The Singapore Grand Prix is this weekend, the race that began everything & as they market themselves the original night race. The numbers behind the floodlit race underline just how complex an event it is to put on. 108,423m of power cables, 240 steel pylons & around 1,600 light projectors with a total power requirement of 3,180,000 watts are used to light the track for the drivers. The effect is that the track is lighter than at midday on a sunny day & 4 times brighter than a football stadium.
The organizers were likely relieved the race wasn’t scheduled for last weekend, as Singapore was feeling the tail end of Typhoon Ragasa, which ripped through the Philippines’ remote northern islands on Monday before hitting Taiwan, Hong Kong, & southern China. i was looking the weather last weekend & there were many thunderstorms around. in particular no rain fell during but before the race their was a 3 hour thunderstorm before at 90% humidity. which would've been another chance for F1 to embarrass them. by delaying the start until a dry line appeared. because as we know now F1 is no longer allowed to race in wet anymore
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Thankfully, this weekend is looking much drier, and if any rain does arrive, it would likely fall during FP2 and FP3. That’s great news for Lando Norris because after Baku when the door was wide open. for him to close the title battle. Like brazil 2024 Norris underwhelmed, starting 7th & finishing 7th, after piastri crashed out. with his poor starts costing him again. when he lost places at the start dropping to 8th & then dropping to 9th. piastri wouldve been secretly delighted to have left baku only losing 6pts
Red Bull’s recent upturn, with Verstappen looking back to his best after dominant wins in Monza & Baku, will be worrying McLaren. It might be circuit-specific, where they’re strong in low-drag Circuits but if Max take pole or puts it on the front row & start challenging McLaren in the high downforce Singapore layout, alarm bells will ring. McLaren won’t want a 2007-style deja vu, losing a 2 horse race in the final 3 rounds despite having both horses in the race
On the bright side for McLaren, the title will realistically be decided in Singapore. fpr T shirts to stay in their boxes, McLaren would need to be outscored by Mercedes by 31 points or more, & by Ferrari by 35 points or more. In practical terms,
The organizers were likely relieved the race wasn’t scheduled for last weekend, as Singapore was feeling the tail end of Typhoon Ragasa, which ripped through the Philippines’ remote northern islands on Monday before hitting Taiwan, Hong Kong, & southern China. i was looking the weather last weekend & there were many thunderstorms around. in particular no rain fell during but before the race their was a 3 hour thunderstorm before at 90% humidity. which would've been another chance for F1 to embarrass them. by delaying the start until a dry line appeared. because as we know now F1 is no longer allowed to race in wet anymore
Super typhoon Ragasa hits China and Hong Kong after 17 killed in Taiwan
Super typhoon Ragasa has hit China's Guangdong province, where nearly 1.9 million people were relocated, while Hong Kong may have escaped the worst of the storm's impact.
Thankfully, this weekend is looking much drier, and if any rain does arrive, it would likely fall during FP2 and FP3. That’s great news for Lando Norris because after Baku when the door was wide open. for him to close the title battle. Like brazil 2024 Norris underwhelmed, starting 7th & finishing 7th, after piastri crashed out. with his poor starts costing him again. when he lost places at the start dropping to 8th & then dropping to 9th. piastri wouldve been secretly delighted to have left baku only losing 6pts
Red Bull’s recent upturn, with Verstappen looking back to his best after dominant wins in Monza & Baku, will be worrying McLaren. It might be circuit-specific, where they’re strong in low-drag Circuits but if Max take pole or puts it on the front row & start challenging McLaren in the high downforce Singapore layout, alarm bells will ring. McLaren won’t want a 2007-style deja vu, losing a 2 horse race in the final 3 rounds despite having both horses in the race
On the bright side for McLaren, the title will realistically be decided in Singapore. fpr T shirts to stay in their boxes, McLaren would need to be outscored by Mercedes by 31 points or more, & by Ferrari by 35 points or more. In practical terms,
- if Mercedes or Ferrari dont win - Mclaren win
- if even 1 of Piastri or Norris finishes 5th, - McLaren win
- if both drivers finish 7th & 8th, - McLaren win
