Much buzz around the bay, 250,000 fans expected as F1 Singapore Grand Prix returns

SINGAPORE – It is that time of the year again for motorheads in Singapore and around the world as they gather at the Marina Bay Street Circuit for the only night race on the Formula One calendar – the Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix.

The battle for supremacy in the drivers’ and constructors’ championships is set to continue with McLaren gunning to extend their lead on rivals Red Bull after Oscar Piastri’s race win in Azerbaijan last weekend, while the heat is on Max Verstappen with McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc hot on his heels.

Sightings of superstar drivers in Singapore have started to appear on social media, as one lucky fan caught Leclerc on a buggy at Changi Airport.

George Russell posted a photo of him and the Mercedes team in the pouring rain after a game of padel.

Norris was also spotted enjoying a game of padel on the roof top of Marina Square. He was then seen having supper with his entourage at Zamas River Valley, a popular Indian Muslim restaurant near Great World City.

Alpine driver Esteban Ocon was at Universal Studios, where he posted photos of himself celebrating his 28th birthday on Sept 17, adding: “No cake today but I was allowed a doughnut.”

Some others have added a local touch to their race gear. Sauber driver Zhou Guanyu’s helmet, which carries a sticker of his cat Sweetcorn, also has an image of the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) towers with the caption, “Special helmet for a special night race”.

In an interview arranged by MBS, Zhou told The Straits Times: “For me, Singapore has always been one of my favourite events to come to, not just like for the Formula One race weekend.

“Because obviously I feel like the atmosphere is always high here but then I just get amazing opportunities to spend so many days in great places like Marina Bay Singapore hotel.”

The 25-year-old also described the Singapore Grand Prix as a “second home race” for him as he also gets a lot of support.

Tickets have been largely snapped up, with race organisers Singapore GP saying that 24 categories as well as all hospitality packages have been sold out.

A Singapore GP spokesperson said this year’s attendance is expected to mirror that of 2023, with around 250,000 fans expected during the Sept 20-22 event.

Meanwhile, the final touches to the night race are being made with the F1 Pit Building a hive of activity. Elsewhere, stores selling merchandise have popped up at places like Suntec City and Millenia Walk.

Fans are able to get a taste of the action with Williams setting up a race simulator at their fan zone at Suntec.

Over at MBS, Ferrari’s F1-75 race car is displayed at the hotel’s lobby for fans to get up close with the iconic car from the F1 World Championship in 2022.

There are also opportunities for fans to catch the drivers at meet-and-greet sessions.

The Alpine team comprising Ocon, Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan will be at Velocity @ Novena Square on Sept 18 at 4pm, while Williams’ Alexander Albon will be at Suntec Tower 3 Atrium from 5.15pm.

Last season, the Singapore race was the only one out of 22 that Red Bull failed to win, as Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz triumphed to end Verstappen’s run of 10 consecutive victories.

Overtaking is notoriously tough on the 4.94km circuit. Ten of the 14 previous night races have been won from the front row of the grid, with nine of them from pole.

Levainthiran Sunthiramogan, a vessel operator, is looking forward to watching his favourite driver Lewis Hamilton race here with Mercedes for the last time before the seven-time world champion joins Ferrari next season.

The 31-year-old, who has attended five editions of the Singapore race, said: “It will be exciting to witness first hand, Hamilton in the Mercedes black race suit for the final time in Singapore.

“It will be a whole new experience next year onwards rooting for him in red.

“I think this is also going to be one of the more exciting F1 races here in a while because of how Norris and Piastri have helped McLaren to the top. In the past few years, when F1 came to Singapore, Red Bull were really dominant. This time, there are a few drivers who can win.”

Motorsports fans can catch the Singapore Grand Prix live at five community hubs on Sept 21 and 22.

The People’s Association said the race, which starts at 8pm on Sept 22, will be screened at Our Tampines Hub, Heartbeat@Bedok, Keat Hong Community Club, Bishan Community Club and Woodlands Galaxy Community Club.

The first two venues will also be showing the qualifying session, scheduled to take place from 9pm to 10pm on Sept 21.

Additional reporting by Kimberly Kwek, Deepanraj Ganesan, Anjali Raguraman, Sarah Koh