1094th F1 GRAND PRIX | 22nd SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX | 14th GRAND PRIX AT MARINA BAY STREET CIRCUIT
2022 POLESITTER: CHARLES LECLERC | 2022 WINNER: SERGIO PEREZ
Formula 1’s original night race returns in 2023. The Singapore Grand Prix was first held back in 2008. The 2023 Singapore Grand Prix is set to take place on September 15-17.
2023 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX: WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday 15th September
Free Practice 1 – 5:30pm Local Time / 10:30am UK Time
Free Practice 2 – 9:00pm Local Time / 2:00pm UK Time
Saturday 16th September
Free Practice 3 – 5:30pm Local Time / 10:30am UK Time
Qualifying- 9:00pm Local Time / 2:00pm UK Time
Sunday 17th September
The 2023 Singapore Grand Prix – 8:00pm Local Time / 1:00pm UK Time
2023 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX: WEEKEND MILESTONES
Esteban Ocon races on his birthday at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix, making this the 75th occasion on which a Formula 1 driver has raced in a Grand Prix on their birthday. This is the second time Ocon has raced in Singapore on his birthday. He remains the only driver to have done so. It’s the third time a driver has raced on their 27th birthday. Ocon is the first driver to do so since Valtteri Bottas at the 2016 Belgian Grand Prix.
This will be the first Singapore Grand Prix which will not feature Sebastian Vettel on the grid. Vettel’s absence will make Lewis Hamilton the only driver to have started every Singapore Grand Prix held at Marina Bay Circuit to date.
Victory for Lewis Hamilton at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix would see him equal Sebastian Vettel as the driver with the most wins at Marina Bay Street Circuit. Hamilton has taken four victories so far at the circuit.
Mercedes and Red Bull are currently tied for most victories at the Singapore Grand Prix, with four apiece. Either team could extend the record to five victories.
READ MORE IN MILESTONES AND RECORDS TO BREAK
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 2023 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX
WHAT HAS CHANGED AT THE CIRCUIT SINCE LAST YEAR?
There have been significant changes to the Marina Bay Street Circuit ahead of the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix. The track now bypasses the former section between Turns 16 and 19 due to ongoing construction work. These changes are expected to make lap times around 10 seconds faster. Walls at Turn 15 and Turn 20 have been realigned as a result.
Aside from the major change to the layout, the track has been resurfaced from the pit straight to Turn 6 and from Turns 14 to 16. Paint in the pit lane has been replaced with new, anti-skid paint.
HOW MANY DRS ZONES WILL THERE BE AT THE 2023 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX?
There will be three DRS zones at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix. Activation zones are on the main straight, between Turns 5 & 6 and between Turns 13 & 14. There were three also DRS zones at the 2022 Singapore Grand Prix.
MARINA BAY STREET CIRCUIT TRACK GUIDE
The Marina Bay Circuit holds one of Formula 1’s most spectacular weekends as the cars glisten under the streetlights in Singapore, the home of the sport’s original night race.
Singapore was one of two new street tracks introduced as part of the 2008 Formula One season. Whereas Valencia was ditched from the calendar after the 2012 event, Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore remains on the calendar and the challenge of competing here is much loved by drivers, teams and fans alike. The 23-turn track was originally designed by Herman Tilke before being modified by KBR Inc., an American engineering company. The area of land which the circuit occupies is 799,000 square metres, which is the equivalent of 80 football pitches.
The Marina Bay Circuit passes by many of Singapore’s landmarks such as the Fullerton Hotel, the Anderson Bridge and, of course, the striking Singapore Flyer which opened in the same year as the first Grand Prix here. The track has numerous unique features, including the fact that it is the only track which goes under a section of grandstand – between Turns 18 and 19. The corners are referred to by number here, though some do have names. Turn 1 is named ‘Sheares’ and Turn 7 is named ‘Memorial’. The names were given to the corners as part of a local competition in March 2009, but they are rarely used.
READ MORE IN OUR ULTIMATE TRACK GUIDE
WHO WILL BE IN THE 2023 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX PRESS CONFERENCES?
The world’s media will have the opportunity to talk to the drivers on Thursday evening. The drivers appearing in the press conference are:
Group 1
Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo)
Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
George Russell (Mercedes)
Logan Sargeant (Williams)
Group 2
Liam Lawson (AlphaTauri)
Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
The media will also be talking to prominent members of Formula 1’s teams on Friday. The team members appearing in the press conference are: Alessandro Alunni Bravi (Alfa Romeo), Guenther Steiner (Haas), Zak Brown (McLaren) and Toto Wolff (Mercedes).
WHO WILL BE THE RACE DIRECTOR AT THE 2023 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX?
Niels Wittich will be the race director at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix.
WHO WILL BE THE DRIVER STEWARD AT THE 2023 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX?
Each weekend a former Formula 1 driver, or a driver from another prominent series of motorsport, joins the stewards to help judge any incidents from a drivers’ perspective. The Driver Steward this weekend is Vitantonio Liuzzi.
WHICH TYRE COMPOUNDS WILL BE USED AT THE 2023 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX?
Pirelli have not yet announced that the C3, C4 and C5 tyre compounds will be used at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix. The C3, C4 and C5 compounds were also used in 2022.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME AT THE SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX?
At the first Singapore Grand Prix in three years, rain made for an interesting race weekend, with Perez taking victory in a weather-shortened Grand Prix.
There were red flags, wall taps and even an airbox fire (for Pierre Gasly) during Free Practice for the 2022 Singapore Grand Prix. Drivers soon got back into the flow on the first race weekend at Marina Bay Street Circuit in three years, despite wet weather conditions taking away 30 minutes of running in the final practice session.
The track had not quite dried in time for qualifying, with drivers opting to run on intermediate tyres in Q1. George Russell was a surprise exit in Q2, qualifying only 11th. The drivers switched to slick tyres for Q3 but Max Verstappen’s session came to an early end with the Red Bull team telling him to abort his final lap time due to running low on fuel. That left Charles Leclerc to take a second consecutive pole at the circuit and Sergio Perez joining him on the front row.
Further rain on Sunday saw the start of the Grand Prix delayed by more than an hour. As the starting lights finally faded, Fernando Alonso set a new record for most Formula 1 starts. This was his 350th appearance, overtaking Kimi Raikkonen at the top of the list. Perez made the better start, snatching the lead from Leclerc at Turn 1.
Verstappen started eighth as a result of his Saturday issues and dropped down the order at the start. He made it back into the top ten by passing Sebastian Vettel on Lap 2. Zhou Guanyu became the first driver to retire from the race after making contact with Nicholas Latifi, who also retired, bringing out the Safety Car.
The yellow flags came out again 13 laps later as Alonso stopped with engine issues, while Alex Albon made contact with the barriers at low speed a few laps later. On Lap 33, Lewis Hamilton made a similar mistake and lost a position to Lando Norris. Yuki Tsunoda retired after hitting the barriers at the same spot three laps later, bringing out another Safety Car.
At the restart, Norris was almost taken out of the race by Verstappen who locked up behind him and went into the run off area. Russell picked up a puncture as a result of contact with Mick Schumacher. Both Verstappen and Russell needed to pit after their misdemeanours. While Russell was unable to make progress, Verstappen fought his way back into the points, passing Vettel for seventh on the final lap.
Perez took victory in the shortened race, winning by finishing eight seconds ahead of Leclerc. Carlos Sainz completed the podium, while both McLaren drivers finished in the top five.
WHAT’S THE FASTEST EVER LAP AT THE SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX?
Attending the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix? Learn more about visiting Marina Bay Circuit in the F1Destinations Travel Guide.
