Singapore Grand Prix™ - The inside track
A veteran of McLaren Racing’s pit-stop crew, Formula One™ mechanic Marc Priestly knows more than most about what makes a Grand Prix™ really special. We’ve got Marc’s exclusive take on the Singapore Grand Prix™ – and why the night-time city-circuit event is among the best races you’ll ever experience.
The Singapore Grand Prix™ has emerged as one of the highlights of the current Formula One™ calendar. The sport’s first ever true night race has brought with it a unique set of experiences for drivers, teams, guests and fans alike and has grown in stature and popularity since its inaugural running in 2008.
Against a spectacular illuminated backdrop of the bustling city centre, the Marina Bay Street Circuit is impressively floodlit allowing the race weekend timetable to operate through the hours of dusk and darkness, providing an amazing visual spectacle. The teams and drivers work to European time zones, allowing them to manage the adjusted night time schedule, something which, whilst I can testify to it being an odd experience at first, actually works very well.
In my experience the city-state comes alive at night, so when we finished work in the garages at around 1am some nights, there’s still lots of places to go out and relax or socialise, before returning to the track after lunch the next day.
The Singapore Grand Prix™ has emerged as one of the highlights of the current Formula One™ calendar. The sport’s first ever true night race has brought with it a unique set of experiences for drivers, teams, guests and fans alike and has grown in stature and popularity since its inaugural running in 2008.
Against a spectacular illuminated backdrop of the bustling city centre, the Marina Bay Street Circuit is impressively floodlit allowing the race weekend timetable to operate through the hours of dusk and darkness, providing an amazing visual spectacle. The teams and drivers work to European time zones, allowing them to manage the adjusted night time schedule, something which, whilst I can testify to it being an odd experience at first, actually works very well.
In my experience the city-state comes alive at night, so when we finished work in the garages at around 1am some nights, there’s still lots of places to go out and relax or socialise, before returning to the track after lunch the next day.
Never miss an update
Join the GP Traveller community and get tips, guides, news, and more delivered to your inbox.
The event poses a series of special challenges for competitors due to its climate, street circuit nature and light levels.
• Some drivers arrive in Singapore earlier than normal to acclimatise to the heat and humidity. They can lose up to 3kgs in sweat during Sunday evening’s race, so hydration is key. The constant, intense concentration and focus under the artificial lights also takes its toll, making it a tough event mentally and physically.
• The cars also suffer due to the heat. Brakes, engines and energy stores all require particular attention to cooling with the many slow corners and lack of long straights to cool them down.
• Like Monaco, the Grand Prix™ is run on public roads, so man-holes, bumps, painted lines and track evolution all play a huge role in grip levels and therefore lap times.
• Qualifying’s important as overtaking’s difficult and therefore strategy can play a big part in the race result. Teams have to factor in a big pit stop loss time because of the long pit lane and low speed limit and the high risk of a safety car.
• Setting the car up here is all about high downforce and good traction from the many slow corners.
Any city centre based Grand Prix™ is spectacular and Singapore certainly doesn’t disappoint. Noise levels are amplified, fans get much closer to the action and the opportunity to come face to face with the stars of the sport in the street, are much higher.
The now famous Amber Lounge runs its exclusive Saturday night fashion show and Sunday night F1™ after party, where drivers and celebs flock until well after the sun comes up on Monday morning.
The teams tend to stay in the big hotels next to the track, The Conrad, The Ritz Carlton, The Mandarin Oriental or The Pan Pacific, but the Marina Bay area in general is a great place to hang out, with some cool roof top bars overlooking the circuit. One of my personal favourites is the City Space Bar at the top of the Swiss Hotel, very cool.
Like Monaco, Singapore gives visitors a whole lot more than just an amazing Grand Prix™, it’s an unforgettable experience. Enjoy.
Click here to see our inclusive Singapore Grand Prix packages »
• Some drivers arrive in Singapore earlier than normal to acclimatise to the heat and humidity. They can lose up to 3kgs in sweat during Sunday evening’s race, so hydration is key. The constant, intense concentration and focus under the artificial lights also takes its toll, making it a tough event mentally and physically.
• The cars also suffer due to the heat. Brakes, engines and energy stores all require particular attention to cooling with the many slow corners and lack of long straights to cool them down.
• Like Monaco, the Grand Prix™ is run on public roads, so man-holes, bumps, painted lines and track evolution all play a huge role in grip levels and therefore lap times.
• Qualifying’s important as overtaking’s difficult and therefore strategy can play a big part in the race result. Teams have to factor in a big pit stop loss time because of the long pit lane and low speed limit and the high risk of a safety car.
• Setting the car up here is all about high downforce and good traction from the many slow corners.
Any city centre based Grand Prix™ is spectacular and Singapore certainly doesn’t disappoint. Noise levels are amplified, fans get much closer to the action and the opportunity to come face to face with the stars of the sport in the street, are much higher.
The now famous Amber Lounge runs its exclusive Saturday night fashion show and Sunday night F1™ after party, where drivers and celebs flock until well after the sun comes up on Monday morning.
The teams tend to stay in the big hotels next to the track, The Conrad, The Ritz Carlton, The Mandarin Oriental or The Pan Pacific, but the Marina Bay area in general is a great place to hang out, with some cool roof top bars overlooking the circuit. One of my personal favourites is the City Space Bar at the top of the Swiss Hotel, very cool.
Like Monaco, Singapore gives visitors a whole lot more than just an amazing Grand Prix™, it’s an unforgettable experience. Enjoy.
Click here to see our inclusive Singapore Grand Prix packages »
Marc worked for McLaren Racing for almost a decade as a race mechanic and member of the illustrious pit stop crew. He was part of every race from the glory days of Mika Hakkinen, right through to 2009, taking in, along with everything else, that incredible day in Brazil 2008 when Lewis Hamilton won his first World Championship. Marc’s worked closely with an amazing list of drivers, including 3 of the World Champions on 2015’s grid and remains friends with many of them today. In fact, such is the extensive nature of his list of friends and contacts throughout the paddock, he’s regularly in contact with key people from many of the teams, and therefore well abreast of much ‘inside’ information.
