It is no secret that a Formula 1 driver loses a certain amount of weight after each race. This weight loss is mainly due to the sweat the body produces over the course of a race. The Singapore Grand Prix is one of the races where drivers tend to lose the most weight due to its hot temperatures.
The Singapore Grand Prix is often considered to be one of the hottest races of the season. This can be confirmed by anyone who has driven a Formula 1 car around the track. In a podcast that was released after the Italian Grand Prix, Nico Rosberg shared what it’s like to drive around Singapore.
“I would lose eight pounds of body weight from sweating in the two hours. You’re like in your skiing suit and you are sitting on the asphalt which is 40/45 degrees. Then you have the petrol right behind you which is 65 degrees or something like that. So it’s just extremely hot, and there is no fresh air coming in. You have the seatbelts really tight you have your carbon seat molded to your body so you can hardly breathe properly. You can’t breathe when you’re cornering, you’re holding your breath.”
“I would lose eight pounds of bodyweight from sweating” 😲
Just how tough is the Singapore Grand Prix for drivers? 💭 pic.twitter.com/2RBXMMmJRH
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) September 12, 2023
After reading what Nico Rosberg said about driving in Singapore, we can be certain that it is not a track that drivers look forward to. However, since the Grand Prix takes place in the night, it is much more manageable for the driver. If it was an afternoon Grand Prix, it would have probably gone out of the calendar after its first year.
Was the Singapore Grand Prix the first to hold a night race?
The Singapore Grand Prix has never taken place in the day. It has always been a night race. This is mainly due to the high temperatures during the day. Not just the drivers, but even the cars will not be able to take high temperatures over the course of a weekend.
Maintaining temperatures in the engine and brakes are extremely essential in Formula 1. High temperatures could lead to engine or brake malfunctions which could lead to accidents. This is the last thing the FIA needs right now.
When the Singapore Grand Prix was held in 2008, it was the first-ever track to organize a night race. The only reason Formula 1 was never held in Singapore before that was due to the high temperatures of the day. So the organizers came up with the solution of the night race. While this would help the drivers and cars stay cooler, it would also be a fan attraction.
Some backdrop 🏙️✨#SingaporeGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/MwK00fPr05
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 12, 2023
There is no doubt that Formula 1 looks more exciting under the lights. That is when the colors of the car and the track just pop out of your TV screen. Even for the fans at the circuit, it is a sight to see. If you are a fan who has not witnessed a night race yet, it is one that you must not miss.
The Singapore Grand Prix was the first-ever race that started after sunset. Following this, a lot of other tracks followed. This season there are a total of 5 night races and 1 day-night race that takes place in Abu Dhabi. The night race has been extremely successful in the Middle East as those areas face high temperatures in the daytime.