5 most memorable moments from the Singapore Grand Prix

1. The Singapore Sling (2008-2012)

With a list of victims that includes Giancarlo Fisichella, Kimi Räikkönen, Adrian Sutil and Kamui Kobayashi, the Singapore Sling became an infamous and controversial corner known for launching cars into the air, more often than not causing race-ending damage, or an abrupt trip into the barriers.

It was a truly unique complex that incorporated an extremely narrow left-right-left flick profiled by three rather nasty and ungainly sausage kerbs. It looked clumsy, uncomfortable, and hugely unenjoyable for the drivers to try and navigate, and it was little wonder that after only a single session it had become the talking point of the entire weekend in 2008.

After some minor re-profiling work for the 2009 season, the Singapore Sling remained in place until it was somewhat unsurprisingly scrapped in favour of a faster and far more flowing single left hander. It may be gone forever, but it forged a legacy that will never be forgotten.

2. Schumacher flies over Perez (2011)

Michael Schumacher’s return to Formula 1 had a number of highs and lows, but he never had much luck during his three attempts at the Singapore Grand Prix – a finish of 13^th place in 2010 was his best result.

He retired from both the 2011 and 2012 editions, but his exit from the former was spectacular to say the least. As he and Sergio Perez battled for position on Lap 29, the two came together on the run into Turn Seven.

Perez defended the inside, but Schumacher had little time to react as he was launched over the rear wheel of the Force India. Such was the relatively low speed of the contact; Schumacher was lucky to land on his wheels before slamming into the barriers on the outside. Amazingly, Perez was able to continue, Michael, unfortunately, was not.

3. Massa’s calamitous pitstop (2008)

To this day, the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix remains the most dramatic we’ve had during the 13 races we’ve had at Marina Bay so far. Ferrari’s Felipe Massa went into that weekend embroiled in a tense battle for the world championship with McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton.

Massa had taken pole position by a massive margin, and led the early laps from Hamilton. He had built a lead of more than three seconds when the safety car was deployed (more on that later) and he was called into the pits by his team.

During the stop, he was released prematurely, and pulled away from his pitbox with the fuel hose still attached. He dragged it all the way to the pitlane exit, and his mechanics had to run the length of the pits in order to detach the hose and send Massa on his way. When all was said and done, the Brazilian rejoined at the back of the pack, with a drive-through penalty for his troubles.

4. Vettel Raikkonen crash 2017

When you consider we’ve been visiting the incredibly tight and twisty Marina Bay circuit for the best part of 15 years, it’s amazing that we haven’t seen more sparks flying. Perhaps the biggest moment of drama we’ve seen at the Singapore Grand Prix was at the start of the race in 2017.

It was the first time since the introduction of the new hybrid regulations that Mercedes had faced a genuine challenge in either championship, and Sebastian Vettel arrived in Singapore just three points behind Lewis Hamilton the drivers’ standings. So when the German lined up on pole position with Hamilton only fifth, it seemed like his best chance to wrestle the championship lead from the Mercedes master.

Come race day, it didn’t take long for disaster to strike the Ferrari driver. Pre-race rainfall made for a damp track as the lights went out, and the front row of Vettel and Verstappen got away slower than those behind. Kimi Räikkönen pulled out alongside the pair of them and they went three-wide towards turn one. Unfortunately they never made it to the apex, because the two Ferraris made contact, wiping themselves and Verstappen out of the race, and picking up Fernando Alonso in the aftermath as well.

5. Crashgate (2008)

We mentioned a certain safety car at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix? This was quite possibly the most controversial moment of Formula 1 in the 21^st Century, and there are a few other candidates for that title.

Fernando Alonso had started the race on the super-soft tyres with the expectation of an early safety car. Right on cue, the Spaniard was called in by his team to make the tyre change, and two laps later, on Lap 14, the safety car was called. It had all gone to plan for Alonso, who inherited the lead thanks to the fortuitous timing of his pitstop, and he went on to take a famous victory for Renault – his first since he rejoined the French team from McLaren.

But it would come to light no more than a year later, that not all was as it had appeared. Nelson Piquet Jr. had been fired by Renault after the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, and had made some shocking allegations about what had really occurred in Singapore a year earlier.

He alleged that he had been ordered to crash on purpose by the team, so that the safety car would be called at the perfect time to allow Alonso the best chance of victory. Renault was found guilty, and F1 was plunged into chaos.

Chaos that continues to this day, for Felipe Massa, as I write, is in the midst of a legal dispute with Formula 1 around the result of that 2008 championship due to claims made by Bernie Ecclestone that he and others in charge of the sport at the time were aware that Renault had instigated such a plot.

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.