Google+ Jack Leslie F1: 2014 Singapore Grand Prix Preview

16 September 2014

2014 Singapore Grand Prix Preview

After two historic races Spa and Monza, the Formula 1 paddock will re-group in Singapore this weekend for a completely different and very unique challenge. 
© Mercedes AMG Petronas
The 14th round of the 2014 F1 season takes place at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, under dark skies and floodlights. 

The Singapore Grand Prix isn’t the only night race on the calendar anymore, with Bahrain joining the club for this season. However, unlike the race at the Sakhir International Circuit, the paddock and schedule runs on European time. 

As Singapore’s population go about their daily routines, the F1 circus will be tucked up in bed ready to emerge for work as the sun sets. It is a truly exceptional event and is always one of the highlights of the season. 

1,600 custom-made floodlights illuminate the circuit over a race weekend and are connected by 108,423 metres of cables. With the Singapore skyline as a backdrop, it is a stunning and dramatic venue for what could be a thrilling race. 

The track layout is a complete contrast to Spa-Francorchamps and Monza. It is tight in places and drivers can be severely punished for their mistakes, with barriers lining the circuit and very few run-off areas. 

It is packed full of tricky, slow corners and – like the Circuit de Monaco – the drivers get very little time to rest, as the straights are often very short. 

Of course, it is a very new race on the F1 calendar, having debuted back in 2008. The seventh Singapore Grand Prix will surely be an action-packed weekend, with the title battle heating up and a very close midfield pack. 
© Sahara Force India F1 Team

A lap of the 3.147 mile Marina Bay Street Circuit kicks off on the short start/finish straight, with packed grandstands to the right and the pit lane to the left. Turn one is a medium-speed left-hander, with the gently sweeping right-hander of turn two following swiftly after. The pit lane exit feeds cars back on track on the outside of the second corner. 

Turn three is a slow left-hand hairpin. The opening complex is tricky to master, but it does feature a big tarmac run-off area – which drivers often cut on the first lap. The wide pit straight – which is where the first DRS zone is situated - and braking zone for the opening corner make it a good overtaking spot. 

The barely-there kink of turn four is next up, before the medium-speed right of turn five. A good exit is vital here for the run on to the longest flat-out section of the circuit, but it will be particularly tricky with the increased torque levels and decreased downforce. 

The following straight – called Raffles Boulevard – features a flat-out right-hand kink, turn six, and leads on to turn seven. This is where the second DRS zone will be and the heavy braking zone for the following corner makes it the best overtaking opportunity on the track. The seventh corner is a 90-degree left-hander and is the first in the second sector. 

The entry is extremely bumpy, which is often criticised by drivers, and with the new brake-by-wire systems for 2014, expect plenty of lock-ups here. There is some run-off area here, enabling drivers who out-brake themselves to stay clear of the unforgiving barriers, although driving over the exit kerb can unsettle the car. 

After a short burst of power, the drivers will then hit the brakes once again for the tight right-hander of the eighth corner. It isn’t a popular overtaking spot, but we have seen it done in the past and in spectacular style. Turn nine follows shortly after and is a tricky 90-degree left. 
© Mercedes AMG Petronas

The 10th corner on the track – named the Singapore Sling – was re-profiled for the 2013 event, replacing the clumsy left-right-left chicane with a sweeping, medium-speed left-hander. The change helped to lower the overall lap time and actually made the braking zone for the following turn trickier. 

The 11th and 12th corners make up a slow left-right chicane, which leads on to the turn 13 hairpin. On the run to the slow right-hander, the cars pass over the Anderson Bridge. This is a very tight and challenging part of the circuit, but drivers can overtake here. 

Good traction out of the 13th corner is very important for the run down the following straight. The heavy braking zone for turn 14 is bumpy, so expect more lock-ups here than usual. 

It is the first corner in the third and final sector. Getting a rhythm through the final part of the lap is crucial and even the slightest loss of concentration can cause contact with the barriers. Turn 15 is a medium-speed kink, with drivers braking for the following right-left chicane mid-way through the corner. 

After a short burst of power along the water front, the drivers then brake heavily for the 18th and 19th corners, which make up the slow right-left chicane. Here, the track heads under the big grandstand and into the final few corners. The 20th and 21st corners make up a challenging right-left chicane, with the pit entry to the left-hand side further down the short straight. 

It was originally criticised for being dangerous, largely due to the speed differential between a driver entering the pit lane and a driver continuing on for another lap. This was resolved by extending the entry line, meaning drivers had to commit earlier. 

Turn 22 is a medium-speed left-hander, with the drivers clipping the kerb and building speed through the final corner. It is important to carry as much speed as possible through the last two turns and use plenty of the exit kerb for the pit straight. 

All of this takes place under bright floodlights, passing landmarks such as the City Hall and Singapore Flyer. Due to the busy nature of the lap and the high temperatures and humidity levels over the race weekend, it is often one of the most physically demanding races on the calendar. 
© Red Bull/Getty Images

Several of the corners have blind entries due to the barriers being in the way. This has caused crashes in the past – in 2010 Kamui Kobayashi’s crashed car was hit by Bruno Senna, as the Japanese driver had hit the wall at turn 18, meaning his car was left stranded on the entry to the tunnel under the grandstand. 

Sebastian Vettel is the most successful driver at the Singapore Grand Prix, having won the event three times. In fact, he has won the last three races around the Marina Bay Street Circuit, with Fernando Alonso taking victory in 2008 (in very controversial circumstances) and 2010. Lewis Hamilton triumphed for McLaren in 2009. 

Due to Vettel’s success, Red Bull Racing tops the constructors’ table. McLaren, Renault and Ferrari have each won the Singapore Grand Prix once. The race is often packed full of drama and the previous seven have all featured at last one safety car period. 

Mercedes will undoubtedly be the team to beat this year in Singapore, with Hamilton edging slightly closer to his team-mate Nico Rosberg in the title battle with his victory at the last race in Italy. 

However, the chasing pack may be closer at the Marina Bay Street Circuit due to the focus being more on cornering, rather than straight-line speed (like Spa and Monza). 

Red Bull Racing will certainly be strong, with the RB10 working well in the medium-speed corners. Williams and McLaren could slip back slightly, while Ferrari could be a bit more competitive. I expect Lotus to have a more positive weekend, as the Renault-powered E22 works well in the slower turns.

Pirelli will bring the super-soft and soft compound tyres to Singapore, providing maximum mechanical grip. It will be the first race of the year since the FIA’s clampdown on radio transmissions between teams and drivers. 

Singapore Grand Prix Fact File: 
© Formula1.com

Location: Marina Bay, Singapore 
Track Length: 3.147 miles 
Direction: Anti-clockwise 
Turns: 23 
Laps: 61 
First race: 2008 
Lap record: Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 2008, 1:45.599 
Tyre compounds: Super-soft and soft 
2013 race winner: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing 
2013 pole position: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing, 1:42.841 
2013 fastest lap: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing, 1:48.574 
Live on: Sky Sports F1 (Highlights on BBC)

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