Race In Hell

2022 Singapore Grand Prix

This past weekend Formula 1 raced at Singapore, the first of the final stretch of races in the Formula 1 calendar, Sergio Perez managed to stop Max Verstappen’s 5 race win streak and won the race. One of the biggest characteristics of the Singapore race is that it is known to be the hardest of them all.

The Singapore Grand Prix is the longest race, has the most physically demanding corners, and on top of that it is the hottest race of the calendar, temperatures reach up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit inside the car for the majority of the race.

Extreme Temperatures

Thanks to extreme temperatures, drivers often have a harder time focusing because they have to deal with extreme fatigue, on top of all the challenges, this race faced a lot of rain, which caused multiple crashed and led to 8 of the 20 drivers to crash out of the race.

Drivers often have to do specific training routines for this race, for example Carlos Sainz who said, “Extreme situations call for extreme measures… Getting ready for Singapore!!. While he uploaded a video of himself using an excessive bike inside of a sauna at max temperature. 

Leclerc and Perez exhausted after the race.

Drivers Opinions

All drivers are aware of how demanding this race is, but none of them are making excuses or demanding a change, they have been training for the moment in unique ways, “This is the track we have to think about and prepare for. We’ve been spending a lot of time in saunas, even during the summer, at very high temperatures” said Charles Leclerc in the pre-race conference.

Former Race Winner and long time racer Felipe Massa explained the feeling perfectly when asked how the racing at Singapore feels like, “It’s an amazing track to drive, but the heat and humidity, combined with the way the track is laid out, makes it a tricky and mentally tough race”.

Is there a way to fix the problem?

The Singapore Grand Prix used to be a race held in during the day, thanks to its temperatures it was changed to a night race, making it the first ever night race in Formula 1 history, for the past few years it has been held at night, but temperatures are still extreme and the only solution would be to change it to the winter or simply remove it from the calendar.

My Opinion

While many fans argue for the removal of the race from the F1 calendar, I believe the race should stay the way it is, some races are unique because of characteristics beyond the layout of the track, and the heat makes the Singapore Grand Prix very unique, it should stay this way and teams and drivers should prepare in the right way for it if they want to come away with the victory.