After the classic double-header of Spa and Monza, the Formula 1 paddock will re-group in Singapore this weekend for a completely different and unique challenge.
The Marina Bay Street Circuit hosts Formula 1's only night race of the season, with the paddock running on European time throughout the weekend. That means sleeping in the daytime and emerging for work as the sun goes down.
With the stunning night-time Singapore skyline as a backdrop, the race is truly like no other as the thirteenth round of the 2013 season takes place under 1,600 custom-made floodlights.
The circuit is a challenge in itself, joining Monaco as the only true street circuit on this year's calendar. Despite having considerably more run-off areas, the track is still difficult to master with the barriers never being too far away.
It is a complete contrast to the likes of Spa-Francorchamps and Monza, where the last two rounds of the season took place. The Marina Bay Street Circuit is a relatively new race, only joining the calendar in 2008, but it has created high drama nonetheless. It also requires a full down-force package, the polar opposite to the thin wings that teams took to the last two rounds.
The inaugural Singapore Grand Prix was a dramatic one, but not on the actual race day. In fact, the results only heated up almost twelve months later. Fernando Alonso had qualified poorly on the Saturday of the race weekend after being hit by a mechanical problem. However, he benefited early on in the race thanks to an early pit-stop just prior to the first safety car period.
The car that caused the safety car period was his then team-mate Nelson Piquet Junior, who had crashed at turn seventeen. That break in proceedings helped Alonso to drive to an eventual race win. However, in September 2009 it emerged that this wasn't a true victory.
It turned out that the Renault F1 team had actually instructed Piquet Junior to crash on purpose, thus deploying the safety car and jumping Alonso up the order. The Brazilian driver made the accusations after being dropped by the Enstone based squad mid-season in 2009.
They were eventually charged with conspiracy and the team was disqualified from Formula 1, which was suspended for two years pending any further rule infringements.
Fernando Alonso won the race fair and square in 2010, making him the second double Singapore Grand Prix race winner alongside Sebastian Vettel. The German won the race in 2011 before backing that up with another victory twelve months later.
Let's take a look at the twenty-three corner Marina Bay Street Circuit then, shall we? It all starts on the short start/finish straight that leads to turn one, with the pit exit on the left. It actually cuts inside the first corner, which is a second gear left that leads quickly to turn two - an immediate but gently sweeping right-hander.
The first turn is particularly tricky on the first lap as it is almost ninety degrees. The pit straight is quite wide and this enables cars to run side by side, but the circuit tightens into turn one and this can sometimes cause a collision. However, there is plenty of run-off area - which Mark Webber put to good use in 2010 after a brake failure.
Another second gear left-hand turn follows before a burst of power through the barely-there kink of turn four. The fifth corner on the circuit is a tricky third gear right that leads on to the longest straight on the track - called Raffles Boulevard. This corner requires a late apex but it can be easy to put the power down too early and get a bit too close to the wall for comfort.
The straight that follows - that isn't really that straight - is broken up as drivers negotiate the flat-out turn six. This is where the DRS zone will be over the race weekend, so expect plenty of overtaking there. It is extremely bumpy, often a criticism from drivers, which makes the big braking zone for the ninety degree right of turn seven very difficult to perfect.
F1 cars can top 190mph along this section of the circuit, which signals the end of the first sector. However, this is also the main overtaking spot due to the long braking zone into the third gear turn.
The kerbs on the exit of turn seven are often used to the maximum with road surface beyond them. However, they are very high and can unsettle the car heavily. Turn eight arrives after another short burst on the power. It is a slow second-gear right taken at around fifty mph. There is some run-off area immediately ahead, which saves those who lock-up. This then leads on to the left-hander of turn nine.
The exit of turn nine is even more important in 2013 thanks to the removal of the heavily criticised "Singapore Sling" at turn ten. Cars approached the triple apex turn after a short straight, often launching over the kerbs as they tried to find the limit in practice or qualifying.
However, the circuit is now 'Singapore Sling' free with a sweeping left replacing it. This will help to lower lap times in comparison to previous years. The next corner is a third gear right that is swiftly followed by a fourth gear left that takes the cars over the Anderson Bridge. Cars start to brake for the next corner through the fourth gear bend.
The thirteenth corner on the circuit is a sharp second gear hairpin that takes the drivers left and on to the long - in comparison to other straights on the circuit - back straight before the big braking zone for turn fourteen. Traction is key to propel drivers along the straight and effective KERS use is also a must. This also signals the end of the second sector as the tight and twisty third and final part of the lap begins.
Turn fourteen is a second gear right that is followed by a fourth gear right-hand kink. This is followed almost immediately after by a second gear right-left chicane that leads drivers along the water front. The following chicane - turns eighteen and nineteen - takes the drivers under the large grandstand and into the final few corners. The first of these is tricky as the exit is unsighted and there is very little margin for error.
The twentieth and twenty-first corners on the Marina Bay Street Circuit mirror the chicane of turns sixteen and seventeen although the second part is taken at slightly higher speed as the circuit opens up. There's plenty of run-off area ahead before the final two corners. This section is incredibly technical with precision being key to keep cars out of the barriers.
The pit entry is on the right-hand side and undercuts the final two turns. It was originally criticised for being dangerous, largely due to the speed differential between a driver entering the pit lane and a driver heading off for another lap. That was resolved by extending the pit entry line, meaning drivers had to commit sooner to entering the pits.
Drivers clip the kerb of turn twenty-second, a third gear left, before building up the speed through the twenty-third and final corner on the circuit. It is important to take as much speed through this corner and use plenty of the exit kerb. Use of KERS as soon as you exit the bend is also crucial for the start/finish straight that follows. All of this is done under bright floodlights, passing landmarks such as the City Hall and Singapore Flyer, and in the humidity and night-time heat of Singapore.
The track is unusually physical, taking over double the amount of energy to complete a lap in comparison to the only other street circuit on the calendar: Monaco. Barriers are never far away and can be very unforgiving.
Due to the barriers, corners are often blind and this can cause multi-car pile-ups, particularly around the final sector. An example of this was in 2010 when Kamui Kobayashi crashed his Sauber as the circuit passes under the grandstand. Bruno Senna couldn't see the car but noticed the yellow flags at last minute, crashing into the barrier himself and coming to rest alongside Kobayashi's car.
Last year's race was won by Sebastian Vettel, but it should have been Lewis Hamilton that stood on the top step of the podium. However, he dramatically retired on lap twenty-two with a gearbox problem after pulling out a controlling lead over Vettel.
The German was promoted to first place and held position from then on, tackling two safety car periods - thanks to Karthikeyan crashing and a collision between Schumacher and Vergne - and a late charge from Jenson Button to take victory.
Vettel is definitely a safe bet for the win this year and it will take a dose of bad luck or mechanical gremlins to remove him from the running. Red Bull are renowned for their strong performance on high downforce circuits and Singapore requires a full down-force package.
Ferrari will be quick too, they are usually pretty good around the streets of Singapore, and this race will be crucial for Alonso to remain in the title hunt. Mercedes could also perform well under the bright lights of the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Lewis Hamilton proving to be a master around the tight and twisty track.
Lotus could also benefit from the tyre choices, Pirelli bringing the medium and super-soft compounds, and could bring home a good result with a differing strategy - that is if their advantage continues. McLaren will struggle over the bumps but look to have made steps forward in recent races, so expect them to challenge in the top ten.
The battle at the back is also heating up with Marussia just clinging on to tenth in the constructors. Caterham look to have the edge at the moment and will be hoping for a higher attrition rate on the street track as they aim to leap-frog the Banbury based squad.
I personally love the novelty of the Singapore Grand Prix, so I will be slightly sad if Bahrain's request to host one is accepted. It is completely unique, with F1 machinery travelling just metres from Singapore residents on the motorways and roads. It also creates some stunning photographs which I seeing.
In short, I can't wait for the 2013 Singapore Grand Prix!
Singapore Grand Prix Fact-file:
Location: Marina Bay, Singapore
Track Length: 3.152 miles
Direction: Anti-clockwise
Turns: 23
Laps: 61
Gear changes per lap: 80
Full throttle: 61%
First race: 2008
Lap record: Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 2008: 1m45.599
Tyre compounds: Medium and super-soft
2012 race winner: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing
2012 pole position: Lewis Hamilton, McLaren: 1m46.362
2012 fastest lap: Nico Hulkenberg, Force India: 1m51.033
Live on: Sky Sports F1 (Highlights on BBC)
 |
| (c) Vodafone McLaren Mercedes |
With the stunning night-time Singapore skyline as a backdrop, the race is truly like no other as the thirteenth round of the 2013 season takes place under 1,600 custom-made floodlights.
The circuit is a challenge in itself, joining Monaco as the only true street circuit on this year's calendar. Despite having considerably more run-off areas, the track is still difficult to master with the barriers never being too far away.
It is a complete contrast to the likes of Spa-Francorchamps and Monza, where the last two rounds of the season took place. The Marina Bay Street Circuit is a relatively new race, only joining the calendar in 2008, but it has created high drama nonetheless. It also requires a full down-force package, the polar opposite to the thin wings that teams took to the last two rounds.
.jpg) |
| (c) Sahara Force India F1 Team |
The car that caused the safety car period was his then team-mate Nelson Piquet Junior, who had crashed at turn seventeen. That break in proceedings helped Alonso to drive to an eventual race win. However, in September 2009 it emerged that this wasn't a true victory.
It turned out that the Renault F1 team had actually instructed Piquet Junior to crash on purpose, thus deploying the safety car and jumping Alonso up the order. The Brazilian driver made the accusations after being dropped by the Enstone based squad mid-season in 2009.
They were eventually charged with conspiracy and the team was disqualified from Formula 1, which was suspended for two years pending any further rule infringements.
Fernando Alonso won the race fair and square in 2010, making him the second double Singapore Grand Prix race winner alongside Sebastian Vettel. The German won the race in 2011 before backing that up with another victory twelve months later.
Let's take a look at the twenty-three corner Marina Bay Street Circuit then, shall we? It all starts on the short start/finish straight that leads to turn one, with the pit exit on the left. It actually cuts inside the first corner, which is a second gear left that leads quickly to turn two - an immediate but gently sweeping right-hander.
 |
| (c) Vodafone McLaren Mercedes |
Another second gear left-hand turn follows before a burst of power through the barely-there kink of turn four. The fifth corner on the circuit is a tricky third gear right that leads on to the longest straight on the track - called Raffles Boulevard. This corner requires a late apex but it can be easy to put the power down too early and get a bit too close to the wall for comfort.
The straight that follows - that isn't really that straight - is broken up as drivers negotiate the flat-out turn six. This is where the DRS zone will be over the race weekend, so expect plenty of overtaking there. It is extremely bumpy, often a criticism from drivers, which makes the big braking zone for the ninety degree right of turn seven very difficult to perfect.
F1 cars can top 190mph along this section of the circuit, which signals the end of the first sector. However, this is also the main overtaking spot due to the long braking zone into the third gear turn.
 |
| (c) Getty Images |
The exit of turn nine is even more important in 2013 thanks to the removal of the heavily criticised "Singapore Sling" at turn ten. Cars approached the triple apex turn after a short straight, often launching over the kerbs as they tried to find the limit in practice or qualifying.
However, the circuit is now 'Singapore Sling' free with a sweeping left replacing it. This will help to lower lap times in comparison to previous years. The next corner is a third gear right that is swiftly followed by a fourth gear left that takes the cars over the Anderson Bridge. Cars start to brake for the next corner through the fourth gear bend.
The thirteenth corner on the circuit is a sharp second gear hairpin that takes the drivers left and on to the long - in comparison to other straights on the circuit - back straight before the big braking zone for turn fourteen. Traction is key to propel drivers along the straight and effective KERS use is also a must. This also signals the end of the second sector as the tight and twisty third and final part of the lap begins.
Turn fourteen is a second gear right that is followed by a fourth gear right-hand kink. This is followed almost immediately after by a second gear right-left chicane that leads drivers along the water front. The following chicane - turns eighteen and nineteen - takes the drivers under the large grandstand and into the final few corners. The first of these is tricky as the exit is unsighted and there is very little margin for error.
.jpg) |
| (c) Sahara Force India F1 Team |
The pit entry is on the right-hand side and undercuts the final two turns. It was originally criticised for being dangerous, largely due to the speed differential between a driver entering the pit lane and a driver heading off for another lap. That was resolved by extending the pit entry line, meaning drivers had to commit sooner to entering the pits.
Drivers clip the kerb of turn twenty-second, a third gear left, before building up the speed through the twenty-third and final corner on the circuit. It is important to take as much speed through this corner and use plenty of the exit kerb. Use of KERS as soon as you exit the bend is also crucial for the start/finish straight that follows. All of this is done under bright floodlights, passing landmarks such as the City Hall and Singapore Flyer, and in the humidity and night-time heat of Singapore.
The track is unusually physical, taking over double the amount of energy to complete a lap in comparison to the only other street circuit on the calendar: Monaco. Barriers are never far away and can be very unforgiving.
Due to the barriers, corners are often blind and this can cause multi-car pile-ups, particularly around the final sector. An example of this was in 2010 when Kamui Kobayashi crashed his Sauber as the circuit passes under the grandstand. Bruno Senna couldn't see the car but noticed the yellow flags at last minute, crashing into the barrier himself and coming to rest alongside Kobayashi's car.
Last year's race was won by Sebastian Vettel, but it should have been Lewis Hamilton that stood on the top step of the podium. However, he dramatically retired on lap twenty-two with a gearbox problem after pulling out a controlling lead over Vettel.
 |
| (c) Getty Images |
Vettel is definitely a safe bet for the win this year and it will take a dose of bad luck or mechanical gremlins to remove him from the running. Red Bull are renowned for their strong performance on high downforce circuits and Singapore requires a full down-force package.
Ferrari will be quick too, they are usually pretty good around the streets of Singapore, and this race will be crucial for Alonso to remain in the title hunt. Mercedes could also perform well under the bright lights of the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Lewis Hamilton proving to be a master around the tight and twisty track.
Lotus could also benefit from the tyre choices, Pirelli bringing the medium and super-soft compounds, and could bring home a good result with a differing strategy - that is if their advantage continues. McLaren will struggle over the bumps but look to have made steps forward in recent races, so expect them to challenge in the top ten.
The battle at the back is also heating up with Marussia just clinging on to tenth in the constructors. Caterham look to have the edge at the moment and will be hoping for a higher attrition rate on the street track as they aim to leap-frog the Banbury based squad.
I personally love the novelty of the Singapore Grand Prix, so I will be slightly sad if Bahrain's request to host one is accepted. It is completely unique, with F1 machinery travelling just metres from Singapore residents on the motorways and roads. It also creates some stunning photographs which I seeing.
In short, I can't wait for the 2013 Singapore Grand Prix!
 |
| (c) AllF1 |
Location: Marina Bay, Singapore
Track Length: 3.152 miles
Turns: 23
Gear changes per lap: 80
Full throttle: 61%
First race: 2008
Lap record: Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 2008: 1m45.599
Tyre compounds: Medium and super-soft
2012 race winner: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing
2012 pole position: Lewis Hamilton, McLaren: 1m46.362
2012 fastest lap: Nico Hulkenberg, Force India: 1m51.033
Live on: Sky Sports F1 (Highlights on BBC)
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