THE SINGAPORE GP

THE MAIN EVENT One of the most welcome additions to the calendar during the latter years of Bernie Ecclestone’s reign, Singapore’s night race is a pioneering event that others have rushed to imitate. Yes, it’s a street race, so overtaking is theoretically difficult, but this venue has delivered drama in huge quantities during its 10-year tenure.

The event is physically and mentally gruelling, since even at night the atmosphere is hot and humid. The F1 circus attempts to keep to ‘European time’, which is a challenge in itself as the city resolutely sticks to its own daily rhythms.

In tandem with the sultry atmosphere, Singapore’s weather conditions can be unpredictable. When the rain arrives it is generally biblical, though only once has it rained during the race itself. The oppressive heat saps drivers’ strength and concentration, and most of them lose several kilos of fluid through sweat during the race – assuming they get to see the chequered flag. Last year the two Ferrari drivers barely made it to the first corner…

CLASSIC RACE: 2009

Lewis Hamilton’s early challenger in the second Singapore GP was Nico Rosberg’s Williams, but when Rosberg was penalised for crossing the white line exiting the pits Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) took up the cudgels. Hamilton’s Mclaren was always ahead, but the pair traded fastest laps after a Safety Car period from laps 22-26 and were separated by barely a second.

It all started to go wrong for Vettel when he exited the pits after his second stop, damaging his floor on the out lap. And a 10-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane dropped him down to seventh. Hamilton then had a relatively calm run to victory, although the one-stopping Toyota of Timo Glock was within 10 seconds of him at the flag.