F1 Singapore Grand Prix welcomes sold-out crowd of more than 269,000 fans over race weekend
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SINGAPORE – Heavy rainfall brought about by a Sumatra squall
In its 15th edition, the Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix continued to be a top draw as it attracted a sold-out crowd of 269,072 fans over the three-day race weekend.
The turnout was bigger than the 2023 race, which drew a near sell-out crowd of 264,108.
The record attendance for the night race was 302,000 in 2022,
This season’s Singapore event was also one of the most exciting ones in years, with the fight for the drivers’ and constructors’ championships much more open than they were in recent campaigns, which were dominated by Red Bull and their main man Max Verstappen.
Current championship leaders McLaren continued to make a charge for both titles in Singapore, with their British driver Lando Norris winning the Sept 22 race
Having become the 10th pole sitter to win the Singapore race in 15 editions, Norris also piled pressure on drivers’ championship leader and three-time world champion Verstappen, who placed second at Marina Bay.
McLaren’s Lando Norris celebrates after winning the Sept 22 race.
ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
There were also new additions to this season’s Singapore race programme, with the F1 Academy, an all-woman series launched in 2023,
Championship leader Abbi Pulling, who races for Rodin Motorsport, exerted her dominance and inched closer to the drivers’ title by winning both races in Singapore.
Off the track, thousands of fans were treated to performances at the F1 village and the Padang by a star-studded line-up that included American singer Lenny Kravitz, American pop-rock band OneRepublic, Australian pop icon Kylie Minogue.
For Dutch fan Wessel Manden, watching the Singapore Grand Prix in person for the first time ticked off an item on his bucket list.
The supermarket worker saved about €3,000 (S$4,300) to travel from the Netherlands for the Singapore race, even preparing a sign that read “Stroop wafel for signed merch” and bringing a few packets of the treat from home in his bid to get a few drivers’ autographs.
The 22-year-old said: “The fact that it is a night race and the scenery makes it one of the most unique races on the F1 calendar.
“When you watch the race on TV, you just wish to be there one day. I saved up a lot for it, to be able to make this trip. It was definitely on my bucket list to go to this race.”
Indonesians Irfani Ramadianti and Amalia Eka Septiani, who were decked out in customised Ferrari suits, also thoroughly enjoyed the experience at their first grand prix.
The 25-year-olds had flown in from Jakarta and fully immersed themselves in the F1 experience, getting tickets for the premier walkabout that gave them access to all zones of the track.
Irfani said: “We got to see the drivers in person and the F1 Academy (an all-woman championship backed by F1) garage from close-up.
“We met a couple of important people like (Haas’) Kevin Magnussen and (F1 Academy managing director) Susie Wolff... so that’s really exciting for us.”
Spectators at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sept 22.
ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
Mr Jerald Tan and his girlfriend Charmaine Lee were also attending their maiden Singapore Grand Prix, having been F1 fans for the last few years.
They managed to get autographs of drivers such as Williams’ Alexander Albon, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.
Mr Tan, 26, said: “I’ve been overseas for the past two years, so I never got to catch a race before. We got to see the drivers up close, we usually just see them on TV, so it was quite cool to see them in real life.”
Several high-profile figures were also spotted at the paddock,
Among them were former British prime minister Tony Blair, Canadian actor and Marvel movie Shang Chi star Simu Liu, and former F1 driver Felipe Massa, who has taken legal action against F1 over a “crashgate” scandal at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix that cost him the championship title.
Canadian actor Simu Liu and OneRepublic singer-songwriter Ryan Tedder at the Singapore Grand Prix.
PHOTO: RYANTEDDER/INSTAGRAM
Qatari high jumper Mutaz Barshim, a three-time world champion and Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallist, was also in Singapore, as was British cyclist Mark Cavendish, who clinched a record 35th Tour de France stage win in July
Tycoon Ong Beng Seng, a key figure in Singapore’s pitch to host the Grand Prix, was also seen at the weekend mingling with guests at the paddock.
Tycoon Ong Beng Seng, a key figure in Singapore’s pitch to host the grand prix, was seen at the weekend mingling with guests at the paddock.
ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY
The 80-year-old had made headlines in 2023 for being involved in the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau investigation of former transport minister S. Iswaran.
