A Guide to The 2024 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix
Photo by planetf1.com
As we head into the Formula 1 (F1) Summer Break, we can set our eyes on the next and final Asia-located Grand Prix of the season, the Singapore Grand Prix.
From daring chicanes to test the drivers' skills and long straights perfect for overtaking, the Marina Bay track is a true test of racing proficiency. For a long weekend of pure racing and roaring V6 engines, here’s what you need to know.
What is an F1 Grand Prix?
A F1 Grand Prix is structured into three days and corresponding sections.
Free Practice One and Two will take place on Friday, Sep. 20th. Free Practice is a time for the drivers to learn the track. Drivers will sometimes walk the track to see where they need to brake, and where they might not need to brake.
Free Practice Three will take place on Saturday, Sep. 21st. The Qualifying session will also take place on Saturday, where drivers will compete to try and set the fastest lap time. Whichever drivers set the fastest lap times will start on the racing grid in that order.
However, Sunday, Sep. 22nd is when the real magic happens. Sunday is race day. All the best action in F1 always happens on race day, the day when drivers prove themselves to the rest of the world.
The 4.94km Marina Bay Street Circuit consists of 19 turns, and three Drag-Reduction System (DRS) zones. The 62-lap race totaling 306.143km was won by Carlos Sainz in 2023, who currently drives for the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team, and will be heading to Williams Racing in 2025. The lap record was set last year in 2023 by Lewis Hamilton, a driver for Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team with a time of 1:35.867 on the 47th lap of the Grand Prix.
What Should I Bring?
For fans of F1, bring all the gear you'll need to support either your favorite team or your favorite driver.
Some fans make posters to lift in the grandstands to express their love for certain teams or drivers. But for a three-day race weekend, be sure to bring anything that you need to feel comfortable during the race weekend.
Which Teams or Drivers Should I Be Looking For?
There are many teams and drivers to support. Currently on the rampage is the “Flying Dutchman” Max Verstappen racing for Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT. With seven wins going into the summer break, the three-time Driver’s World Champion has been on a rampage, dominating the track.
Another driver who has been dominant for a long time is Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. Winning seven world championships, sharing the record with Michael Schumacher, a former F1 driver, Lewis Hamilton currently holds the record for most podiums with 201, and the most race wins with 105, with his last win at the most recent 2024 Belgian Grand Prix at Circuit De Spa-Francorchamps.
Lando Norris, a driver for McLaren Racing, picked up his very first win at the Miami Grand Prix after 118 Grands Prix entered. Proven to be a definite competitor against Verstappen, Norris will be a contender for future races, along with his teammate, Australian driver Oscar Piastri, who picked up his first win at the Hungaroring in the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Charles Leclerc, a driver for Scuderia Ferrari, is another great driver to look out for, winning his home race at the Monaco Grand Prix this season. The “Monaco Prince” has been Verstappen’s equal throughout the season so far, consistently being the best in qualifying, but struggling to convert it to a win. Currently, the top four teams are Red Bull Racing, McLaren, Scuderia Ferrari, and Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS, with Red Bull at the top with 408 points.
Singapore Grand Prix Ticketing and Hospitality
For the Singapore Grand Prix, there are several places to stay and enjoy the views of the Marina Bay: the F1 Paddock Club, Sky Suite, Twenty3, The Green Room, Lounge@Turn 3, The Vista Suite, Sky View Pavilion, and the Torque Lounge.
However, only the Sky Suite, Twenty3, The Vista Suite, and the Torque Lounge have tickets available. At these lounges, you will get a great view of the track, as well as the formula cars zooming by at hundreds of miles an hour. You can also get tickets for the grandstands with an even closer look at the racing, especially on the long Singapore straights where exhilarating overtakes occur.
For all ticketing and bookings for any lounges or grandstands, visit the Singapore Grand Prix Website at www.singaporegp.sg.
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