When the 20 Formula 1 drivers hit the circuit at this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix, they will be tackling a modified track through the streets of Marina Bay. In what is the largest track modification since the famed 'Singapore Sling' chicanes were removed at Turn 9 ahead of the 2013 race, 10 years on, a whole section of track has been removed. The 'missing' section of track comes at Turns 16 to 19 in Sector 3, namely the sequence that snakes beneath the grandstand. Instead of flicking right to dive underneath the spectators at what was Turn 16, the cars will now continue straight for 380m before joining at what is now Turn 16, the old Turn 20 with the rest of the lap continuing on as normal. This means that instead of the new Turn 16 being a medium speed corner, it is now a tight right hander at the end of the new straight, and potential overtaking spot. The work, which reduces the track length to 4.928km - 3.06 miles, has come about thanks to that area of land being used in a redevelopment for a new entertainment and stage complex. Construction started in March 2023, and is expected to be completed in time for a reversion to the old layout before the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix. Lap-times are expected to be nearly 20 seconds faster than the usual laps in the mid-to-high 1:50s, with the total race distance increased from 61 to 63 laps as a result of the change.
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