[Official] Singapore Grand Prix 2019: Grand Prix Weekend Thread - Round 15 of 21

[Born Racer]

Singapore holds its twelfth World Championship Grand Prix this weekend. A symbol of the contemporary tendency of iconic circuit surroundings and modern entertainment razzmatazz, the Marina Bay circuit played host to Formula 1’s first ever night race in 2008.

A 318,000 watt capacity is required to pump the circuit with artificial lighting and the definition of the different elements of the cars is fantastic as they shimmer under the floodlights, with sparks from the underside particularly prominent.

With 23 corners (14 left-handers and 9 right-handers), it has more turns than any other Grand Prix on the calendar and at 61 laps, it generally goes on to become the longest race in the season, running to the 2 hour limit before the laps have been completed. The shortest race here was last year's 1 hour 51 minutes.

On past form, the safety car is almost a certainty – it has appeared at least once in every Grand Prix held here, perhaps most memorably in the first ever Formula 1 race, when Renault’s Nelson Piquet agreed to crash in order to assist Fernando Alonso (who went on to controversially take the first victory) and in 2015, when during a safety car period, a spectator got through a gap and made it onto the track.

The shortest margin of victory here was 0.239 in 2010, with Alonso beating Vettel, although in 2016, Ricciardo ran winner Rosberg home close after a frantic battle near the end, with the margin 0.488 at the end. Vettel did manage to hold off Alonso by almost 33 seconds in his 2013 win, however.

The race goes back further than 2008, though, as there was a Grand Prix in Singapore in 1961, named the Orient Year Grand Prix. It formed part of a campaign called ‘Visit Singapore – The Orient Year’ to attract tourists to the region and it took place on a street track named the Thomson Road Circuit. Ian Barnwell in an Aston Martin DB3S won the inaugural race.

The race later became the Singapore Grand Prix in 1966 after the country gained independence and was run to Formula Libre rules. It was known for being a dangerous track with ‘The Hump’ one of the corners, a right-hander through which the cars left the ground and unofficially had a section which became known as ‘Murder Mile and a corner nicknamed Devil’s Bend.

Of the current field, the new incarnation of the race has been won only by Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel - four times each, with Vettel taking the spoils in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015) and Hamilton in 2009, 2014, 2017 and 2018.

Memorable moments include Timo Glock's second place for Toyota in 2009, Michael Schumacher's various collisions with other drivers in 2010 and 2011 and Kimi Räikkönen's crash with team-mate Vettel and Max Verstappen off the startline in 2017, which wiped them all out of the race.

Circuit length: 5.063km
Number of laps: 61
Race distance: 308.706km
Dry weather tyre compounds: C3, C4 & C5
Race Lap Record: 1:41.905 (2018 – Kevin Magnussen - Haas-Ferrari)
First Grand Prix in Singapore: 1961
First Singapore Grand Prix: 1966
First World Championship Grand Prix: 2008



To join in our predictions contest and Fantasy F1 contest, go here: https://tentenths.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=70

Constructors’ championship standings: https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2019/team.html

Drivers' championship standings: https://www.formula1.com/en/results....9/drivers.html

Singapore Grand Prix tyre choices:
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...aKAFTfKO1.html

[billy bleach]

My God. In the UK today. Have been listening to BBC Radio 5 extra. Is the commentary always this childish? They sound like a bunch os 16 year olds on a school trip.

[djinvicta]

Cracking intro as normal BR. Thanks for taking the time.

[E.B]

Originally Posted by djinvicta

Cracking intro as normal BR. Thanks for taking the time.

This^^^

[Peter Mallett]

Getting ready for yet another 2019 borefest. Still this time I'll watch it in Albanian on Saturday and The C4 highlights on Sunday. Of course all day Sunday I shall make sure I'm immersed in playing with my MGB etc. All so I don't get any spoilers of course.

[Lancsbreaker]

Great intro as ever, thanks!


I'd been contemplating going to this race as part of a 5-day cruise / 3 days at the race package.......but couldn't really justify going that far for a week, and as a cruise virgin I'm still not convinced I'd enjoy it. Having seen that the temperature at the circuit is in the low 30s with high humidity I think I'm glad I didn't go......tho I'm sure the atmosphere is great.


A few dramas in FP1 with Bottas sticking it into the wall at Turn 16 (I think) and LeClerc limping into the pits with gearbox maladies, but both out on track again in FP2. Looking like being a Lewis v Max show, so far......not sure that'll be a borefest, Peter

[Peter Mallett]

It'll be as boring as Austria, Monza, Germany, Hungary and all the.others.

[Aysedasi]

Dull, dull, dull.......

[Mike Bell]

As always, thanks BR for the intro! Doubt I’ll see or hear any of Q or the race as at Monza, so will have to catch up afterwards.....

[Born Racer]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Doubt I’ll see or hear any of Q or the race as at Monza

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

I shall make sure I'm immersed in playing with my MGB etc.

Enjoy!

Glad people enjoyed the intro. It is easy to write one about a dramatic-looking place like this, but there isn't that much history to the Grand Prix yet.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Excellent intro as ever.

I thought Singapore was supposed to suit the Mercs, as Leclerc gets his third consecutive pole and Hamilton and Bottas are 2nd and 5th? Let's hope this makes for an interesting race.

[steve nielsen]

[S griffin]

Thanks to BR for the intro. Already things are happening with Bottas crashing and Checo and Kevin having a clash

[Peter Mallett]

That was interesting, just as qually finished we had an earthquake. I missed Di Resta's interviews. Well, when I say "missed".............................

[Adam43]

This is a joke they are so inconsistent with the rules. Sainz didn’t even get a warning for when he forced Albon wide at Monza and here Dani Ric gets to start at the back.

[Adam43]

Great pole from Itiseye. I thought Vettel’s lap was fantastic and then Leclerc got a couple of tenths on it.

[Adam43]

[peebee2]

The rules state session DQ for this breach. Why keep arguing?

The team understands that for sure, just not the DR fanboys?

[Born Racer]

Thrilling qualifying and yes, an unanticipated lot of pace from Ferrari. Here's hoping the race can live up to it and we can see a close duel - even if there is no constant wheel-to-wheel action.

[S griffin]

Leclerc, what a lap, despite a few mistakes. He's on fire ATM. Shame for Danny, hope he can salvage something in the race. Been a while since we've had someone DQed from qualifying

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Leclerc, what a lap, despite a few mistakes. He's on fire ATM. Shame for Danny, hope he can salvage something in the race. Been a while since we've had someone DQed from qualifying

That’s because the stewards are inconsistent, the rules are stupid and Mercedes.

[chillibowl]

It is pretty great while obviously angry by the situation DR cant help but smile and laugh while talking about it.

Hope he can make it back today.

[Lancsbreaker]

Can't watch the race until the highlights so out of here for a while - and no FB. either

[S griffin]

I’ll be at the Emirates today, so might be able to miss the result before the highlights

[chillibowl]

Hoping DR can take advantage of how slow the top runners are going....time for Renault to break out the crashgate strategy again lol.