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2017 Singapore Grand Prix - Marina Bay Street Circuit
Did you know that a GP was first run in pre-independence Singapore in 1961 as the Orient Year Grand Prix? Thank you Wiki - now we all do. In 1962 the race was named the Malaysian Grand Prix and became the Singapore GP in 1965. By 1973 a series of fatal racing accidents during the GP saw the event dropped from the calendar.
The race returned in 2008 as F1's first night race and the Marina Bay street circuit has seen plenty of drama in its renaissance, much of it due to the tight, claustrophobic nature of many of the turns. Of course we've also had spectators on the track and most famously crash-gate scandal where Nelson Piquet Jr. was ordered by Renault team boss Flavio Briatore to crash on the exit of the final turn bringing out the Safety Car and sealing a win for teammate Alonso. The Safety Car is a regular feature too, it's been out in every race since 2008 and as of 2016 has been deployed 14 times.
The track has gradually been tamed since 2008, the Singapore Sling chicane at turn ten was noted for its vicious kerbs but has now been reprofiled to soften the kerbs while increasing entry speeds by about 30 mph. Changes have also been made to the first three turns to aid overtaking. Still, the drivers remain wary of the many small bumps and ridges around the circuit which Felipe Massa famously called "little tortoises". To add to the drivers' job cockpit temperatures can reach 60C during the race.
This year sees Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton arriving with a championship lead over Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel for the first time this season. Despite winning here last year with Rosberg the Mercedes team acknowledge that Singapore is the worst track of the 2017 season for their long wheelbase car while Ferrari are looking forward to running their notoriously grippy high-downforce setup. Hamilton has a lot of work to do to finish the works Mercedes ahead of anything painted Rosso Corsa and he'll be praying that his terrible performance at the 2016 race won't be repeated. Don't discount Red Bull either, with new engines this weekend and many strong showings at Singapore they'll be looking to upset this season's front runners.
Can Hamilton keep that lead? Can Honda keep McLaren, and can McLaren keep Alonso? Will we see a repeat of Monza's farcical grid penalties and could this be the last time we see Jolyon Palmer in the works Renault? A lot of people have a lot to play for this weekend!
Track Info:
Track Length: 3.147 mi (5.065 km)
Lap Record: 1:47.187 (Ricciardo, 2016)
Multiple Driver Winners:
4 - Sebastian Vettel (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015)
3 - Graeme Lawrence (1969, 1970, 1971)
2 - Fernando Alonso (2008, 2010)
2 - Lewis Hamilton (2009, 2014)
Multiple Team Winners:
3 - Ferrari (1970, 2010, 2015)
3 - Red Bull (2011, 2012, 2013)
2 - McLaren (1969, 2009)
2 - Mercedes (2014, 2016)
Watch the Formula1.com Circuit Guide 2016 at YouTube
Did you know that a GP was first run in pre-independence Singapore in 1961 as the Orient Year Grand Prix? Thank you Wiki - now we all do. In 1962 the race was named the Malaysian Grand Prix and became the Singapore GP in 1965. By 1973 a series of fatal racing accidents during the GP saw the event dropped from the calendar.
The race returned in 2008 as F1's first night race and the Marina Bay street circuit has seen plenty of drama in its renaissance, much of it due to the tight, claustrophobic nature of many of the turns. Of course we've also had spectators on the track and most famously crash-gate scandal where Nelson Piquet Jr. was ordered by Renault team boss Flavio Briatore to crash on the exit of the final turn bringing out the Safety Car and sealing a win for teammate Alonso. The Safety Car is a regular feature too, it's been out in every race since 2008 and as of 2016 has been deployed 14 times.
The track has gradually been tamed since 2008, the Singapore Sling chicane at turn ten was noted for its vicious kerbs but has now been reprofiled to soften the kerbs while increasing entry speeds by about 30 mph. Changes have also been made to the first three turns to aid overtaking. Still, the drivers remain wary of the many small bumps and ridges around the circuit which Felipe Massa famously called "little tortoises". To add to the drivers' job cockpit temperatures can reach 60C during the race.
This year sees Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton arriving with a championship lead over Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel for the first time this season. Despite winning here last year with Rosberg the Mercedes team acknowledge that Singapore is the worst track of the 2017 season for their long wheelbase car while Ferrari are looking forward to running their notoriously grippy high-downforce setup. Hamilton has a lot of work to do to finish the works Mercedes ahead of anything painted Rosso Corsa and he'll be praying that his terrible performance at the 2016 race won't be repeated. Don't discount Red Bull either, with new engines this weekend and many strong showings at Singapore they'll be looking to upset this season's front runners.
Can Hamilton keep that lead? Can Honda keep McLaren, and can McLaren keep Alonso? Will we see a repeat of Monza's farcical grid penalties and could this be the last time we see Jolyon Palmer in the works Renault? A lot of people have a lot to play for this weekend!
Track Info:
Track Length: 3.147 mi (5.065 km)
Lap Record: 1:47.187 (Ricciardo, 2016)
Multiple Driver Winners:
4 - Sebastian Vettel (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015)
3 - Graeme Lawrence (1969, 1970, 1971)
2 - Fernando Alonso (2008, 2010)
2 - Lewis Hamilton (2009, 2014)
Multiple Team Winners:
3 - Ferrari (1970, 2010, 2015)
3 - Red Bull (2011, 2012, 2013)
2 - McLaren (1969, 2009)
2 - Mercedes (2014, 2016)
Watch the Formula1.com Circuit Guide 2016 at YouTube
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