McLaren’s drivers about Singapore GP

The Singapore Grand Prix is Formula 1’s only true night race. It starts two hours after sunset, at 8pm local time, and it takes the drivers nearly two hours to complete the 309km/192-mile race under the dazzling lights that surround the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

To quote McLaren-Honda driver Fernando Alonso, who has won through the streets of Singapore on two occasions, “the race is a modern-day classic”. It’s only in its eighth year, yet already the event is one of the most prestigious on the World Championship calendar.

The 5.065km/3.148-mile street circuit has 23 corners, of which 10 are taken in first or second gear. It has an average speed of 170km/h (106mph), which makes it the second slowest circuit of the season after Monaco; but despite the relatively slow speeds, the race remains one of the biggest physical challenges for the drivers. Cockpit temperatures regularly exceed 50 degrees and there are few straights along which to cool down.

The track weaves its way through downtown Singapore and passes many of the city-state’s most famous landmarks. It’s narrow and there are some unexpected hazards to be aware of, such as the underground electrical current near the Anderson Bridge that can sometimes play havoc with the cars’ electrics. But it’s the unique nature of this race that makes it such an enticing challenge.

The asphalt around the Marina Bay circuit is slippery, so Pirelli is taking its two softest tyre compounds to the race – the Supersoft (Option) and the Soft (Prime). This combination was last used at the Austrian Grand Prix and provides rapid warm-up and good mechanical grip.

McLaren has won the Singapore Grand Prix once before, in 2009, and both of its drivers have enjoyed success through the streets. Fernando Alonso has won the race twice and Jenson Button has finished second on two occasions.

Fernando Alonso: “The Singapore Grand Prix is a modern-day classic. The race hasn’t been on the calendar for long, but it’s already very prestigious. The heat makes it very demanding for the cars and the drivers, but we’re hopeful the McLaren-Honda package will perform more consistently there than in recent races.”

Jenson Button: “Every driver looks forward to the challenge of the Singapore Grand Prix. The heat, the artificial light, the bumps and the length of the race all add up to one of the biggest challenges of the season. Our car performs better on this type of circuit, so I hope we can have some fun this weekend.”