Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton predicts that the Singapore night race on Sept. 28 will be tricky, technical, and very testing for each driver on the grid.
It may be the toughest test since his first race in 2007 in Melbourne, where he burst onto our TV screens emphatically.
Not only do the drivers have to contend with learning the new track, they must do it under the humid night sky of the lion district of Singapore.
"It is difficult to imagine what a night race will be like, then with brick walls everywhere too, I think it will be very technical and very tricky for overtaking, with the shadows off the lights," said the 23-year-old Herts-born racer.
The circuit runs along the Central Business district of the city, and Hamilton plans to get there early to understand the track.
"I'll get there early and walk the track with my engineers and size up the circuit in preparation," he said. "For me, I see this as a distinct advantage, as I learn circuits so quickly."
We all know how Lewis coped when he visited Montreal and Indianapolis for his very first time in the 2007 season.
Singapore Street Circuit, Marina Bay
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Okay, so let us take a look at what we are in for when the Singapore Grand Prix makes its first appearance.
5.067 Kilometres or 3.148 Miles in length.
23 corners in total:
Republic Boulevard, Raffles Boulevard, Nicoll Highway, Stamford Road, St. Andrews Road, Anderson Bridge, Esplanade Drive, and Raffles Avenue are the named corners/sections of the circuit.
A temporary track will be used as the pit lane exit, which will travel under the Benjamin Sheares Bridge to Republic Boulevard. The cars will rejoin the circuit at Raffles Boulevard.
The qualifying and second practise sessions are to be held at night, too. The testing and first practise sessions will be performed during the day to allow the drivers to get a feel for the circuit layout.
The drivers will have to change their sleeping patterns slightly, too. They are so used to being early birds, usually. They will have to time it just right to make sure of maximum alertness and awareness when it's time to race.
There have been safety concerns raised; however, it will still go ahead as scheduled. As long as they keep the fans and seating arrangements at a safe distance from the cars, there should be no problems.
The biggest problem could be tyre temperatures. If it's a cooler night than Singapore is used to, then it will be difficult to get sufficient heat in the tyres. If it's one of Singapore's warmer nights, then we could be seeing tyres reaching the graining phase a lot quicker.
Crashes could pose a problem, too, with no run off areas, if a car crashes or retires for some reason, then it could prove more difficult than Monaco to remove the cars, so we could see a safety car at some point of the race.
All in all, it's an exciting prospect for every Formula 1 fan across the globe and another huge step in the regeneration of the sport as we move forward in this modern era.
I can't wait for Sept. 28, can you?
Tell me your thoughts on this night race, Bleachers. Is a night race too dangerous? Should we have more than one night race on the calendar?
Who do you think will win the first-ever night race? As always, rate and comment please.
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about 1 month ago
no it isn't dangerous at all. the track will be so lit up it will be brither than a wet race. i do like the fact that one practice session will be in the day, so they can learn the track, and then one at night.
aussie could get a night race, but the spectacle of waiting up for the race will go.
from about 1 month ago
I agree with you michael , i was just putting it there to see what the rest of the bleachers think , its guna be more lit than ten Old Traffords .
Yeah they had to hold a session in the day really , the drivers need to be aware of their surroundings first .
When you say Aussie do you mean Albert Park or a different location ?
from about 1 month ago
ah well, albert park naturally, but I had heard that Adelaide might be receiving some upgrades to bring it up to FIA spec. They have considered the idea of a night race for the V8 supercar series, so who knows, it could go back there.
I hope it doesn't get a night race, because you know F1 is back when you go to bed at 5am feeling like a dog ran inside, took a crap and ran out again.
best feeling ever, nothing can beat it.
about 1 month ago
Nice article as usual Mark.
Its going to be great, I don't think it'll be dangerous as you've said its gunna be floodlit. When I imagine it in my head I keep thinking its going to be really dark, but its not, its gunna be bright!
I think 1 or 2 a season max, its not something I want to see alot, as its different and will be something of a spectacle, so not too often!
about 1 month ago
This is one I have been looking forward to for a while now ... Its going to look amazing ... All the lights reflecting off the shiny bodywork of that sexy MP4-23 ... Hmmmm, its going to be sweet !
from about 1 month ago
Yeah too right mate , i think the Mclaren will stand out most in the glare of the spotlights , its kinda wierd thinking about it , watching an F1 car at night , strange stuff , do you know roughly what time it will be over here when the race is on ? its going to be our daytime im guessing .
from about 1 month ago
I just cannot wait to play it on F1 09 next year. bloody brilliant.
from about 1 month ago
I dont know ? ... Have worked it out for America only because thats where I will be !
from about 1 month ago
I don't think the McLArens very pretty anymore, have you seen those disgusting new Honda/BMW ears they added to it in Jerez? Yeah they make it faster, but god dammit they're ugly.
from about 1 month ago
I disagree ... I think they did a better job on them than BMW and Honda did ...
from about 1 month ago
To Michael Griffin , F1 09 On Ps3 ? , Has 08 come out yet mate ???? i havent driven the F1 game with how the line up looks now , ive still got Kimi In the Mclaren , i need the new one :-(
from about 1 month ago
Yeah ... Need it out NOW ! Its been too long !
from about 1 month ago
Im bored of hearing he words
" Race leader Michael Schumacher has started his final lap "
I want to hear the words
" Lewiiiiiiiis Hamiltonnnnnnn Wiiiiiiiiiiins "
Ha ha . so which one is out mate ? ive not even seen the 07 game yet , that will be better than 06 championship edition .
from about 1 month ago
Yeah its a long time coming !
about 1 month ago
ha ha mike ............your mad mate . Adelaide would be ok , some memories of Adelaide circuit .
They would have to use a lot of lghting for Albert park to have a night race . interesting prospect tho .
Ryan thank you mate , No it wont be that Dangerous , probably just as dangerous as all the other races i guess .
I agree about it being a spectacle , the highlight of the season . i cant wait for it , woo hoo .
about 1 month ago
They have been racing at night for years, it is no big deal! In some ways, racing at night is easier.
about 1 month ago
Not in Formula 1 they havent . Its a spectacle for F1 .
Rally have been racing at night for years , but this is majorly different to Rally .
about 1 month ago
Le Mans have been racing at night for ions and that is real racing.
about 1 month ago
I dont care about Le mans tho paul , My Game is F1 and F1 only so im pretty excited about it and so is every other F1 fan .
i also like rally at the night stages but i cant sit there and watch 24 hour races like le mans .
about 1 month ago
I have been racing on Nordic Rally, and i must say that it wasn't fun at all. Well not in Rally. Some people liked it to drive at night, but you have to know the whole stage, every corner, everything.
So i think that Lewis Hamilton is right about night racing. Specialy when it is on completely new circuit.
So, i think it's impossible to compare Le Mans and Formula 1 race if we talk about night driving.
i'm against night race in F1 wherever it might be.
from about 1 month ago
Clearly I disagree. Le Mans is many times tougher, imagine screaming down Mulsanne and close up on a car going 50mph slower at 2 am in the morning. The track in Singapore, will be lit like daylight and once the race starts, most of the field will be gapped. At night, engines work better, better downforce, less visual distractions, it will not be tough at all.
from about 1 month ago
Paul, Le Mans is different. I'm not saying it's easy, far from that, but at least you have chance to learn whole track during qualifying sessions, and those are different cars. My personal expirience about night driving is horrible, specially cause of snow and ice (and bloody reeinders sneaking in the forest), i was scared to death, driving slow just to reach the end. and that wasn't Formula 1.
If someone wanted night race in F1, that could be some other, better known circuit. But, i think we will have to wait and see.
from about 1 month ago
Dagni, not only will the drivers get to practise in the daylight, they will have a real chance to get to know the circuit. The way the track is lit, is nothing short of brilliant and it far exceeds the 3000 lux level needed for High Definition TV, puls they are introducing the new digi signs, that replace flags. The lighting is designed to destroy shadows and reflective lighting. For my money, driving by the headlights in the snow at 40 MPH, would be far more dangerous than doing 180mph at the Singapore Gp. Am looking forward to the race, I will be there, Singapore is a great place.
from about 1 month ago
I will be there too, so we'll see how it looks like.
about 1 month ago
Yeah i have watched some Night races in Rally and it looks pretty scary , and if a rally driver makes a mistake in the dark , then he is rolling down some huge ravine , very dangerous, it takes a lot of skill to drive a rally car at night on a dusty dark stage .
I think they will make the singapore night race well Lit up , so it might not be too bad , we will have to see how it goes . interesting times tho , its two months away almost , i cant wait . arrrgggghhh
about 1 month ago
Again its a difference of opinon , im not into le mans . whereas you like it .
I like f1 , GP2 and BTCC . thats it .
And to say that the singapore race " wont be tough at all " is absurd , every race is tough , this one will be no different to every other race on the calendar , the only difference is it will be at night .
from about 1 month ago
Todays races are not tough, they are short, cars are not difficult to drive. Would wager that NASCAR or Rally would be much tougher disciplines.
from about 1 month ago
Come on paul , so your telling me that races like malaysia arent tough ???
In 2007 at sepang it was that hot that ALL the drivers had drunk there water with 26 Laps left , lewis , kimi , felipe and Fernando all said it was an extremely difficult race and one of the toughest mental challenges they faced .
I wouldnt call 70+ laps hort in that heat , plus the rest are hard .
And how on earth do you know if the cars are easy to drive ?????? you had a go ??? NAH didnt think so .
I never said Rally or NASCAR wasnt hard but F1 is an extremely difficult sport , why do you think only certain people make it ?
Your comment does not make sense at all .
about 1 month ago
Night racing is not gonna be tricky as the Singapore track is going to be flood lit. They have to be careful that they don't get spooked by the shadows though :-) dunno, if Lewis has a weak heart or if he believes in ghosts :-))
from about 1 month ago
The lights have been specifically designed to not cast a shadow, or reflect light!
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