Why Was the Notorious Singapore Sling Chicane Removed?

Remember when Adrian Sutil converted his F1 car into a jet and touched the skies with his Force India? Well, we might’ve exaggerated it a bit, but that’s exactly what some drivers felt at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. While we agree that the F1 cars are super aerodynamic, they are no jets that produce lift. Quite the opposite really. But then how come the drivers fly? It was all thanks to the Singapore Sling. No, not the cocktail, but the chicane. But then why was it removed? What is it all about?

Do you recall the infamous Singapore Sling chicane? What is now just a left-hand turn used to be one of the most iconic corners on the F1 track. There wasn’t any corner quite like the Singapore Sling. Multiple drivers were caught out by the chicane, including the likes of Kimi Raikkonen. When the Chicane was removed, many drivers breathed a sigh of relief as Fernando Alonso advised that it’s better to not have the Chicane. But what made the Singapore Sling so dangerous?

What was the Singapore Sling Chicane?

The Singapore Sling chicane was a quick sequence of left, right, and left corners. After the three 90-degree corners, Turn 7, 8, and 9, followed the Singapore Sling. However, there was a small straight section before the corner. The quick acceleration and then the braking going into the chicane made it very challenging. The walls didn’t come all the way up to the apex of the chicane and it was basically three huge curbs on the outside of the corner.  

And it wasn’t like the Ascari chicane at Monza, where the track is wide enough to carry a lot of speed. The Singapore sling was narrow, just like the track itself. The closest comparison to a current corner is the castle section at the Azerbaijan GP. One small mistake and you’re into the wall. Following the Singapore Sling came two medium-speed corners that led to the esplanade drive straight, which made the exit from the chicane even more crucial. But then why was it removed?

Why was the Chicane removed from the Singapore GP?

To start off, many drivers didn’t like the corner at all, with Lewis Hamilton calling it the worst corner he’s ever driven in F1. As we’ve mentioned, one slight mistake and the driver was in the barrier. If the drivers carried a bit too much speed into the corner and weren’t able to make the turn, they would hit the curbs that sent them flying toward the barrier. Back then, the concept of Halo wasn’t introduced, which made a flying F1 car even more dangerous.

Read More: 2023 Singapore Grand Prix Schedule: When and Where to Watch, All You Need to Know About the Event at Marina Bay Street Circuit

Also, the chances of a safety car are high around Singapore and the chicane just added to the risk of a safety car. The corner was removed for the 2013 Singapore GP and hasn’t made a comeback to the circuit since. The chicane was replaced by a medium-speed corner as all the curbs were removed. Also, a Tecpro barrier was placed on the outside of the corner to absorb the impact. However, this isn’t the only change made to the Marina Bay Circuit since then. 

What other changes have been made to the Marina Bay Street Circuit?

The F1 track’s layout is constantly updated depending on the needs of the racing as well as keeping safety in mind. F1 already featured a revised final corner at the Spanish GP where the final chicane was removed for a sweeping right-hander. As a result, overtaking was made easier on the start and finish straight. The latest changes to the Marina Bay Circuit will also improve the overtaking chances.

While corners have been re-profiled at the circuit earlier, no major changes were made until this year. The 2023 Singapore GP will feature a new straight between the former turns 15 and 19 as the section between these corners is being removed for redevelopment work of the float at the Marina Bay into NS Square. The new straight will be 397.9 meters long and is believed to reduce the lap time to a sub 1:30:00. The changes will also help overtaking as the new Turn 16 will become a considerable braking zone. 

Watch this Story: How Fernando Alonso’s 2008 Singapore GP Win Became One of F1’s Worst Controversies – Crashgate

What do you think about the Singapore Sling and the changes made to the track for the 2023 Singapore GP?