in the end, we never went, but he’s going to be coming to the Grand Prix this weekend, so actually I’m taking him!

“I know this is a very tough race physically, and when you get thrown into F1 in this situation, even with all the training in the world, it’s still such a tough adjustment. It’s going to be extremely difficult, but we’ve been training for it and doing everything we can to prepare for that. Last year, I experienced the nighttime routine. It’s cool, to be honest, to go through a weekend like that. It’s a bit different to normal. Obviously, the biggest adjustment will be getting used to the track, as I’ve only driven it on the sim, and street circuits are probably the hardest to replicate. They take confidence, and when you’re new to the track, or even my situation being new to Formula 1, having that confidence early in the weekend is pretty tricky. I’ll be aiming to build up as many laps as we can, a bit like Monza, to be honest. That was the target there, and it will be a similar sort of thing. Generally, I like street circuits, for example, I absolutely love Monaco, so I’m expecting to enjoy Singapore too.”

More points for Valtteri Bottas?

“It was good to get back into the points in Monza: we all needed that, after a few difficult races, and being at our home Grand Prix with the support of our colleagues on the grandstands made it even more special. A point, however, is not enough, and I am hungry for more: we still have eight races to go before the end of the season, and we will push until the very end to achieve our targets. Singapore is a unique track, and both the weather conditions and it being a street track make it even more challenging. We are set to bring a new package this weekend, which should help us make an extra step forward, and I am looking forward to testing it on track. The team back at the factory is working really hard to improve our car and we just need to keep pushing for any opportunity to score.”

Esteban Ocon – Birthday Boy

“I enjoy going to Singapore and, although this track poses some unique challenges, I do feel comfortable driving there. It is physically very demanding on the body, which of course all drivers prepare for, but I think driving around any city streets under the lights is always exhilarating. Unlike Monza, the Marina Bay circuit is a slower, twisty track, making it a very technical circuit for us drivers. Furthermore, we know that a street track like Singapore can present opportunities to do well and we will be looking to maximise these chances and aim to get back into the points come Sunday and make my birthday extra special!”

Dave Robson, Williams Head of Vehicle Performance

“Arriving in Singapore off the back of two strong weekends is very encouraging for the team and drivers. Whilst we are very motivated to continue the good form, we are aware that the layout and nature of the Marina Bay circuit doesn’t necessarily lend itself to the strengths of FW45. However, the circuit is a little different this year, with fewer corners and another long straight. These changes are quite significant in terms of brake and tyre demands and are a little more suited to FW45 than the previous slower layout.

“Tyre compounds for this event are from the soft end of the Pirelli range and are the same as we used in Monza. The layouts of those two circuits are quite different but these compounds should be well suited to Singapore. In the hot and humid conditions, the rear tyres will still require a high level of management, but this should be achievable and aided by the new layout.

“The back-to-back races in Singapore and Suzuka offer a good chance to exercise the FW45 in very different circumstances and provides us with an opportunity to evolve the set-up and test some directions that could be useful to FW46. At the same time, we will not be losing sight of the battle for 7th place in the Championship and we will be looking to increase our points total at both events.”

Toto Wolff – Mercedes Team Principal

“We maximised the result in Monza with the package we had. That will be important across the rest of the season to secure second in the Constructors’. At a circuit that didn’t necessarily suit the characteristics of our car, we were still competitive. It’s encouraging to see that the W14 is performing well across a range of tracks. We’ve had some time to debrief an intense double header and we’re now heading into another one.
 
“Singapore is a unique challenge for every team. The hot and humid conditions are tough on the drivers, team members and the cars. It’s a bumpy track and there are some changes to the layout for this year, too. It should make the lap more flowing and slightly kinder on the tyres.
 
“The battle with our nearest competitors is incredibly close. It’s hard to predict just how the order will shake out each weekend. Nonetheless, we typically perform better on high downforce tracks, so we’re hopeful of a competitive showing.”

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2023 Singapore Grand Prix: Fast Facts

• This year’s Singapore Grand Prix will feature a new layout as redevelopment works take place in the vicinity of the track.
• The circuit between what was Turns 16 to 19 will now become one long 397.9m straight, reducing the number of corners from 23 down to 19.
• The circuit length has therefore reduced from 5.063 km to 4.928 km and the number of laps of the Grand Prix increased from 61 to 62.
• Lap times are expected to be reduced by roughly 10 seconds due to the changes.
• The new layout will likely be beneficial for the tyres; previously, they would begin to overheat towards the end of the lap, but the removal of four 90-degree corners should help them stay closer to the optimum operating window.
• Track evolution is incredibly high in Singapore, given that it is a street circuit. The surface can ramp up by as much as three seconds between FP1 on Friday and Qualifying on Saturday evening.
• The Singapore Grand Prix is one of the most physically demanding races of the season. The intense humidity, warm temperatures, combined with the stop/start nature of the track, make it very challenging.
• Due to these factors, drivers can lose around 3kg of weight during the race through sweating alone.
• That stop/start nature, with a requirement for constant re-acceleration, ensures the circuit has the biggest fuel effect of the year. In simple terms, that means the amount of time you lose each lap is higher for every kilogram of extra fuel in the car.
• Owing to the large amount of time spent in corners, just 50% of lap time is spent at full throttle.
• That is one of the lowest percentages of the season, with only Monaco, the Hungaroring, and the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico with lower amounts.
• The Marina Bay Street Circuit has the largest number of heavy braking events of any circuit we visit at four.
• The lack of long straights and short distance between turns also puts less air through the brakes. Cooling is therefore a big focus for the team.
• The track is also very bumpy. That adds to the stress that the drivers and cars are put through – that is particularly true with these new generation cars that run lower to the ground.
• The circuit also impacts the tyres as the surface temperatures can never properly cool down. The tarmac is also aggressive on the tyres, increasing wear and degradation.
• With a speed limit of 60 km/h, and a layout that feeds in at turn two, the total pit lane time is the highest of the season at 25 seconds.
• Owing to the layout changes, the number of gear changes per lap has dropped to 64. It was previously the circuit with the highest amount of gear changes but now ranks fourth overall.
• Given the nature of a street track, it is perhaps no surprise that all 13 of the previous Singapore Grands Prix have featured at least one Safety Car deployment.
• In the last five editions, we have seen 10 Safety Car deployments.