Singapore Grand Prix: Race Preview

Singapore joined Formula 1’s calendar in 2008 and it was the very first event to take place after sunset, made possible by powerful floodlights lining the entirety of the Marina Bay Street Circuit. The 3-mile circuit winds its way past some of Singapore’s most iconic landmarks and provides a stern challenge for teams and drivers, owing to the high track evolution, proximity of the walls, and the extreme humidity encountered through the course of the weekend.

Despite Marina Bay’s street-based nature there are several full-throttle sections, and heavy braking zones, that encourage overtaking, while the hot temperatures means that extra care has to be given to keeping components cool while on track. Keeping the rear tires in the optimum window is also a challenge owing to the number of traction-heavy acceleration zones.

Singapore has been a popular fixture on the schedule since its arrival and this year it will break new ground, as Marina Bay will host the sixth and final F1 Sprint Race of the campaign. It will be the first time Singapore has hosted a Sprint Race, and the timetabling means that it will take place in daytime conditions – the first Formula 1 race activity to do so at Marina Bay since its inception.

LAST TIME OUT

Oliver Bearman scored points courtesy of finishing ninth in his first Singapore Grand Prix in 2025, while Esteban Ocon classified in 18th place.

Hoagy Nidd, Head of Car Engineering:

“Singapore is utterly dominated by low-speed corners, and similar to Malaysia, it's very warm there, so it can make brake management a real challenge early on in the race. The weather can get extreme in the evening, which can often impact a lot of the sessions, and I believe energy management is going to be a bit of a challenge. It tends to be quite a long and slow race in Singapore, factually speaking, and it can get close to the full two-hour mark. It becomes a real race of attrition for the drivers, as we have seen for the past couple of years, so this is a weekend tough on both teams and drivers, but one which is very rewarding if you get a good result.”

Ollie Bearman:

“What did I say last week about preparing for the humidity of Singapore with a week of heat in Malaysia? Well, I’m very much looking forward to some ice baths this weekend! Last year, I qualified ninth, and finished ninth, so if I could repeat that, I’d be very happy. We know this upgrade is working, and we’re still finetuning it to get it into the window, but I feel much better placed to fight for points than in the middle of the year. Singapore is an awesome circuit and a spectacular event, it’s a street circuit like no other, and I’m quite fond of a night race!”

Esteban Ocon:

“It’s great to return to Singapore – the city really embraces Formula 1. We always feel very welcome, and the fan support here is amazing. We know it’s a tough race inside the cockpit with the conditions, but I’m confident that if the car is working well like it has the last few weekends, we can be in the mix. It’s a great feeling to do well in Singapore under the lights, so we’ll aim to be on it straight away to have a good sprint weekend.”