Singapore Grand Prix, 2024

Lewis Hamilton has claimed the introduction of the sprint race format to the Singapore Grand Prix could improve the often processional event.

This weekend is running to F1’s traditional format. Formula One Management has announced next year’s Singapore Grand Prix will be a sprint event.

FOM’s decision to add a sprint race at the Singapore event was greeted with some surprise. F1 previously preferred to use the sprint format at “tracks with great overtaking potential” in order to “ensure the sprint [race] is a flat-out, aggressive melee from start to finish.”

However, as Hamilton noted, the Marina Bay circuit is one of the most difficult tracks to overtake other cars at. Nonetheless he believes the reduction in practice time may help create more variability within the field.

“As a sprint race next year, that’ll make it really, really tough, because this is a track where we really utilise those three [practice] sessions,” he told the official F1 channel.

“If you’re going straight into, from P1 straight into a sprint [qualifying session] I think it could be good, because in all honesty it’s not a good race in terms of racing, because you need a one-second advantage on the car ahead of you to have a chance of overtaking.

“Even though you have four DRS zones, it’s like Monaco, there’s hardly any overtaking here at all. Last year, we had no Safety Cars either, so it was pretty dull.

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“So I think a sprint [race] will really make it more of a lottery and throw a bit of a spanner in the mix.”

Drivers will face the added challenge of racing twice at one of the most physically demanding circuits. The FIA has announced a ‘heat hazard’ for the first time this weekend.

“The humidity here is what really kills us,” Hamilton explained. “It’s like 100% humidity here.

“So you’re sweating, it’s a track where you can lose three to four kilos. Last year I was overheating and many of us nearly passed out in that heat.

“On top of that – it’s not that it’s the most physical – it’s just mentally [tough]. There used to be 27 corners, I think it’s 23 now [19]. But there’s just a lot going on. The lap just never seems to end.

“It’s an amazing rollercoaster ride in that heat. So it’s the ultimate test of the mind and the body of all the races.”

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