Singapore GP

F1 Singapore GP 2024 | Start times & schedule

A physically demanding track, Singapore's Marina Bay Circuit forces drivers to test their limits across 5.063km of bumpy street surface coupled with humid conditions.

Initially planned out by Hermann Tilke and since refined by KBR Inc, the event has become a standout on the F1 calendar thanks to drivers having to navigate slower sections and long straights in a harbourside location similar to the Monaco Grand Prix.

The first race to be run entirely at night under floodlights – which allowed European audiences to watch at a suitable hour – the track was initially criticised by drivers for being too bumpy and too physically demanding, as they lost as much as 3kg over the course of a race.

Minor changes were made in 2009, while 2013 saw the Singapore Sling chicane replaced with a conventional left-hander. Turn 18, which sees drivers pass underneath a grandstand, remains untouched while still delivering one of the most unique experiences in modern day Formula 1.

When is the F1 Singapore Grand Prix 2024 on the calendar?

The Singapore Grand Prix is scheduled to take place on the weekend of 20-22 September, and is set to be the 18th race of the Formula 1 season. The first two free practice sessions will be held on 20 September, with qualifying on Saturday 21 September at 14:00 BST.

Start time of the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix

The Singapore Grand Prix starts on Sunday 22 September at 13:00 BST. The race can be followed live on RacingNews365's live blog.

History of the F1 Singapore GP

The first Singapore Grand Prix took place in 2008, and is perhaps best remembered for a controversy that came to be known to many as Crashgate. Nelson Piquet Jr crashed on Lap 14 of the race, and it was later discovered that this had been done deliberately to allow his Renault teammate Fernando Alonso to win.

Renault were found guilty of race-fixing, and the team were given a suspended two-year sentence.

Alonso became the first driver to claim multiple wins at Singapore when he clinched a second victory in 2010, while Sebastian Vettel took his debut victory at the track in 2011 and went on to achieve several more.

Things didn't work out so well for Vettel at the 2017 event, though. The German was involved in a collision with Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen and Red Bull's Max Verstappen at the first corner, and his title hopes consequently took a knock, with Lewis Hamilton winning and extending his lead in the championship standings.

A similar scenario unfolded in 2018, when Hamilton's victory at the Marina Bay Circuit gave him a further advantage in his title battle against Vettel.

Most successful F1 drivers and teams

Vettel is the most successful driver in Singapore, with five victories to his name. Three of these were achieved during his dominant period with Red Bull, whilst two came with Ferrari.

Hamilton is not far behind on four wins, and Alonso has two.

Mercedes are the constructor to have collected the most wins at the event, having taken the chequered flag on four occasions, while Red Bull and Ferrari have four victories.

The 2023 F1 Singapore Grand Prix

The F1 Singapore Grand Prix of 2023 was the only race where a Red Bull was on the front row at the start. The Red Bulls struggled significantly on the Marina Bay Street Circuit, with both drivers qualifying outside the top ten. Carlos Sainz started from pole position. The start proceeded without issues, except for a minor collision between Yuki Tsunoda and Sergio Perez. However, the AlphaTauri was sufficiently damaged, leading to the retirement of the Japanese driver.

Later, Logan Sargeant crashed in turn two, causing his front wing to break. The American managed to continue, but a virtual Safety Car was deployed, prompting many drivers to make a pit stop. Due to congestion in the pit lane, some drivers had to stay longer, resulting in position changes. Max Verstappen was in the second position at the restart, but it quickly became painfully clear that George Russell, Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, and Charles Leclerc were much faster and easily overtook the Dutch driver.

In lap 43, Esteban Ocon retired due to a drivetrain issue, leading to the declaration of a Virtual Safety Car. Almost the entire field made a pit stop. The climax of the race was extremely exciting due to the strong race pace of the Britons Lando Norris, George Russell, and Lewis Hamilton. The Britons fiercely competed with each other and came very close to Carlos Sainz, who led almost the entire race. In the heat of the battle, George Russell made a mistake in the last lap, hitting the wall and retiring. As a result, Sainz won the race, Norris finished second, and Hamilton secured the third position.