5 Reasons We're Revved Up for the Singapore GP
Photos courtesy of the Singapore GP
The Singapore GP is one of the most thrilling events in the Formula 1 calendar—hot, glamorous and downright nail-biting. It provides experiences for both drivers and spectators that are unlike anything else they’ll encounter in the sport’s 19 other current venues. The five red lights on the starting grid will go off on Sunday, September 23, to mark the event’s fifth successful staging, and here’s why we’re not missing it for anything else in the world.
1. 61 SERVINGS OF THE SINGAPORE SLING 
The Marina Bay Street Circuit has no shortage of challenging and almost impossible-looking corners. But of the 23 turns on this 5.073km track, the one that requires the most concentration and biggest balls is Turn 10. Dubbed the ‘Singapore sling,’ after the famous local cocktail first concocted at the Long Bar in Raffles Hotel, this demanding corner is a left-right-left chicane with notoriously harsh curbing, and was described by McLaren driver and 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton as “the worst corner I’ve ever driven in Formula 1.” The drivers have to contend with this hop-skip-jump affair 61 times over during the actual race and one little misstep on it and they’ll be at the barriers and out of the running.
2. F1 ROCKS—LITERALLY
This being the only night race in the calendar, it’s a given that there ought to be a huge party afterwards. Renowned acts and artists like ZZ Top, Beyonce, No Doubt, the Black Eyed Peas, Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott and Linkin Park have provided on-track entertainment in past Singapore race weekends. This year, the F1 Rocks lineup of performers includes Jay Chou, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, and recent Manila visitors Maroon 5 and Katy Perry.
The best bit here is that every GP ticket holder gets free entry to all the performances happening in their tickets’ accessible zones.
