Singapore Grand Prix: 15 races and counting! My favourite memories from each year

I wanted to do a little re-cap of the past 15 Singapore Grand Prix and my experience of them all, so here it is! I've been to most of them, didn't go to the track in 2008, and didn't watch the race live by choice in 2009 and 2024. Had no choice but to skip it in 2010 due to Army, so 2011 was my first F1 race I  saw live.

 

2008

Winner: Fernando Alonso (ESP) - Renault

2nd: Nico Rosberg (GER) - Williams Toyota

3rd: Lewis Hamilton (GBR) - McLaren Mercedes

Pole: Felipe Massa (BRA) - Ferrari - 1:44.801

Fastest Lap: Kimi Räikkönen (FIN) - Ferrari - 1:45.599 on lap 14

Lap Leaders:

• Massa (17 laps)
• Rosberg (11 laps)
• Jarno Trulli (5 laps)
• Alonso (28 laps)

My View: 

• Wasn't at the circuit, watched from home

So I didn't go for the first one for a simple reason, the ticket prices were way too expensive. So I just thought I'd watch the action at home and see how the circuit is like and how everything was. Of course this is the infamous race with "Crashgate" where Nelson Piquet Jr was ordered to crash on purpose to help Renault team-mate Fernando Alonso win the race from 15th. And of course the stuck re-fueling rig that probably cost Felipe Massa the world championships that year.

2009

Winner: Lewis Hamilton (GBR) - McLaren Mercedes

2nd: Timo Glock (GER) - Toyota

3rd: Fernando Alonso (ESP) - Renault

Pole: Lewis Hamilton (GBR) - McLaren Mercedes - 1:47.891

Fastest Lap: Fernando Alonso (ESP) - Renault - 1:48.240 on lap 53

Lap Leaders:

• Hamilton (57 laps)
• Alonso (4 laps)

My View: 

• Turn 14 - Walkabout Viewing Area (we don't have these anymore)
• Didn't go for Saturday or Sunday

It was my first time at an F1 circuit, and even though it was just a Friday practice session, I was buzzing! I had been waiting all my life for this moment. I didn't move around much, just watched from Turn 14 both practice sessions from what I remember. 

Yes, back then you could watch the action there and the view was great. Not the viewing platform we know now but you were much closer to the action. Now they barricade us way further back. Not fun.

As for the race, Hamilton won but Timo Glock was the star of that race, managed to get that Toyota into 2nd somehow. Defending winner Alonso got on the podium too. 

Toyota's Timo Glock got a surprise 2nd place finish!

Turn 14 used to have one of the best viewing spots, I miss this.

2010

Winner: Fernando Alonso (ESP) - Ferrari

2nd: Sebastian Vettel (GER) - Red Bull Renault

3rd: Mark Webber (AUS) - Red Bull Renault

Pole: Fernando Alonso (ESP) - Ferrari - 1:45.390

Fastest Lap: Fernando Alonso (ESP) - Ferrari - 1:47.976 on lap 58

Lap Leaders:

• Alonso (61 laps)

My View: 

• Turn 14 - Practice 3 - Walkabout Viewing Area (we don't have these anymore)
• Turn 16 - Qualifying - Walkabout Viewing Area (Not on circuit anymore)

While I chose to skip the 2008 and 2009 races, I wasn't given a choice for 2010 because of the Singapore Army, so I didn't even get to see the race. I could only go for the Saturday event so another walkabout ticket for me.

We started off the same as last year, Turn 14 before moving a little bit up the circuit to Turn 16. That for a few years became my favourite spot to take pictures of these race cars because you were that close to them and it was just perfect as you will see later on. And they had the screens there too so you could follow the action as well.

Like I said, I didn't watch the race. All I saw was Alonso scoring pole position. Some idiots in my Army camp ruined the race result for me so I didn't even bother watching it, just the hightlights. I can't even tell you anything that happened in this one other than Heikki Kovalainen's car catching fire on the start finish straight, that I do remember seeing in the highlights. 

Esplanade Drive straight, always a nice spot but now this spot has a great viewing platform

Turn 16, amazing corner to watch the action from! One we no longer can see from after it was barricaded off and well, now that corner no longer exists too.

2011

Winner: Sebastian Vettel (GER) - Red Bull Renault

2nd: Jenson Button (GBR) - McLaren Mercedes

3rd: Mark Webber (AUS) - Red Bull Renault

Pole: Sebastian Vettel (GER) - Red Bull Renault - 1:44.381

Fastest Lap: Jenson Button (GBR) - McLaren Mercedes - 1:48.454 on lap 54

Lap Leaders:

• Vettel (61 laps)

My View: 

• Between Turn 13-14 (Esplanade Drive) - Practice 1 - Walkabout Viewing Area (we don't have these anymore)
• Turn 14 - Practice 2 - Walkabout Viewing Area (we don't have these anymore)
• Turn 11 - Practice 3 - Walkabout Viewing Area (we don't have these anymore)
• Turn 16 - Qualifying - Walkabout Viewing Area (Not on circuit anymore)
• Turn 13 - 2011 Singapore GP - Walkabout Viewing Platform

Finally, my first full F1 race weekend! Friday, Saturday and of course Sunday. The sad thing is, the main reason I bought the tickets for Sunday this time was to watch my favourite driver at that time Nick Heidfeld in action, and of course he got sacked by Renault a few races before this happened. Still, I finally get to watch an F1 race live!

I did a lot of walking on Friday. Started out at the Esplanade Drive, always a nice spot to see these cars zoom past but now thankfully we have an even better viewing spot for this part of the circuit. Same cannot be said for the rest. Back to ol' reliable Turn 14 for Practice 2, just a good spot to see the action. Again, a real shame there is no way to watch the action there now.

I actually started Saturday watching the Formula BMW Asia race from outside of Turn 8, I didn't realise there was a spot there. I tried to go there the next year and of course, there was no viewing spot there. Missed opportunity, that seemed a good spot to take photos of these cars. 

Watched Practice 3 from the outside of Turn 11, which used to be a nice spot, but now the corner is a little different, and much harder to see the cars from that side of the circuit, you'd have to go to the opposite side to see the cars now. And I don't think there's much of a viewing platform there either. After that, I finally decided to see one of the concerts for once, I knew who Shakira was so why not?

Back to Turn 16 again for Qualifying, such a great spot. And for the race, I'm not sure why I thought Turn 13 was a good idea. Because it wasn't. The fact that I've not seen the action from Turn 13 since then tells you all you need to know. Vettel won the first grand prix I attended live, I was more happy that two of my favourites, Jenson Button and Mark Webber were on the podium. And the guy who replaced Heidfeld, Bruno Senna? He crashed. Right in front of me. Poetic justice for me there haha. Decent first race, maybe Walkabout tickets wasn't the way to go for races.

Also this was the first race I got to use my brand new Nikon D5100 camera. That thing gave me so many good pictures, especially after I got a bigger lens the next year. It served me well from 2011-2019 before it was damaged by some house renovator guys who didn't see my camera in my bag and shoved it around. Arseholes.

Shakira! The first concert I bothered to watch for an F1 weekend.

Senna crashes right in front of me

Outside of Turn 8 wasn't a bad spot, it never did become a spot to watch after that year

First race I got to use my new Nikon D5100!

2012

Winner: Sebastian Vettel (GER) - Red Bull Renault

2nd: Jenson Button (GBR) - McLaren Mercedes

3rd: Fernando Alonso (ESP) - Ferrari

Pole: Lewis Hamilton (GBR) - McLaren Mercedes - 1:46.362

Fastest Lap: Nico Hülkenberg (GER) - Force India Mercedes - 1:51.033 on lap 52

Lap Leaders:

• Hamilton (19 laps)
• Button (3 laps)
• Vettel (37 laps)

My View: 

• Turn 21 - Practice 1 - Walkabout Viewing Area (we don't have these anymore)
• Between Turn 14-15 - Practice 2 - Esplanade Rooftop Viewing Area (barricaded off as of 2024)
• Turn 14 - Practice 2 - Walkabout Viewing Area (we don't have these anymore)
• Turn 22 & 23 - Practice 3 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Turn 7 & 8 (Nicoll Highway straight) - 2012 Singapore GP - Walkabout Viewing Platform

2012 and things got better, we now have GP2 (now F2) joining the schedule so even more single seater racing action for me to see! And not just that, I got a bigger lens for my Nikon D5100 camera so the pictures got way better!

I went to a new spot for FP1, turn 21. And it turned out to be one of the better spots to take pictures of these cars. It was my first time in Zone 1 after all so I never knew about it. Anytime I'm in Zone 1 after that, I usually end up here. Sadly these spots don't exists for us normies, it's now a grandstand there, and not a cheap one either.

This was the year they started introducing more of these walkabout viewing platform which is now the norm all around the circuit, you can't just got to a random spot and watch the action from some railing anymore, which I do kinda miss. Because there's a lot of good spots that no-one can see now. Even Turn 5 was quite good when I went to watch GP2. The final two corners were quite good, if you've got a big lens, it's a good spot for sure. And as of 2024, it still is!

Also for this year, I did attend a bit more of these concerts. We were lucky to have Maroon 5 and Katy Perry but the big one for me is Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds. Oasis is my all time favourite band so of course I had to go see the chief do his thing. 

I picked another bad spot for the race, whoops. Turn 7-8 viewing platform isn't that bad, but as I found out, you should get there early. I was stuck behind a lot whole of tall peeps and never got many good pictures or even see the race. The screens helped but still. Vettel wins for the 2nd year in a row, followed by Button again. Hamilton had been leading but his car broke down. This was the last race I saw Michael Schumacher in action, and in all 3 races, he didn't finish the race.

Vettel wins again!

Turns 22-23 was a good spot to watch the action

GP2 joins in on the action

Noel Gallagher, formerly of Oasis!

2013

Winner: Sebastian Vettel (GER) - Red Bull Renault

2nd: Fernando Alonso (ESP) - Ferrari

3rd: Kimi Räikkönen (FIN) - Lotus Renault

Pole: Sebastian Vettel (GER) - Red Bull Renault - 1:42.841

Fastest Lap: Sebastian Vettel (GER) - Red Bull Renault - 1:48.574 on lap 46

Lap Leaders: 

• Vettel (61 laps)

My View: 

• Between Turn 13-14 (Esplanade Drive) - Practice 1 - Walkabout Viewing Platform (older version)
• Between Turn 17-18 - Practice 2 - Bay Grandstand
• Turn 22 & 23 - Practice 3 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Turn 21 - Practice 3 - Walkabout Viewing Area (we don't have these anymore)
• Turn 16 - Qualifying - Walkabout Viewing Area (Not on circuit anymore)
• Turn 23 - 2013 F1 Singapore GP - Walkabout Viewing Platform

Another fun weekend, this was one of the better ones even though the race wasn't that exciting. I didn't go to many new places this time around, just going around the same places as I had before. My friend got me tickets to watch the action from Bay Grandstand for Friday. It was ok, not that good. 

We still had GP2 with us so that was double the fun for me. For the race I finally picked a good spot, the final corner! There were some close overtakes happening there but you could see who was making their way into the pits. 

Also saw Mark Webber's car pouring smoke right in front of me and sure enough, the famous ride with Fernando Alonso after the race. Vettel won again, led all the laps too and completed the grand chalem. 

And hey I finally got to see the podium celebrations live in person! That was cool.

Webber getting a ride back to the pits from Alonso

Podium celebration

Pictures were getting better, I'm getting the hang of it!

First time sitting at a grandstand in Singapore, it was ok

2014

Winner: Lewis Hamilton (GBR) - Mercedes 

2nd: Sebastian Vettel (GER) - Red Bull Renault

3rd: Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) - Red Bull Renault

Pole: Lewis Hamilton (GBR) - Mercedes - 1.45.681

Fastest Lap: Lewis Hamilton (GBR) - Mercedes - 1:50.417 on lap 39

Lap Leaders: 

• Hamilton (58 laps)
• Ricciardo (1 lap)
• Vettel (1 lap)

My View: 

• Between Turn 21-22 - Practice 1 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Turn 22 & 23 - Practice 1 - Singapore Flyer
• Turn 11 - Practice 2 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Between Turn 13-14 (Esplanade Drive) - Practice 2 - Walkabout Viewing Area (we don't have these anymore)
• Turn 5 - Practice 3 - Walkabout Viewing Area (we don't have these anymore)
• Turn 22 & 23 - Practice 3 - Singapore Flyer
• Between Turn 21-22 - Practice 3 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Turn 22 & 23 - 2014 F1 Singapore GP - Walkabout Viewing Platform

The first Singapore GP in the new hybrid era! And if you can tell from my views, I was walking around a lot! Often times I was at two different spots in the same session itself, which is something I've been doing more regularly since this edition of the Singapore GP. 

I got to finally watch the action from the Singapore Flyer! And it's really not that bad, shame it's just only 30 minutes so you have to time it just right. And it's free for those of us with a Zone 1 or 2 ticket so I went on it for a daytime session and a nighttime session because, well, why not?

Sadly the GP2 guys didn't join the supporting series so I was a little bummed by that. The classic cars did take it's place but it just didn't feel the same to me. Seeing the future stars of the series live in action always felt better, and I still don't know why we haven't gotten F2 or F3 back in Singapore.

The race was an interesting one. Nico Rosberg went into that race as the championships leader but his car failed to start, which I saw from my view which was looking down from the start finish straight and also Turn 23. Hamilton won, which made him the new championship leader. Got another good view of the race and the podium celebration too, that's always fun! And hey, my guy Danny Ric was on the podium!

Hamilton's win meant he now lead the championship...

...because team-mate Rosberg had a nightmare race, didn't even get off the start!

The view from the Singapore Flyer

2015

Winner: Sebastian Vettel (GER) - Ferrari

2nd: Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) - Red Bull Renault

3rd: Kimi Räikkönen (FIN) - Ferrari

Pole: Sebastian Vettel (GER) - Ferrari - 1:43.885

Fastest Lap: Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) - Red Bull Renault - 1:50.041 on lap 52

Lap Leaders:

• Vettel (61 laps)

My View: 

• Turn 2 & 3 - Practice 1 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Turn 21 - Practice 2 - Walkabout Viewing Area (we don't have these anymore)
• Turn 22 & 23 - Practice 2 - Walkabout Viewing Platform (now a grandstand for Turn 23)
• Start/Finish Straight - Practice 2 - Pit Grandstand
• Turn 11 & 12 - Practice 3 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Between Turn 9 & 10 - Qualifying - Padang Grandstand
• Turn 18 - 2015 F1 Singapore GP - Bay Grandstand (Not on circuit anymore)

2015 was a cool one even before the weekend started, I got to meet some young driver by the name of Max Verstappen and my favourite driver, Daniel Ricciardo! And after a few years of failing, I finally got to go for the pit-lane experience again! 2013 was my first, this was the second and so far only other one I've been to. I've been waiting 9 years guys, come on!

And for the first time, I've bought tickets to watch the action from the Grandstand so now I don't have to fight for a spot with a bunch of idiots on a viewing platform just to watch the race. I wanted to try the combination grandstand stuff out, but maybe I didn't get the first best one. So of the 3 I went to:

• Pit Grandstand was just rubbish, I didn't spend much time there, can't see much anyway
• Padang Grandstand was probably the best one of the three, but still not very good when you only have like a five second view of the cars
• Bay Grandstand was easily the worst, thank god it's gone

The race was ok. Vettel won having led every lap, Massa and Hulkenberg collided, Hamilton had a rare DNF and some dude walked on track. Wtf? I will say this, it was pretty cool to witness someone's debut race in F1 in Singapore, that rarely happens. And who was that someone? Well none other than the 100th Indianapolis 500 winner himself Alex Rossi, which he won the very next Month of May! 

This race was also the first of back-to-back live races for me, the other being the Japanese Grand Prix. Not done that ever since. Also back-to-back podiums in Singapore for Daniel Ricciardo, woohoo!

As if I needed more proof that Bay Grandstand just sucked

Turn 23 used to have a really good spot to watch, now it's a grandstand

Alexander Rossi making his F1 debut in Singapore

The pit-lane experience!

2016

Winner: Nico Rosberg (GER) - Mercedes

2nd: Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) - Red Bull Renault

3rd: Lewis Hamilton (GBR) - Mercedes

Pole: Nico Rosberg (GER) - Mercedes - 1:42.584

Fastest Lap: Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) - Red Bull Renault - 1:47.187 on lap 49

Lap Leaders:

• Rosberg (59 laps)
• Räikkönen (1 lap)
• Hamilton (1 lap)

My View: 

• Turn 21 - Practice 1 - Walkabout Viewing Area (we don't have these anymore)
• Turn 7 & 8 (Nicoll Highway straight) - Practice 2 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Start/Finish Straight - Practice 3 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Turns 1, 2 & 3 - Practice 3 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Turn 22 & 23 - Qualifying - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Turn 22 & 23 - 2016 F1 Singapore GP - Walkabout Viewing Platform (now a grandstand for Turn 23)

As you can tell, I really did like Zone 1 far better than the other zones. Anytime I have tickets to go there, oh you know I will be there. I wish there were walkabout tickets just for Zone 1, I would buy that! 

Weekend started off "great", one of my favourites Jenson Button stopped on track right in front of me. That wasn't a nice sight in what was a terrible McLaren car. Those were the dark days. I finally got to the viewing platform opposite the pit exit, it was cool to see the cars do their warm-ups just before heading out onto the circuit.

Watching the action from inside of Turns 1 to 3 was a new one for me, the spot there was pretty good. And I think it's still one of the spots you can view, just with lesser viewing platforms now apparently.

My view for the race was at the final corner, you can see Turn 22 and 23 and when the cars head into pit-lane, lots going on. I got to see some of the cars at the back of the grid on the starting grid, and who was the poor fella who started last, which meant he started right in front of me on the grid? 4-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel, that's who!

As for the race, Rosberg won on his 200th start and became the first non-World Champion to win the event....until he won the championships that same year but you get the gist of it. Nothing much really happened in that race. At least we got a 3rd podium in Singapore in a row for Dan the Man, Ricciardo loves it here in Singapore!

View from Turn 2

Vettel getting ready on the grid

The podium finishers

Button stops on track

2017

Winner: Lewis Hamilton (GBR) - Mercedes

2nd: Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) - Red Bull Renault

3rd: Valtteri Bottas (FIN) - Mercedes

Pole: Sebastian Vettel (GER) - Ferrari - 1:39.491

Fastest Lap: Lewis Hamilton (GBR) - Mercedes - 1:45.008 on lap 55

Lap Leaders:

• Hamilton (58 laps)

My View: 

• Turn 11 & 12 - Practice 1 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Between Turn 13-14 (Esplanade Drive) - Practice 2 - Walkabout Viewing Platform (older version)
• Turn 11 & 12 - Practice 2 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Between Turn 14-15 - Practice 2 - Esplanade Rooftop Viewing Area (barricaded off as of 2024)
• Turn 11 & 12 - Qualifying - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Turn 17 - 2017 F1 Singapore GP - Esplanade Waterfront Grandstand

Ah 2017, one of my favourite Singapore GPs for sure. I'll just cut right to the chase. It was the first wet night race, and of course the big moment, the two stupid Ferraris crashed into each other haha! I loved it. The best part, Ferrari said it was Verstappen's fault on their social media when Verstappen had nowhere to go go because of the two of them. (In case you didn't know, I never liked the team in red).

I don't know why I kept going to Turns 11/12 this year, I mean it's a good spot for sure to take pictures. I went to check out the Esplanade rooftop again, always one of the best spots to take pictures of the cars without the catch fencing. Unfortunately as I found out a few days ago, that area is now barricaded off. Why?

I chose a different grandstand for the race this time, Esplanade Waterfront Grandstand. Actually wasn't too bad. Hamilton ended up winning a race he didn't expect to win. It was a wet race so the ponchos had to go up but I still did get a few shots of the cars in the rain which looks cool. And guess what, a 4th podium in a row in Singapore for Daniel Ricciardo, we take those!

Waterfront grandstand wasn't the worst. Shame it's gone.

Esplanade rooftoop a good spot for pictures

Another good spot for photos!

Racing in the rain

2018

Winner: Lewis Hamilton (GBR) - Mercedes

2nd: Max Verstappen (NED) - Red Bull Renault 

3rd: Sebastian Vettel (GER) - Ferrari

Pole: Lewis Hamilton (GBR) - Mercedes - 1:36.015

Fastest Lap: Kevin Magnussen (DEN) - Haas Ferrari - 1:41.905 on lap 50

Lap Leaders:

• Hamilton (49 laps)
• Verstappen (3 laps)
• Räikkönen (4 laps)
• Ricciardo (5 laps)

My View: 

• Turn 11 & 12 - Practice 1 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Between Turn 14-15 - Practice 2 - Esplanade Rooftop Viewing Area (barricaded off as of 2024)
• Between Turn 14-15 - Practice 2 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Turn 7 - Practice 3 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Turn 7 & 8 - Qualifying - Stamford Grandstand
• Turn 7 & 8 - F1 2018 Singapore GP - Stamford Grandstand

So this was the first year I watched the race from the Stamford Grandstand, something I had been wanting to do for a while and boy did it not disappoint. As you will see later, it's become my go to ticket for the races itself, it's easily the best spot to watch the race from because there's always going to be an overtaking attempt there.

Before that, I went to see Practice 3 from the Turn 7 viewing platform, and that too wasn't a bad spot to watch the action as well! Of course I went back up to Esplanade to get some good shots, because why not.

Hamilton won again, Verstappen got his first podium in Singapore, both Force Indias collided with each other in Turn 1. Nothing much really happened. It may have looked boring on TV but if you had my view of the race, there was an overtaking attempt almost every other lap. I never said it was successful but it's still exciting to watch them go for it. Sadly no 5th podium in a row for Danny Ric in Singapore, so this race sucked.

But the highlight for me was seeing my favourite singer of all time, the best frontman of all time, Liam Gallagher formerly of Oasis, finally live in living colour. He did all the hits, everything was just good. Finally we had some good music in Singapore instead of all the trashy ones they keep bringing in.

Turn 11 my reliable spot for pictures

Turn 7 was a new one I found, good spot!

Liam Gallagher, what a legend!

They're side by side!

2019

Winner: Sebastian Vettel (GER) - Ferrari

2nd: Charles Leclerc (MON) - Ferrari

3rd: Max Verstappen (NED) - Red Bull Honda

Pole: Charles Leclerc (MON) - Ferrari - 1:36.217

Fastest Lap: Kevin Magnussen (DEN) - Haas Ferrari - 1:42.301 on lap 58

Lap Leaders:

• Leclerc (19 laps)
• Hamilton (7 laps)
• Antonio Giovinazzi (4 laps)
• Vettel (31 laps)

My View: 

• Turn 21 - Practice 1 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Turn 22 & 23 - Practice 1 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Start/Finish Straight - Practice 2 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Turn 5 - Practice 2 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Start/Finish Straight - Practice 2 - Pit Grandstand
• Turn 11 & 12 - Practice 3 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Between Turn 9 & 10 - Qualifying - Padang Grandstand
• Turn 7 & 8- 2019 F1 Singapore GP - Stamford Grandstand

I did the combination grandstand package again this time, because why not, any excuse to get to Zone 1 is good enough for me, even for just a day. This was, unfortunately, the last racing weekend I got to use my trusty Nikon D5100 camera as I got damaged weeks later. Stupid renovation people. 

I didn't spend much time at the Pit Grandstand because well it sucks, so why bother. Heck even Padang gives a better view. Did a lot of walking for this one, went to most of my usual spots. Stamford Grandstand again for the race. I did see Gwen Stefani in between FP3 and Qualifying and Muse after Qualifying, since I was in Padang, why not?

The race was an interesting one, it was looking like a Leclerc win but Ferrari gave Vettel the better strategy and overtook his Ferrari team-mate in the pits for the win. This would end up being Vettel's last race win too. Kevin Magnussen in the Haas got fastest lap for the 2nd year in a row haha!

Padang > Pit

Lots of racing action here

I really miss taking pictures from my Nikon camera

The Iceman cometh

2022

Winner: Sergio Pérez (MEX) - Red Bull Honda

2nd: Charles Leclerc (MON) - Ferrari

3rd: Carlos Sainz Jr. (ESP) - Ferrari

Pole: Charles Leclerc (MON) - Ferrari - 1:49.412

Fastest Lap: George Russell (GBR) - Mercedes - 1:46.458 on lap 54

Lap Leaders:

• Pérez (59 laps)

My View: 

• Between Turn 13-14 - Practice 1 - Walkabout Viewing Platform (New Elevated Platform as of 2022)
• Turn 11 & 12 - Practice 2 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Turn 7 & 8 - Practice 3 - Stamford Grandstand
• Turn 7 & 8 - Qualifying - Stamford Grandstand
• Turn 7 & 8 (Nicoll Highway straight) - Qualifying - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Turn 7 & 8 - F1 2022 Singapore GP - Stamford Grandstand

After a 2 year hiatus due to Covid, F1 is back in Singapore. There were a number of changes, some viewing areas added, some unfortunately taken away. And now I'm using my brother's Sony A6000 camera. Not as good as my old camera but it'll do.

The new elevated platform in front of the Esplanade between Turns 14 & 15 was a hit! Finally a spot you can see the cars high up without the catch fencing getting in the way. So the pictures were a hit. The W Series joined up as a support series so yet another single seater series for me to watch live is a big win!

I was a bit lazy on Saturday because...well...it rained. So I just sat at my grandstand seat earlier than planned at Stamford Grandstand and waited for the rain to wash out. FP3 was delayed a long time for it but we got there in the end. Stayed there for Qualfying and even went to the walkabout platform just to see how it was like and test the new camera out. 

Same story for the race, it rained and I just sat in my grandstand and waited it out. Perez lead all the laps and won the race, sounds boring but it was anything but! A lot of drivers were making mistakes or crashing out. Even the defending world champion Max Verstappen had a big off moment, and it happened in front of me! F1 is back!

Verstappen goes off!

It rained twice during the racing weekend

W Series making their Asia debut in Singapore

New viewing platform at Esplanade where you can take pics of the cars WITHOUT catch fences!

2023

Winner: Carlos Sainz Jr. (ESP) - Ferrari

2nd: Lando Norris (GBR) - McLaren Mercedes

3rd: Lewis Hamilton (GBR) - Mercedes

Pole: Carlos Sainz Jr. (ESP) - Ferrari - 1:30.984

Fastest Lap: Lewis Hamilton (GBR) - Mercedes - 1:35.867 on lap 47

Lap Leaders:

• Sainz (62 laps)

My View: 

• Start/Finish Straight - Practice 1 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Turn 2 & 3 - Practice 1 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Turn 17 (formely 21) - Practice 2 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Start/Finish Straight - Practice 2 - Pit Grandstand
• Between Turn 13-14 - Practice 3 - Walkabout Viewing Platform (New Elevated Platform as of 2022)
• Between Turn 14-15 - Practice 3 - Esplanade Rooftop Viewing Area (barricaded off as of 2024)
• Between Turn 9 & 10 - Qualifying - Padang Grandstand
• Turn 7 & 8 - F1 2024 Singapore GP - Stamford Grandstand

And now we go to the last Singapore GP race I attended live so far because I didn't watch the race live for 2024. And it's mostly because of what happened in 2023. Don't get me wrong, it was probably one of the best Singapore GPs ever. Red Bull won all but one race in 2023, it was this one and there was a 4-way fight for the win.

The problem was...well...I didn't really get to see much of it, did I? Normally I can see all the action easily from Stamford Grandstand, I still say it's the best one. The issue here is I was given a god awful seat where there were not one but TWO railings blocking my view of Turn 7 so I had to bend my head down just to see anything. 

And if that wasn't bad enough, I had a bunch of idiots sitting in front of me who kept standing up the whole time. For fuck sakes, sit down and watch, don't block my view. That was the most annoyed I've been at a race for a long time.

Because of all of that, I thought I should just take the next year off, that being 2024 and see how it's like to watch it on the TV again, with nothing blocking my view this time! I just went for the same places I usually go to this time, and the Esplanade rooftop for one last time. Little did I know they would barricade the place off next year.

Padang for Qualifying

I had to do a lot just to take nice pictures, I'm taking this between two guardrail rows while moving just up on another

Zone 1 with some good views as usual, just lesser platforms now

Last year was the last time we can see the cars from the rooftop of Esplanade

2024

Winner: Lando Norris (GBR) - McLaren Mercedes

2nd: Max Verstappen (NED) - Red Bull Honda

3rd: Oscar Piastri (AUS) - McLaren Mercedes

Pole: Lando Norris (GBR) - McLaren Mercedes - 1:29.525

Fastest Lap: Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) - Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Honda - 1:34.486 on lap 60

Lap Leaders:

• Norris (62 laps)

My View: 

• Turn 7 - Practice 1 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Between Turn 8 & 9 - Practice 1 - Walkabout Viewing Platform
• Between Turn 13-14 - Practice 2 - Walkabout Viewing Platform (New Elevated Platform as of 2022)
• Between Turn 9 & 10 - Practice 3 - Padang Grandstand
• Between Turn 9 & 10 - Qualifying - Padang Grandstand
• Didn't go for Sunday

And here's the 15th Singapore Grand Prix, and of course the one I miss, is won by McLaren. I simply have no luck whatsoever. My team finally wins in Singapore again and I wasn't there to watch it, I was quite bummed about that.

I initially was only going to be at the circuit for Friday, I could only get walkabout tickets as they were all sold out (yes I did change my mind initially). Went to my usual places, including the rooftop of Esplanade only to see the area was barricaded up. Good job, you've ruined another good spot to watch the cars. 

On the Thursday before the weekend, my uncle told me he got tickets for Saturday and wasn't going, so now I was going for two days! I didn't bother moving around for Saturday, I still wasn't used to my brother's camera and hey, there was a big monitor in front of me, why not.

Speaking of monitors, we did get to see the funniest thing ever, a lizard running away from marshals haha! Norris got pole, so it's nice to see my McLaren guys doing well live in person. They did win the race, I was at home sadly. Strange race too, no safety car for the first time in Singapore! 

Thanks for reading!