Singapore GP: Night, city, floodlights, pure elegance!

The Singapore circuit, measuring 5.1km, appears to be one of the slowest of the season, and teams are expected to opt for their high downforce aerodynamic packages as a result. As for lap times, they have been estimated at around 1’45. For their second appearance on this track, teams have conducted numerous simulations and already have a good idea regarding the setup of the F1 cars. However, they will have to wait for the first sessions on Friday to conduct full-scale tests and thus gain a better understanding of the circuit and its demands.

Tires

As in Monaco, the expected grip level in Singapore is relatively low. Bridgestone has therefore chosen to supply the teams with the soft and super-soft tires from its 2008 range, which are very similar to those used in Monaco, Budapest, and Valencia earlier this year. This will provide a reasonable level of grip, while the track will likely be very dirty and therefore slippery at the beginning of the weekend. However, as with all temporary circuits, the level of adhesion will improve as the sessions progress.

Aerodynamics

After Monaco, Singapore is the second slowest circuit in the championship. The team will therefore opt for a high-downforce aerodynamic package to ensure good car stability under braking and optimize traction exiting slow corners.

Brakes

Preliminary simulations suggest that the circuit will apparently be challenging for the brakes, with wear similar to that experienced by the braking systems in Melbourne. It is not so much the severity of the braking but their frequency that makes Singapore a delicate challenge for the brakes. Particular attention will be paid to the cooling of the braking systems.

Suspensions

Suspension setup is undoubtedly the most delicate thing to do based solely on simulations when discovering a new track. However, like any street circuit with a high number of slow corners, mechanical grip will be crucial, and the team will likely dedicate a good part of their technical program to this at the beginning of the weekend. The goal will be to give the drivers suspensions that are soft enough to have an efficient car on exit and stable when passing over curbs and other bumps.

Engine and gearbox

Urban circuits tend to be less demanding on the engine given the amount of time the engine is under full load, but it can still be put to the test since it is used in a permanent on-off mode. Short gear ratios will be used to optimize reacceleration and get the best performance from the engine right from low revs.

According to a statement from the Renault F1 Team