What Changes Have Been Brought to the Marina Bay Circuit? How Will It Make the Singapore GP More Exciting?

The 2023 Singapore Grand Prix is right around the corner, and with Free Practice 1 and 2 out of the way, the hype is really building up! That being said, the Marina Bay Circuit isn’t going to be the same anymore. Whilst we are in for the usual drama and attrition that you’d expect from this intense night race, a change in the layout is surely going to stir a lot up as the fans gear up for yet another exciting Grand Prix.

F1 deserves a wild ride in Singapore this weekend after the endless domination that Red Bull and Max Verstappen have served on all of us. And with a spectacular layout change in the final sector of this epic street circuit, fans have a lot to look forward to, and a few surprises to enjoy along the way.

What layout changes have been made to sector 3 of the Marina Bay Circuit?

Sector 3 of the circuit has completely been revamped for the 2023 edition of the race. According to Sky Sports F1, “The construction of multi-purpose outdoor venue NS Square means Turns 16, 17, 18 and 19 have been removed, so the track will no longer go under the grandstand towards the end of the lap.”

Even though that means that the iconic tunnel section has been replaced, it does mean that the new turn 16 can become yet another overtaking hotspot for the drivers to get their elbows out. What’s more, the track is now going to boast a faster set of F1 cars zipping through the streets of Singapore as lap times are expected to be cut down by a mammoth 10 seconds.

But enough of the numbers, should the fans be expecting a nail-biting Grand Prix from start to finish?

Singapore’s propensity for drama

There’s always been drama when the flying circus of Formula 1 has traveled to Singapore. For instance, back in 2017, the sport witnessed Ferrari’s first-ever lap 1 double DNF as both Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen tangled with Max Verstappen ending their races.

One doesn’t have to look too far into the past to find a reason to be excited. Just last year, the race saw a whopping 6 retirements and interchangeable conditions. With the chance of rain at 60% for the Grand Prix, as things stand, a wet night race is on the cards for the fans to enthrall themselves with.

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But more than anything, it’s the physical toll of driving in the humid state of affairs for the drivers that really gets them uncomfortable. Lewis Hamilton had once famously quipped, “One lap around here [Marina Bay] is like two laps of Monaco.” For the first time ever, Max Verstappen agreed with Hamilton over something as he chanted his mantra of hydrating well. Speaking of Max Verstappen and firsts, is this going to be the first time the Bulls concede a race?

Could Singapore be the one to finally defeat Max Verstappen?

The new layout changes coupled with how ridiculously demanding the race is in the first place can be the downfall for Verstappen & Co. It would appear that the revamped Sector 3 does indeed suit the Ferrari boys, as they topped both practice sessions today.

Add the fact to the mix that Verstappen has seemingly struggled throughout Friday and has actually never won the race, this Sunday may see the Bulls taste defeat for the very first time in 2023. With a longer duration of on-throttle time, owing to the layout change, could the bulletproof RBPT engine finally succumb to the demands of the season? Only time will tell.

Are you looking forward to the 2023 Singapore GP?

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