[Official] Singapore Grand Prix 2016: Grand Prix Weekend Thread

[Born Racer]

Singapore holds its ninth World Championship Grand Prix this weekend. A symbol of the contemporary tendency towards iconic circuit surroundings and modern entertainment razzmatazz, the Marina Bay circuit played host to Formula 1’s first ever night race in 2008.

A 318,000 watt capacity is required to pump the circuit with artificial lighting and the definition of the different elements of the cars is fantastic as they shimmer under the floodlights, with sparks from the underside particularly prominent.

With 23 corners (14 left-handers and 9 right-handers), it has more turns than any other Grand Prix on the calendar and at 61 laps, it generally goes on to become the longest race in the season, running to the 2 hour limit before the laps have been completed. The shortest race here was 1 hour 56 minutes.

The safety car is almost a statistical certainty – it has appeared at least once in every Grand Prix held here, perhaps most memorably in the first ever Formula 1 race, when Renault’s Nelson Piquet agreed to crash in order to assist Fernando Alonso or maybe last year when during a safety car period, a spectator got through a gap and made it onto the track.

The shortest margin of victory here was 0.239 in 2010, with Alonso beating Vettel.

The race goes back further than 2008, though, as there was a Grand Prix in Singapore in 1961, named the Orient Year Grand Prix. It formed part of a campaign called ‘Visit Singapore – The Orient Year’ to attract tourists to the region and it took place on a street track named the Thomson Road Circuit. Ian Barnwell in an Aston Martin DB3S won the inaugural race.

The race later became the Singapore Grand Prix in 1966 after the country gained independence and was run to Formula Libre rules. It was known for being a dangerous track with ‘The Hump’ one of the corners, a right-hander through which the cars left the ground and unofficially had a section which became known as ‘Murder Mile and a corner nicknamed Devil’s Bend.

The new incarnation of the race has been won four times by Sebastian Vettel (2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015), twice by Fernando Alonso (the questionable 2008 win and 2010) and Lewis Hamilton (2009 and 2014).

As can be seen by Vettel’s victories from 2011 to 2013 Red Bull has shown strong form at this circuit and a lot of the team will be harbouring strong ambitions for this weekend. Despite championship leader Hamilton’s 2014 win, this is a bit of an anomaly – a circuit on which Mercedes do not look set to dominate easily.

In spite of Marina Bay not always having provided stirring on-track battles, we could at least see an interesting tussle for top honours. Ferrari will be hoping to figure in that mix too after a disappointing season but a win last time out in Singapore. Throw in Räikkönen’s recent form vis-Ã*-vis Vettel, his battles with Verstappen and the 18 year-old’s speed, and the high performance of Daniel Ricciardo in the other Red Bull, we could have something electric this weekend.

Ultrasofts make their second race appearance this weekend and they dominate the tyre selections, although there is an interesting variety in how many softs and supersofts drivers will have at their disposal.

To join in our predictions contest on Ten-Tenths, go here: http://tentenths.com/forum/showthrea...wpost&t=147938

Our Fantasy F1 contest is here: http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=146625

Constructors’ championship standings: http://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2016/team.html

Drivers’ championship standings: http://www.formula1.com/en/results.h...6/drivers.html

Singapore Grand Prix tyre selections: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/h...singapore.html

Circuit length: 5.065km
Number of laps: 61
Race distance: 308.828km
Dry weather tyre compounds: Ultrasoft, Supersoft and Soft
DRS Detection Zone 1: Turn 4
DRS Activation Zone 1: between Turns 5 and 7
DRS Detection Zone 2: between Turns 21 and 22
DRS Activation Zone 2: on start-finish straight
Speed trap: on start-finish straight

Lap Record: 1:50.041 (2015 - Daniel Ricciardo - Red Bull-Renault)
First Singapore Grand Prix: 1966
First World Championship Grand Prix: 2008