For the past few years, the FIA and FOM have been making certain changes to the layout of various circuits to improve the quality of racing. The latest victim of these changes is the Singapore Grand Prix.
After an arrest issue was issued to the head of the Singapore Grand Prix, there were doubts if the race would take place this year. However, it has been confirmed that the Grand Prix will take place. The Singapore GP is known to be one of the few tracks where overtaking is difficult.
This year, the FIA and FOM changed the layout of the Australian and Spanish Grand Prix hoping to improve racing and give the drivers more overtaking opportunities. The changes served their purpose. They are now hoping to do the same with Singapore as well.
Although the Singapore GP has a total of 3 DRS zones, drivers find it difficult to overtake for 2 reasons. One is that the straights are not long enough. The other factor is that the drivers are not able to stay close to the car in front through those tight corners.
🚨 Reminder that the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore will have it’s Sector 3 modified.
T16-T19 will be replaced with one long straight.
Simulations show lap times could be up to 10 seconds quicker than 2022! đź‘€#F1 #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/ryT9nFwKm5
— RBR Daily (@RBR_Daily) September 11, 2023
Initially, the track had a total of 23 corners. However, with the recent changes this number has reduced to 19. The changes made are on the final sector of the track. The FIA has removed turns 16, 17, 18, and 19 and has made it into one long straight.
These changes will help the cars stay close to each other going into the pit straight. This will increase the overtaking chances while going into the first corner. This will also help the cars stay close while approaching turn 5 which gives another huge overtaking opportunity.
When did the first Singapore Grand Prix take place?
A Grand Prix in Singapore was first organized in 1961 as the Orient Year Grand Prix. It took place at the Thomson Road Grand Prix circuit which was very inconvenient and dangerous. In 1966 it was renamed to the Singapore Grand Prix. It was held until the 1973 season. This race was not held for Formula 1, but instead for Formula Libre. They discontinued the Grand Prix after 2 fatal accidents in 1972 and 1973.
In 2008, Singapore once again started to host the Grand Prix. However, this time, it was for Formula 1. The circuit was called Marina Bay Street Circuit. It ran through the streets of Singapore. The Singapore Grand Prix was the first ever Grand Prix to take place in the night.
Under the lights at Marina Bay 🔜🤩#SingaporeGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/sTmN1Z08p8
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 11, 2023
The Grand Prix saw a tremendous amount of success. Year after year, people from all over the world would come to witness the night Grand Prix. Following this, a number of other tracks including Bahrain, Jeddah, and Qatar, also introduced the night Grand Prix. The Singapore Grand Prix is one of the hottest Grand Prix on the calendar. So a night race makes it more manageable for the drivers.
Since its inception, the Singapore Grand Prix has run the same layout. This is the first time they have changed the layout of the track. So it would be interesting to see if the new layout increases the level of close racing. Do you think the new layout will make it easier for cars to overtake at this year’s Singapore GP? Post your answers in the comment section below.
