Singapore GP - The Inside Line (with Steve Slater)

After a three-week break, it's finally RACE WEEK. The Singapore Grand Prix returns to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix after a three year hiatus. Since three is the number in play, will this prove to be a lucky hunting ground for driver who races car #3 (Daniel Ricciardo, of course)?

Of course, there's a greater chance that driver who raced car #33 (Max Verstappen, remember?) till last year is the downright favourite.

But let's look back before we look forward?

Join our race watchalong sessions with the legendary British Formula 1 commentator Steve Slater (ex-Sky TV, ESPN, Star Sports).

On the live stream, you can discuss with Steve & our hosts various race-related topics - strategies, performances, insights & more. Join us to enhance your real-time race viewing experience!

Get your FREE access pass: Paytm Insider & Inside Line F1 Podcast - Race Watchalong with Steve Slater.

In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, the broadcasting legend Steve Slater joins Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah to look back at how the Singapore Grand Prix came about. Did you know that the current layout that Formula 1 races on isn't the layout that was first proposed? Also, did you know of the science that went into illuminating the street circuit - also Formula 1's first-ever night race?

Steve Slater was directly involved with the Singapore Grand Prix for many years - so expect a lot of 'did you know' moments in this episode. Sit back & enjoy one of many Steve's stories (narrated by Steve himself!) as we build up to our 2022 Singapore Grand Prix coverage. 

(Season 2022, Episode 57)

Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah

Image courtesy: Ferrari

## **Navigating the Singapore Grand Prix: A Detailed Guide**

### **A Race Through History: The Singapore Grand Prix**

- The Singapore Grand Prix, a Formula One night race, made its debut in 2008, becoming the first-ever night race in F1 history.
- The Marina Bay Street Circuit, known for its unique layout, winds through the heart of Singapore, passing iconic landmarks and offering a captivating spectacle.
- The race has witnessed several memorable moments, including the controversial 2008 race, marred by the infamous "Crashgate" incident.

### **The Mastermind Behind Singapore's Lighting Marvel: Valerio Maioli**

- Valerio Maioli, an Italian engineer, played a pivotal role in designing the innovative lighting system for the Singapore Grand Prix.
- The intricate lighting setup, consisting of thousands of projector lighting rigs, illuminates the track without dazzling the drivers, enhancing their orientation.
- Maioli's expertise also led to the development of LED light flags used in Formula One circuits worldwide.

### **Steve Slater's Involvement in Singapore's Motorsports Legacy**

- Steve Slater, a renowned Formula One commentator, shares his experiences working with the Singapore Grand Prix and his involvement in shaping the circuit's design.
- Slater highlights the logistical challenges of setting up and dismantling the race infrastructure within a tight timeframe.
- He emphasizes the unique atmosphere of the race, particularly the camaraderie among race fans, journalists, and paddock personnel.

### **The Heart of the Singapore Grand Prix: Its People and Community**

- The Singapore Grand Prix stands out for its vibrant atmosphere, largely attributed to the热情 of its people.
- The race attracts a diverse crowd, including locals, tourists, and international media, creating a lively and cosmopolitan ambiance.
- The event offers a range of experiences, from thrilling on-track action to lavish hospitality suites, catering to a wide spectrum of attendees.

### **Unveiling the Secrets of the Singapore Grand Prix**

- The Singapore Grand Prix offers a glimpse into the world of Formula One, showcasing the cutting-edge technology, strategic decision-making, and intense competition that define the sport.
- The race weekend provides an opportunity for fans to witness the pinnacle of motorsport, with world-class drivers pushing their limits on a challenging circuit.
- The event also offers insights into the behind-the-scenes operations, revealing the immense effort and coordination required to organize such a масштабное событие.

### **Celebrating the Human Spirit at the Singapore Grand Prix**

- The Singapore Grand Prix serves as a testament to human ingenuity, showcasing the ability to transform a city into a racetrack and orchestrate a seamless event.
- The race highlights the dedication and passion of the individuals involved, from the drivers and teams to the organizers and volunteers.
- The event fosters a sense of unity and camaraderie among people from different backgrounds, united by their shared love for motorsport.

### **A Legacy of Excellence: The Singapore Grand Prix's Enduring Impact**

- The Singapore Grand Prix has established itself as a premier event on the Formula One calendar, attracting global attention and leaving a lasting impression.
- The race has contributed to Singapore's reputation as a vibrant and cosmopolitan city, showcasing its infrastructure, hospitality, and cultural diversity.
- The event's success serves as an inspiration for other cities and countries aspiring to host major sporting events, demonstrating the transformative power of collaboration and innovation.

# Inside Line F1 Podcast Episode 57: Singapore Grand Prix Retrospective and Race Preview

## Introduction

* The Singapore Grand Prix is back after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
* The podcast hosts, Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah, are joined by legendary Formula 1 commentator Steve Slater to discuss the history and significance of the Singapore Grand Prix.

## The Uniqueness of the Singapore Grand Prix

* The Singapore Grand Prix is Formula One's first-ever night race, held on a street circuit that winds through the city's downtown core.
* The race presents unique challenges for drivers and teams due to the humid conditions, the tight and twisty layout of the circuit, and the need to adapt to the different time zone.

## Steve Slater's Involvement with the Singapore Grand Prix

* Steve Slater was directly involved with the Singapore Grand Prix for many years, working as a commentator and providing insights and analysis for fans.
* He shares anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories from his time covering the race, including the challenges of working on a night race and the logistical complexities of organizing the event.

## Memorable Moments from the Singapore Grand Prix

* Steve Slater and the hosts recall some of the most memorable moments from the Singapore Grand Prix, including Fernando Alonso's emotional victory in 2010, Nico Rosberg's strategic win in 2016, and Adrian Sutil's fastest lap for Force India in 2014.

## The Impact of the Singapore Grand Prix on Formula One

* The Singapore Grand Prix has become a popular and prestigious event on the Formula One calendar, attracting large crowds and generating significant revenue for the sport.
* It has also served as a model for other street circuits, such as the Vietnam Grand Prix and the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix.

## The Potential for Midfield Teams to Excel in Singapore

* The unique characteristics of the Singapore Grand Prix can sometimes lead to surprising results, with midfield teams occasionally challenging for podium finishes or even victories.
* Steve Slater and the hosts discuss the possibility of a midfield team springing a surprise in the 2022 Singapore Grand Prix.

## The Excitement of the Upcoming Race

* The hosts express their anticipation for the 2022 Singapore Grand Prix, highlighting the return of the race after a three-year absence and the potential for thrilling racing.
* They invite listeners to join them for a live race watchalong, where they will provide commentary and insights throughout the event.

## Conclusion

* The podcast episode concludes with the hosts thanking Steve Slater for his participation and encouraging listeners to tune in for the race preview episode and the live race watchalong.

[00:00.000 -> 00:23.360] Hey folks, it's finally time for Formula 1 to return to Singapore.
[00:23.360 -> 00:25.040] And it's been so long, it's literally been
[00:25.040 -> 00:27.660] three years but it feels like ages.
[00:27.660 -> 00:32.040] It's a circuit where we've seen so many great moments, so many great memories and finally
[00:32.040 -> 00:39.080] F1 is back home to the original night race and to discuss this race and the stories behind
[00:39.080 -> 00:42.400] it, actually how were the lights in the first place formed out probably.
[00:42.400 -> 00:49.160] We've got Steve Slater, the voice of Formula One in Asia, who's also been a great part of our F1 race watch alongs on Paytm Insider
[00:49.160 -> 00:52.480] that you should also check out. And we're also going to have one for Singapore GP as
[00:52.480 -> 00:56.800] well. So don't forget to register for that by clicking the link on the description. But
[00:56.800 -> 01:03.200] I should actually dive in immediately to the circuit because Singapore, when we initially
[01:03.200 -> 01:05.380] think about it, there are so many great memories.
[01:05.380 -> 01:07.840] From the very beginning, we saw the circuit
[01:07.840 -> 01:11.280] deliver an absolute classic, a controversial classic, yes.
[01:11.280 -> 01:14.280] But there's been great, great stories from every single race.
[01:14.280 -> 01:17.000] But I suppose, Steve, there's one story
[01:17.000 -> 01:19.800] before the first race that's really been very intriguing.
[01:19.800 -> 01:22.560] You mentioned something in our pre-race recording,
[01:22.560 -> 01:26.220] our pre-episode recording, or the meeting you record that way.
[01:26.220 -> 01:27.540] I'm just so flustered by the story,
[01:27.540 -> 01:29.020] I can't even get my words correct.
[01:29.020 -> 01:32.060] But it was something about the lighting of Singapore.
[01:32.060 -> 01:34.820] And I remember as a child, I was around five years old,
[01:34.820 -> 01:36.480] I remember reading in all the articles
[01:36.480 -> 01:39.940] that the drivers faced no problems whatsoever
[01:39.940 -> 01:41.620] with the lightings at Singapore.
[01:41.620 -> 01:43.020] I was intrigued.
[01:43.020 -> 01:43.860] How is that possible?
[01:43.860 -> 01:44.740] It's a night race.
[01:44.740 -> 01:46.380] Formula One has never done a night race.
[01:46.380 -> 01:47.720] But what's the story behind it?
[01:47.720 -> 01:49.160] How did it never happen?
[01:49.160 -> 01:50.720] The problem, that is.
[01:50.720 -> 01:52.640] Well, it really is a case.
[01:52.640 -> 01:54.320] It was a step into the unknown.
[01:54.320 -> 01:55.840] Despite everything that was done,
[01:55.840 -> 01:59.920] I was involved with Singapore Grand Prix from 2007.
[01:59.920 -> 02:03.600] And the lighting is a key part of what was done.
[02:03.600 -> 02:05.760] We even had to convince Formula One journalists.
[02:05.760 -> 02:08.760] I was actually helping establish the press operation
[02:08.760 -> 02:09.680] at that time.
[02:09.680 -> 02:12.320] And we actually flew out a large number of journalists
[02:12.320 -> 02:14.600] to actually show them how the lighting would work
[02:14.600 -> 02:16.280] and how the track would work.
[02:16.280 -> 02:17.880] Because they were really quite worried.
[02:17.880 -> 02:20.720] What happens if all the lights go out halfway through a race?
[02:20.720 -> 02:22.400] Well, actually, it couldn't happen,
[02:22.400 -> 02:24.360] because the way it's all wired is
[02:24.360 -> 02:25.480] that there are
[02:25.480 -> 02:30.760] probably 3,000 lighting rigs around the circuit, projector lighting, which is a
[02:30.760 -> 02:36.880] little bit like the LED headlamps on a high-value car and they're all for
[02:36.880 -> 02:40.400] every single lighting unit is focused into a different bit of the track and
[02:40.400 -> 02:44.400] all the lighting units of course are below the tree line so you don't get
[02:44.400 -> 02:47.920] these big stadium floodlights like you get in some of the other
[02:47.920 -> 02:52.160] circuits now. These are lights that are much closer to the track typically
[02:52.160 -> 02:58.480] around about four to eight meters above the track and they shine into the track
[02:58.480 -> 03:01.880] they're designed so they don't dazzle the drivers but also one of the
[03:01.880 -> 03:10.040] interesting things is they give a light and shadow to one side of the car and that gives the driver an orientation. He knows which way he's going around the racetrack,
[03:10.040 -> 03:13.880] which sounds stupid, but if you spin out of the racetrack and you had just flat white
[03:13.880 -> 03:19.600] lighting there's a real danger a driver could set off going the wrong way. And it was very
[03:19.600 -> 03:24.760] carefully thought out. There was a brilliant Italian engineer, Valerio Maioli, who did
[03:24.760 -> 03:25.280] all that work. And of course, he's Valerio Maioli who did all that work and
[03:25.280 -> 03:31.280] of course he's also the man who invented the LED light flags that you now see around all the Formula
[03:31.280 -> 03:38.080] One circuits. Wowee! I'm so amazed to hear about the tree part and now that you know about it,
[03:38.080 -> 03:41.920] it sounds like common sense right that you would put your lightings below that but
[03:41.920 -> 03:48.320] just to think about how they initially did it, it's amazing but just how many years did it take for the whole plan and
[03:48.320 -> 03:52.840] the entire lighting to all come about because you see in 2007 surely it must
[03:52.840 -> 03:55.960] be even further than that when the plans must have actually been made right
[03:55.960 -> 04:00.000] because this was back in 2008 something that had never ever been done ever
[04:00.000 -> 04:06.560] before in Formula One. Well it was actually at the very beginning of the 2000s that the
[04:06.560 -> 04:11.680] Singapore Grand Prix team was actually first established. And initially, they were looking
[04:11.680 -> 04:20.400] at actually building a purpose-made race track out by the Changi Airport. And that didn't
[04:20.400 -> 04:25.200] prove successful. And then the discussions, I certainly became part of the discussions in about
[04:25.200 -> 04:33.840] late 2006 when the track design was pretty well already finalized and they were then negotiating
[04:33.840 -> 04:39.120] with not a lot of money, you know, amongst other things, a couple of thousand shopkeepers who have
[04:39.120 -> 04:46.480] to close their business for four days and they were making the case to government and it was it has been a really
[04:46.480 -> 04:52.400] carefully thought through race concept from beginning to end. It has one of the most successful
[04:52.400 -> 04:57.600] Formula One paddock clubs for example which is bringing in high net worth people from all the
[04:57.600 -> 05:08.000] way around the Pacific Rim and of course from further afield from the USA and from Europe. So it's a showcase for Singapore as much as it is anything else.
[05:08.000 -> 05:13.840] And yeah, that all really started around about 2006 and then had the first race in 2008.
[05:14.400 -> 05:18.560] And when we were preparing for this episode, you also mentioned your involvement
[05:18.560 -> 05:21.200] in designing a couple of corners on the circuit.
[05:21.200 -> 05:22.720] Now, what was that like?
[05:24.480 -> 05:26.120] Of course, I hoped they at least looked
[05:26.120 -> 05:31.680] at the suggestions but just what was the original layout supposed to be like and do you think
[05:31.680 -> 05:33.800] they've gone for the best one possible?
[05:33.800 -> 05:38.120] They went for the best possible with minimising the impact on the main city. It would have
[05:38.120 -> 05:43.520] been wonderful to have run racecars down Orchard Road, the main shopping street in Singapore
[05:43.520 -> 05:48.120] with all the big shopping malls either side. But can you imagine the disruption that would have on the
[05:48.120 -> 05:51.200] businesses? Because when the tourists arrive here for the Formula One Grand Prix
[05:51.200 -> 05:57.280] and 40% of the the tickets are sold to overseas visitors, they also
[05:57.280 -> 06:00.600] want to go shopping, so you can't really blank out the main shopping area.
[06:00.600 -> 06:06.560] Likewise, there was some temptation to try and run down past Chinatown and some of the
[06:06.560 -> 06:11.920] middle India and some of the other areas which are more tourism hot spots, but again you'd have
[06:11.920 -> 06:17.200] disrupted the whole business quarter and you can't really ask 20 international banks to close their
[06:17.200 -> 06:22.960] skyscraper offices. So they form the backdrop to the Grand Prix which basically runs around the
[06:22.960 -> 06:30.640] big sport and recreation ground in the centre of Singapore, the Padang, and then into the Marina Bay area past the theatre
[06:30.640 -> 06:36.360] and around the Bay area itself, and then running back up Raffles Boulevard, which has a number
[06:36.360 -> 06:40.360] of shopping malls which actually stay open even when the Grand Prix is in place.
[06:40.360 -> 06:47.120] It's slightly weird walking through a shopping mall with the Muzak going doo-de--dee-doo-dee-doo. The sliding doors open at the end and
[06:47.120 -> 06:50.560] there's a sound of a Formula One car going past then the sliding doors shut
[06:50.560 -> 06:56.720] again. Only in Singapore do you get that experience. Who would even want to
[06:56.720 -> 07:00.000] shop during that time? But I remember something similar happening in Hong Kong
[07:00.000 -> 07:04.520] as well because there's an Apple store at the Hong Kong Metro station
[07:04.520 -> 07:05.360] that's just behind one of the corners at the Hong Kong metro station that's
[07:09.040 -> 07:13.200] just behind one of the corners of the Hong Kong Formula E circuit and there were actually people buying their phones when the race was on. I mean not that you could hear the cars inside the store
[07:13.200 -> 07:17.840] as much as the Formula One cars but still quite quite something but there's more stories folks
[07:17.840 -> 07:22.160] coming up as a part of this episode but we'll do that after a short message. Stay right here.
[07:23.440 -> 07:27.000] Hey folks welcome back into the InsideLineF1 podcast.
[07:27.000 -> 07:31.120] And you heard it correctly, you can be a part of our live race watchalong for the Singapore
[07:31.120 -> 07:34.160] GP with Steve Slater as well.
[07:34.160 -> 07:37.520] And with the kind of stories we've got over there, with the kind of race analysis that
[07:37.520 -> 07:40.960] we've got as a part of the race watchalong, I'm sure you'd like to join in.
[07:40.960 -> 07:46.660] So you can check that out by clicking on the link in the description for free actually. We've now got the watchalongs open for
[07:46.660 -> 07:51.100] everyone. So join in, send in your questions. It should be a fun one. But I
[07:51.100 -> 07:56.360] actually am very very curious about the entire permissions element of it because
[07:56.360 -> 08:01.720] let's be honest right, this apart from Monaco, this has to be probably one of
[08:01.720 -> 08:09.100] the biggest events the Formula One has ever done. Kind of like the Las Vegas of the past, if that kind of puts it into context for some of the
[08:09.100 -> 08:10.580] new listeners joining in.
[08:10.580 -> 08:15.080] Just how big of a logistical nightmare was it and still continues to be this to this
[08:15.080 -> 08:16.080] day?
[08:16.080 -> 08:22.040] It is a massive logistical challenge for the organisers and they have this very limited
[08:22.040 -> 08:26.540] setup period and multiple breakdown period on the Sunday night.
[08:26.540 -> 08:28.320] They have been working probably
[08:28.320 -> 08:30.220] for the past week or so setting up.
[08:30.220 -> 08:32.240] There's a lot of work being going on setting up
[08:32.240 -> 08:34.740] which actually doesn't disrupt the traffic particularly.
[08:34.740 -> 08:36.840] Some car park entrances get blocked off
[08:36.840 -> 08:38.020] and things like that.
[08:38.020 -> 08:41.200] But the real work starts on the Tuesday
[08:41.200 -> 08:42.720] before the Grand Prix.
[08:42.720 -> 08:45.640] And the lighting rigs will have already started
[08:45.640 -> 08:48.800] to go up and you get lane closures on the roads and things like that. This is a
[08:48.800 -> 08:51.880] city centre road, I mean Raffles Boulevard is normally five lanes of
[08:51.880 -> 08:57.640] traffic with everything from buses and trucks through to mopeds. It really is a
[08:57.640 -> 09:01.320] an amazing activity and it works, they work through the day and through the
[09:01.320 -> 09:04.940] night putting the barriers in, putting the lighting rigs up, putting all the
[09:04.940 -> 09:06.920] other support facilities up.
[09:06.920 -> 09:08.840] The only permanent bit of racetrack
[09:08.840 -> 09:11.360] in Singapore Grand Prix and Marina Bay Circuit
[09:11.360 -> 09:13.000] is the start finish straight.
[09:13.000 -> 09:14.800] And that's actually for 51 weeks
[09:14.800 -> 09:16.360] that they are used for storage
[09:16.360 -> 09:17.840] and also used for other events,
[09:17.840 -> 09:20.320] such as bicycle marathons and things like that.
[09:20.320 -> 09:23.600] So it really is an amazing job.
[09:23.600 -> 09:27.440] And at the end of the Grand Prix, they literally, as the drivers are on the podium,
[09:27.520 -> 09:33.700] they have started to take down some of the barriers and some of the lighting catenaries and things like that and
[09:34.320 -> 09:40.600] by six o'clock the next morning, normal traffic will have started to resume on all the roads that make up the circuit.
[09:40.760 -> 09:42.760] Are you kidding me?
[09:42.760 -> 09:48.160] Six o'clock? the circuit. Are you kidding me? Yeah, the only bit that has a delay is the area around the padang
[09:48.160 -> 09:52.480] area in front of the National Museum of Singapore and the only reason that's delayed is because
[09:52.480 -> 09:58.800] there's a live music concert on till 2am. Yep, yep and they've always got the biggest bands over
[09:58.800 -> 10:04.800] there that makes it extra special but 6am I still can't quite believe it myself because
[10:07.840 -> 10:13.040] extra special but 6am I still can't quite believe it myself because I know motorsport teams are quick at completely packing up their stuff. I mean if you just manage to stick around at the
[10:13.040 -> 10:17.680] end of any weekend, even the local club championship, if the races are done by five,
[10:17.680 -> 10:22.480] but by what around seven, mostly everyone's packed up and ready to go. It's remarkable but
[10:23.040 -> 10:25.000] among many other things right, this is just one of the
[10:25.000 -> 10:29.780] things that makes Singapore so special. But the lights, yes, they make up for one thing,
[10:29.780 -> 10:34.000] but just what really makes up the heart of Singapore Grand Prix? I mean, just what makes
[10:34.000 -> 10:36.240] it so special for you?
[10:36.240 -> 10:40.360] More than anything else, the people. It's the only Grand Prix circuit where you can
[10:40.360 -> 10:45.000] take the Metro to your grandstand seat. And the Metro is brilliant.
[10:45.000 -> 10:47.560] I mean, we decided a few years ago
[10:47.560 -> 10:50.560] when we were doing live coverage with Star Sports
[10:50.560 -> 10:52.800] that actually the easiest way to get to the paddock
[10:52.800 -> 10:54.080] wasn't to try and take a car
[10:54.080 -> 10:55.940] or certainly wasn't to take a taxi.
[10:55.940 -> 10:59.360] It was actually take the Metro to Marina Bay Station
[10:59.360 -> 11:01.280] and then walk in from there.
[11:01.280 -> 11:02.700] And you just get to meet everybody.
[11:02.700 -> 11:04.620] You've got the race fans, the marshals,
[11:04.620 -> 11:08.800] we're all going in at the same time. then you know we all dive off into little bits of the
[11:08.800 -> 11:14.480] paddock and various pieces but it really is just a fantastic community and it's also a great one
[11:14.480 -> 11:18.960] because you get all the journalists from Australia that you don't get to meet normally, then you get
[11:18.960 -> 11:25.920] all the journalists from Europe coming in, a few journalists from the USA as well, and also the journalists from across Asia.
[11:25.920 -> 11:30.680] And again, the F1 press room is almost like a reunion.
[11:30.680 -> 11:31.680] It's great.
[11:31.680 -> 11:33.440] It's got great hospitality there as well.
[11:33.440 -> 11:37.600] Everybody eats and drinks within the press hospitality area.
[11:37.600 -> 11:38.600] That works really well.
[11:38.600 -> 11:43.320] Then you've got the hospitality, which is some of the most epic hospitality anywhere
[11:43.320 -> 11:50.480] in the world, looking straight down on the pit lane from the first and second floor hospitality suites. And they
[11:50.480 -> 11:56.000] have something like 3,000 hospitality guests for each of the three days. The typical average
[11:56.000 -> 12:00.960] ticket price is probably about $1,500. So that's a big money earner. And they get a
[12:00.960 -> 12:07.440] great service. So you've got the top chefs in the world actually have served those VIP guests.
[12:07.440 -> 12:08.640] And of course the top chefs come
[12:08.640 -> 12:11.440] because they want to come to the Grand Prix.
[12:11.440 -> 12:14.480] Is that basically the definition of heaven?
[12:14.480 -> 12:16.080] Could you ask for more?
[12:16.080 -> 12:18.960] It just gets better and better every year.
[12:18.960 -> 12:21.800] And I know very well that the Grand Prix team,
[12:21.800 -> 12:23.880] I'm not involved in it actually for the first time
[12:23.880 -> 12:26.760] this year, because obviously with the natural break,
[12:26.760 -> 12:28.800] they reformatted some of the areas
[12:28.800 -> 12:31.200] and I've, for the last six or seven years,
[12:31.200 -> 12:32.520] had worked as the Formula One,
[12:32.520 -> 12:34.720] one of the Formula One paddock club hosts,
[12:34.720 -> 12:37.880] and interviewing drivers and various things like that.
[12:37.880 -> 12:39.600] So I'll be sitting on the sofa,
[12:39.600 -> 12:41.240] well, I won't because I'm going to do the watch along.
[12:41.240 -> 12:43.040] I was going to say I'd be otherwise sitting on the sofa
[12:43.040 -> 12:44.920] with a beer in my hand watching it,
[12:44.920 -> 12:46.680] but we'll be doing the watch along, so that's going to do the watch along. I was going to say I'd be otherwise sitting on the sofa with a beer in my hand watching it. But we'll be doing the watch along,
[12:46.680 -> 12:49.360] so that's going to be just as much fun.
[12:49.360 -> 12:51.200] Actually, which makes me want to ask you,
[12:51.200 -> 12:53.080] what was your involvement like
[12:53.080 -> 12:55.280] through all the years of the Singapore Grand Prix?
[12:55.280 -> 12:57.280] I've heard that it's more on the PR side,
[12:57.280 -> 12:59.120] but can you just give us a detailed insight
[12:59.120 -> 13:00.280] into what it actually was,
[13:00.280 -> 13:02.560] and just how detailed was it
[13:02.560 -> 13:05.480] just to get all the journalists on and manage everything?
[13:05.480 -> 13:08.920] Because as you rightly mentioned, Singapore kind of becomes a hotspot for most people,
[13:08.920 -> 13:09.920] right? Most Asian journalists?
[13:09.920 -> 13:16.920] Yeah, well, the Singapore Grand Prix have a very good media team that actually run the
[13:16.920 -> 13:21.520] press office and all the press operations. It's all very slickly coordinated, as you
[13:21.520 -> 13:27.200] imagine. And I was also working with Star Sports TV, so we would have do the live TV from
[13:27.200 -> 13:36.320] from the track and from the paddock. And I did that for from 2008 to 2013 races. After that,
[13:37.440 -> 13:42.640] I was working with Singapore Grand Prix in the Formula One paddock. So I've been around a lot
[13:42.640 -> 13:47.080] of it. I mean, I have to say for me, having been involved in some of the logistics and the
[13:47.080 -> 13:50.680] planning and the setting up of the press office and various other things like that in the
[13:50.680 -> 13:55.200] early days, the biggest, one of the biggest buzzes I had is the one thing that you wouldn't
[13:55.200 -> 14:00.040] have normally seen, which was on the Friday evening practice session, the very first practice
[14:00.040 -> 14:05.760] session, the first F1 car out on the racetrack, Giancarlo Fisichella in the Force India. It's
[14:05.760 -> 14:10.240] the only time ever I think I've ever jumped up and down with excitement watching a Force India.
[14:10.240 -> 14:22.960] Sorry! Oh well, can't be that wrong, is it? Well, it can't be that wrong, but it's so
[14:23.520 -> 14:26.880] interesting to hear everything that went in the background
[14:26.880 -> 14:29.520] to make the Singapore Grand Prix happen.
[14:29.520 -> 14:36.160] And after, I would say, Silverstone, which was a natural home race of the Force India
[14:36.160 -> 14:42.600] team because of the base just next to the circuit, we had the Indian Grand Prix, which
[14:42.600 -> 14:46.880] was the real home race, right? But truth be told,
[14:46.880 -> 14:52.720] after the Indian Grand Prix went away, the one race we activated the most in Asia was the Singapore
[14:52.720 -> 14:57.920] Grand Prix. The one race where we had our own paddock club, which sold out all the tickets,
[14:57.920 -> 15:03.840] was the Singapore Grand Prix. So I'm not surprised that, you know, Steve has a different
[15:03.840 -> 15:06.720] view to the same thing, but with the same result
[15:06.720 -> 15:09.040] that he expected as well.
[15:09.040 -> 15:11.680] And I've got to say, I was so pleased for Force India
[15:11.680 -> 15:14.240] that they got Giancarlo out first car on the track.
[15:14.240 -> 15:17.000] So he was the first F1 car around the Marina Bay Street
[15:17.000 -> 15:20.320] circuit, because that really was a very special moment
[15:20.320 -> 15:21.360] for a lot of people.
[15:21.360 -> 15:25.240] And a lot of Indian Grand Prix fans and also
[15:25.240 -> 15:27.960] marshals and officials were working with the Singapore
[15:27.960 -> 15:29.040] Grand Prix team.
[15:29.040 -> 15:33.800] So that was absolutely tremendous as well.
[15:33.800 -> 15:35.880] I would say that the first Singapore Grand Prix
[15:35.880 -> 15:39.280] with that Force India race stat, I was not at the team.
[15:39.280 -> 15:42.000] But otherwise, I could have corroborated the statement
[15:42.000 -> 15:44.560] to say if this was done on purpose
[15:44.560 -> 15:46.560] to get maximum visibility
[15:46.560 -> 15:51.600] for the car and the team and the sponsors because hey everybody is literally waiting for the moment
[15:51.600 -> 15:57.760] you just described Steve. Oh it was and you know and it was also he got out quite a little bit
[15:57.760 -> 16:06.160] ahead of some of the other cars and he was the sole car visible on the track going up for Raffles Boulevard up to turn 13, for example.
[16:06.160 -> 16:10.600] So it really was a special sight and a great sound.
[16:11.640 -> 16:14.000] And it was quite interesting, actually,
[16:15.640 -> 16:17.680] the rest of the pack then headed out onto track.
[16:17.680 -> 16:19.440] And of course, we now know that there was a bit
[16:19.440 -> 16:21.760] of controversy in the race itself.
[16:21.760 -> 16:25.920] But it really, it was a dramatic race from the very beginning.
[16:26.640 -> 16:32.160] Actually, I really want to touch upon that subject as well. I mean, I know it's not 100%
[16:32.160 -> 16:36.800] relevant to what we're talking about, but I suppose, judging from what you've said, you must
[16:36.800 -> 16:43.280] be there at 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, right, at that race where we saw Crashgate take place. And
[16:43.280 -> 16:46.000] for those of you who aren't quite aware Nelson Piquet Jr of
[16:46.000 -> 16:51.120] Renault was ordered to crash his car at a strategic time to make sure that Fernando Alonso would get
[16:51.120 -> 16:57.040] an advantage, his teammate that is, and so that he would end up winning from I think it was P15 or 17
[16:57.040 -> 17:01.840] something of that sort but it was a memorable win. I actually had posters of that race on my wall
[17:01.840 -> 17:06.680] until a couple of years ago that got gifted to me by someone from Renault.
[17:06.680 -> 17:08.000] So that's pretty interesting.
[17:08.000 -> 17:09.400] But when you were there,
[17:09.400 -> 17:12.200] was there any sort of inclination
[17:12.200 -> 17:14.040] or any feeling that you got that,
[17:14.040 -> 17:16.480] okay, this might be potentially fixed?
[17:16.480 -> 17:18.120] Because who knew that a year later,
[17:18.120 -> 17:20.160] it would just end up being one of the biggest scandals
[17:20.160 -> 17:21.400] in F1 history?
[17:21.400 -> 17:23.760] And I think it was a scandal.
[17:23.760 -> 17:27.680] And certain people in Formula One rightly should
[17:27.680 -> 17:32.240] hang their head in shame for actually trying to manipulate a race. I think the one man who was
[17:32.240 -> 17:36.880] totally innocent in all of this was Fernando Alonso. I don't think he would have bought into
[17:36.880 -> 17:46.720] it had he been aware of it. They'd made an early pit stop for Alonso, and then the accident happened a few laps later.
[17:46.720 -> 17:51.200] And there were a few raised eyebrows when Alonso made a very out-of-sequence pit stop,
[17:51.200 -> 17:55.880] but nobody worked out or had worked out, and I'll be honest, it's only with the benefit
[17:55.880 -> 17:59.600] of hindsight you can actually see what happened with that strategy there.
[17:59.600 -> 18:02.840] And even then, you know, there was still a fighting chance that Felipe Massa would have
[18:02.840 -> 18:06.000] come out of the pit lane
[18:10.000 -> 18:14.480] close enough to Alonso to be able to challenge him in the latter part of the race. The only problem was he came out the pit lane dragging his refueling hose because the Ferrari mechanics
[18:14.480 -> 18:18.880] hadn't disconnected it before he set off. So I do have a great photograph in my archive of
[18:19.840 -> 18:25.160] Massa's mechanics trudging back up the pit lane with the refueling hose on their shoulder
[18:25.160 -> 18:27.120] because he'd had to stop at the pit exit,
[18:27.120 -> 18:29.680] otherwise he'd be penalized.
[18:29.680 -> 18:32.940] But yeah, trying to drag the refueling rig down the pit lane
[18:32.940 -> 18:34.960] with him wasn't the greatest Ferrari pit stop,
[18:34.960 -> 18:36.240] even by modern standards.
[18:39.320 -> 18:41.800] Well, they've certainly set a standard back in the day,
[18:41.800 -> 18:42.280] right?
[18:42.280 -> 18:44.920] It starts in the 50s by just actually forgetting
[18:44.920 -> 18:47.840] that you have to change tires and not fight in the pit lane as we've
[18:47.840 -> 18:51.120] heard in so many of their old Le Mans stories as well.
[18:51.120 -> 18:55.640] But that was actually one of my first Formula 1 memories, Massa not having the best pit
[18:55.640 -> 18:59.120] stop, Raikkonen crashing out in that race as well.
[18:59.120 -> 19:03.760] You've had so many Ferrari memories over there as well right, 2010 also pops up to mind,
[19:03.760 -> 19:05.880] but when speaking to you before this episode,
[19:05.880 -> 19:08.660] I also understood that you have worked with Ferrari
[19:08.660 -> 19:10.300] as a part of this race as well, sir.
[19:10.300 -> 19:12.420] So what was that whole experience all about?
[19:12.420 -> 19:14.460] Well, not just during part of this race.
[19:14.460 -> 19:19.260] I was very lucky that I established Kingpin Media
[19:19.260 -> 19:22.540] or Kingpin Singapore, or Kingpin Asia, I beg your pardon,
[19:22.540 -> 19:26.160] based in Singapore from 2010,
[19:26.160 -> 19:27.960] worth working with Singapore Grand Prix.
[19:27.960 -> 19:29.680] And like any PR agency,
[19:29.680 -> 19:31.600] you're out there bidding for other work as well,
[19:31.600 -> 19:32.920] including international cricket
[19:32.920 -> 19:37.040] and the Ferrari franchise in Singapore.
[19:37.040 -> 19:38.920] And we were actually the press officers,
[19:38.920 -> 19:41.760] so PR people for Ferrari Singapore
[19:41.760 -> 19:44.640] for things like the launch of the Ferrari California
[19:44.640 -> 19:49.480] and various other things. So again, what a privilege to be able to go and play with
[19:49.480 -> 19:54.280] all the toys in the toy box really. We waited to get to drive them on track as
[19:54.280 -> 19:58.160] well potentially? Not on track but I did drive some of the cars we did some
[19:58.160 -> 20:03.040] Ferrari drive outs to Sepang for example and various other things we also work
[20:03.040 -> 20:05.800] with Ferrari's press team to actually get,
[20:05.800 -> 20:10.800] or their PR team, the, you know, the fantastic Marina Bay,
[20:12.160 -> 20:14.360] trying to think of the name of the complex,
[20:14.360 -> 20:17.560] the three towers linked with the roof garden,
[20:17.560 -> 20:18.760] the Marina Bay Sands.
[20:18.760 -> 20:20.520] Marina Bay Sands, that's right, yeah.
[20:20.520 -> 20:21.680] Now, on the very end of that,
[20:21.680 -> 20:23.880] looks like the stern of the boat,
[20:23.880 -> 20:25.200] there is a fantastic bar
[20:25.200 -> 20:28.760] and balcony overlooking the circuit.
[20:28.760 -> 20:36.720] And working with Ferrari's media team, we partly dismantled the Ferrari show car, got
[20:36.720 -> 20:42.700] it into the freight lift and got it up onto the 36th floor and onto that balcony and then
[20:42.700 -> 20:44.440] reassembled it.
[20:44.440 -> 20:45.000] And the look of
[20:45.000 -> 20:48.880] Felipe Massa's face when he walked into the bar and saw a Ferrari Formula One
[20:48.880 -> 20:58.200] car on the 31st floor was something special. How? There must be so many
[20:58.200 -> 21:02.800] moving parts but... You take the suspension off, you take the nose and the tail off, the car doesn't
[21:02.800 -> 21:08.080] have an engine in because it's just a show car. It's amazing where you can get them. It took a bit of fitting in the
[21:08.080 -> 21:15.840] lift. Wowee, must be some experience there for all the guests as well because that is the place to
[21:15.840 -> 21:21.200] be right? I mean you can actually watch the race as it unfolds from that very place. What is the
[21:21.200 -> 21:25.040] experience like being there? Because I mean I've suppose most of us- I'll tell you, I've never been there on race day.
[21:25.040 -> 21:26.640] I've been working somewhere else.
[21:26.640 -> 21:29.440] Wait, so where were you on the race day?
[21:29.440 -> 21:30.880] Just in the media box?
[21:30.880 -> 21:33.280] We'd normally do a session in the paddock,
[21:33.280 -> 21:34.440] in the media area.
[21:35.360 -> 21:37.680] And then because we were doing a studio show
[21:37.680 -> 21:40.680] and everything else, about an hour before the race,
[21:40.680 -> 21:42.960] maybe an hour and a half before the race start,
[21:42.960 -> 21:45.680] we'd jump on the MRT, the
[21:45.680 -> 21:51.280] Metro or we'd even hitch a ride on a motorbike or something like that and get out to Lorong
[21:51.280 -> 21:56.920] Tuan out in the northeast of Singapore where the Starsport Studios were and we'd do the
[21:56.920 -> 21:57.920] rest from the studio.
[21:57.920 -> 22:04.400] So, no, it wasn't until about 2017 that I actually got to see a race, no, 2013 that
[22:04.400 -> 22:06.180] I even got to see a race trackside and, that I even got to see a race trackside.
[22:06.180 -> 22:08.620] Before that we were always locked in the bunker
[22:08.620 -> 22:09.460] in the studio.
[22:10.520 -> 22:12.000] Oh, that kind of,
[22:14.000 -> 22:15.900] was it the best experience?
[22:15.900 -> 22:16.980] If you're working for television,
[22:16.980 -> 22:19.220] you've got to work where you work.
[22:19.220 -> 22:20.060] That's true, that's true.
[22:20.060 -> 22:23.020] I mean, it's just the way things are changing these days.
[22:23.020 -> 22:25.680] And most people now don't even get to get that close
[22:25.680 -> 22:27.800] to the circuit, so that's quite something.
[22:27.800 -> 22:32.480] Well, I've been very, very lucky to have been part of it
[22:32.480 -> 22:34.480] and part of the pilot and part of everything else.
[22:34.480 -> 22:37.560] And sorry, did I say a hand in the air there?
[22:37.560 -> 22:40.920] Just to add, you know, when you work at a race,
[22:40.920 -> 22:43.160] you go to work where you work at the race.
[22:43.160 -> 22:46.640] And that's a very interesting thing you just said, Steve, because, you know,
[22:46.640 -> 22:51.800] I worked with Force India for, you know, over a hundred races and visited several of them.
[22:52.200 -> 22:56.840] And people used to get shocked when I would say that, hey, I go to a race,
[22:56.920 -> 22:59.840] but I watch the race on television.
[23:00.240 -> 23:01.560] And they're like, what?
[23:01.560 -> 23:05.000] And I said, yeah, because you are working
[23:05.000 -> 23:06.520] while everyone is racing.
[23:06.520 -> 23:08.720] And literally the two hours of the race
[23:08.720 -> 23:10.540] is the time when you don't work,
[23:10.540 -> 23:12.600] but otherwise you're always just working.
[23:12.600 -> 23:16.320] So, whenever, even now when people are watching races
[23:16.320 -> 23:18.520] or they attend races and they're in the paddock,
[23:18.520 -> 23:20.240] you go to one of the motor homes
[23:20.240 -> 23:23.480] or the media or the hospitality centers,
[23:23.480 -> 23:26.280] and you sit and watch the race on television.
[23:26.280 -> 23:27.680] Because from the paddock,
[23:27.680 -> 23:29.880] unless you're at a circuit like Spa or something
[23:29.880 -> 23:32.640] where you can see Eau Rouge and Ray D'Alene and stuff,
[23:32.640 -> 23:36.400] you don't always get to see the racetrack.
[23:36.400 -> 23:38.680] So that was something that a lot of people
[23:38.680 -> 23:40.800] almost could never fathom
[23:40.800 -> 23:42.320] when I used to explain it this way.
[23:42.320 -> 23:44.880] But I'm glad you have the same story, Steve.
[23:44.880 -> 23:48.320] Yeah, absolutely. I mean, the number of times even when I've been trackside,
[23:48.320 -> 23:51.520] I'm not looking out the window of the commentary box to see what's going on.
[23:51.520 -> 23:55.040] I'm watching the TV coverage, because my job is to actually interpret what
[23:55.040 -> 23:57.040] everyone else is seeing on the screen.
[23:57.040 -> 24:01.120] It's no good for me saying, hey, I'm looking out the window and I can see something you can't,
[24:01.120 -> 24:03.120] because that's going to make everybody really miserable.
[24:03.120 -> 24:07.540] I'm actually going to be trying to translate what is going on on that screen and trying
[24:07.540 -> 24:11.600] to give somebody a bit of feedback on to what's happening, a bit like on our watch a lot.
[24:11.600 -> 24:12.600] That's true.
[24:12.600 -> 24:13.600] Yeah, absolutely.
[24:13.600 -> 24:16.560] But it must be quite something when you're watching the race from the TV.
[24:16.560 -> 24:20.160] And then as soon as it's done, maybe you just get out of your motorhome or your commentary
[24:20.160 -> 24:23.120] box and then all of a sudden you get to feel the buzz.
[24:23.120 -> 24:24.360] Just what's that feeling all like?
[24:24.360 -> 24:28.720] Because it's only, of course, when you're watching on a screen, it's like you're part of a different
[24:28.720 -> 24:33.840] bubble, but the moment you get out there, is it too much of a sensory overload? Because Singapore,
[24:33.840 -> 24:38.000] all the lights, all the people, the sound of the cars, it's obviously one of the, I think,
[24:38.000 -> 24:43.120] more compact barracks that we have in the Formula One calendar as well. So obviously, it makes it a
[24:43.120 -> 24:48.000] bit trickier for everyone. So just that whole experience might be quite something,
[24:48.000 -> 24:48.500] I suppose.
[24:48.500 -> 24:50.280] I can't quite find the right word for it.
[24:50.280 -> 24:50.640] It is.
[24:50.640 -> 24:53.080] And don't forget, it's quite warm and quite humid as well.
[24:53.080 -> 24:55.640] So we're talking a 30 degree plus temperature usually,
[24:55.640 -> 24:57.160] even late into the evening.
[24:57.160 -> 25:00.400] So that creates that ambience.
[25:00.400 -> 25:04.360] The sun setting at about 6.30 to 7 o'clock in the evening
[25:04.360 -> 25:07.080] as everything is getting ready for the race start
[25:07.080 -> 25:08.780] and the track gets darker and darker,
[25:08.780 -> 25:11.520] the track lights become more focused.
[25:11.520 -> 25:13.840] It does create a really special atmosphere.
[25:13.840 -> 25:15.160] There's no two way about it.
[25:15.160 -> 25:19.560] And the tracks like Abu Dhabi,
[25:19.560 -> 25:21.880] their flood lighting is like stadium lighting
[25:21.880 -> 25:22.800] in a soccer stadium.
[25:22.800 -> 25:24.960] It's tens of meters high,
[25:24.960 -> 25:29.800] these huge white burning lights. And Singapore's lighting is like stadium lighting in a soccer stadium. It's tens of meters high, these huge white burning lights and Singapore's lighting is more intimate
[25:29.800 -> 25:33.420] because it's lower, it's closer to the track, it gives that shadow and it really
[25:33.420 -> 25:38.120] is I think just a special atmosphere that no other circuit has actually been
[25:38.120 -> 25:41.360] able to reproduce. Speaking of the atmosphere at Singapore I've also
[25:41.360 -> 25:48.400] noticed many drivers actually going for ice baths in a dustbin after the race. Have you seen that happen?
[25:48.400 -> 25:54.840] Again, one of the interesting things is particularly when you're working as a
[25:54.840 -> 25:59.200] journalist, when the drivers all start chilling out and you know they've got
[25:59.200 -> 26:02.520] had their debriefs and then they're sitting in dustbins of ice or whatever,
[26:02.520 -> 26:05.280] that is when the journalists start work,
[26:05.280 -> 26:06.660] because they've got their deadlines
[26:06.660 -> 26:10.680] to do in writing their reports or filing their reports online.
[26:10.680 -> 26:13.960] And most of the journalists don't actually
[26:13.960 -> 26:16.080] get out of the press room till after about 2 o'clock
[26:16.080 -> 26:17.040] in the morning.
[26:17.040 -> 26:20.400] So that's when the work starts for those guys.
[26:20.400 -> 26:22.680] And it must go on until late at night, right?
[26:22.680 -> 26:26.600] Because I read in one of the really fun Formula 1 books
[26:26.600 -> 26:30.000] that I've read, it's called The Mechanic by Mark Priestly,
[26:30.000 -> 26:33.080] that whenever they went to the Singapore Grand Prix,
[26:33.080 -> 26:34.960] they used to party, I mean, they used to finish work
[26:34.960 -> 26:37.940] by around, what, 12 or one o'clock in the night,
[26:37.940 -> 26:39.700] and then all the mechanics and drivers
[26:39.700 -> 26:40.680] actually went down to party.
[26:40.680 -> 26:43.160] So for all the journalists who are quite often
[26:43.160 -> 26:44.600] the last people to leave,
[26:44.600 -> 26:51.280] that must be a very, very, very long day. Some drivers and some of the teams, well,
[26:51.280 -> 26:57.680] most of the teams will try and stay on Western European time. So they won't even get out of bed
[26:57.680 -> 27:07.160] until say 11 or 12 o'clock Singapore time, get to the track three or four o'clock, it's like they then have their breakfast at four o'clock
[27:07.160 -> 27:10.280] in the afternoon, and they operate on the Western time.
[27:10.280 -> 27:13.320] And then, yes, as you say, for them,
[27:13.320 -> 27:16.480] three o'clock in the morning is the same as six o'clock
[27:16.480 -> 27:18.280] in the evening in European time.
[27:18.280 -> 27:23.280] So that is the slightly bizarre and surreal way they work.
[27:23.720 -> 27:25.920] I've never really done that. I've sort of gone
[27:25.920 -> 27:30.560] half and half with this a little bit, have a lie in in the morning, but yeah, certainly eating supper
[27:30.560 -> 27:36.720] at 4am is not entirely unusual. And I'm actually going to add more to this because, you know,
[27:36.720 -> 27:41.200] at Force India we had an interesting situation, like you explained, Steve, you either take the
[27:41.200 -> 27:46.800] metro to the race or you walk and we were in one of the hotels on one of the roads
[27:46.800 -> 27:48.600] right next to the circuit.
[27:48.600 -> 27:53.600] And it so happened that the hotel had planned repairs,
[27:54.600 -> 27:56.800] and like any hotel would need repairs,
[27:56.800 -> 27:59.360] and they had planned to start the repairs
[27:59.360 -> 28:01.720] at 9 or 10 a.m. in the morning.
[28:02.720 -> 28:06.100] And I remember the team actually started complaining
[28:06.100 -> 28:08.320] because, hey, that was the time to sleep.
[28:08.320 -> 28:12.220] That was midnight in Central European time,
[28:12.220 -> 28:14.860] which was what the race was basically modeled on.
[28:14.860 -> 28:16.640] And the reason why Singapore was a night race
[28:16.640 -> 28:21.640] is so it starts at a regular time in Europe,
[28:21.640 -> 28:25.000] which is primarily the base of fans,
[28:25.640 -> 28:28.240] at least before Drive to Survive happened, right?
[28:28.240 -> 28:29.900] And I remember Andy Stevenson,
[28:29.900 -> 28:32.580] the sporting director now of Aston Martin,
[28:32.580 -> 28:35.940] who as the team manager would be responsible
[28:35.940 -> 28:40.280] for looking after the team, was furious because he said,
[28:40.280 -> 28:42.100] you know, you guys have been hosting the team
[28:42.100 -> 28:44.320] for so many years, you all know exactly
[28:44.320 -> 28:48.080] when the team would wake up and sort of have breakfast and so on.
[28:48.080 -> 28:58.640] How is it that you all can undertake repairs during the week of the Singapore Grand Prix? And I believe we actually ended up shifting a large part of the staff to another hotel,
[28:58.640 -> 29:06.140] just so that they wouldn't be disturbed during their night's sleep. And talking of time zones, Steve, you said you did half.
[29:06.140 -> 29:07.980] I was actually living on three time zones.
[29:07.980 -> 29:09.820] It was Singapore time zone because,
[29:10.820 -> 29:13.980] we have, we used to do a lot of activation.
[29:13.980 -> 29:16.520] The Force India show car would be at Orchard Road
[29:16.520 -> 29:19.220] and worked very closely with the organizers
[29:19.220 -> 29:23.400] and the marketing department of the government
[29:23.400 -> 29:26.560] who was actually activating this race, right?
[29:26.560 -> 29:29.400] So I was living on Singapore time zone.
[29:29.400 -> 29:31.920] I was living on Indian standard time
[29:31.920 -> 29:35.120] because the marketing offices were based in India.
[29:35.120 -> 29:39.520] And then of course the factory was based in the UK, right?
[29:39.520 -> 29:42.800] So we were literally all over the place,
[29:42.800 -> 29:46.240] but that just sort of was an added challenge
[29:46.240 -> 29:48.040] of the Singapore Grand Prix.
[29:49.240 -> 29:53.200] It is, it truly is, it's an amazing circuit.
[29:53.200 -> 29:56.820] So it posed challenges that no one ever had come across
[29:56.820 -> 29:58.800] in Formula One before.
[29:59.840 -> 30:02.360] But at the end of the day, every year,
[30:02.360 -> 30:04.200] it seems to be worth it.
[30:04.200 -> 30:07.440] Is the Singapore Grand Prix the most challenging, demanding,
[30:07.440 -> 30:10.120] scary racetrack on Formula 1 calendar?
[30:10.120 -> 30:12.080] It's the busiest.
[30:12.080 -> 30:12.960] It's not a spa.
[30:12.960 -> 30:15.000] It's not a monza.
[30:15.000 -> 30:16.640] It has a lot of 90 degree corners,
[30:16.640 -> 30:19.040] because actually when you build a racetrack in the city,
[30:19.040 -> 30:21.680] you really have to, because they get a bit upset
[30:21.680 -> 30:24.360] if you start locking down hotels and museums and churches
[30:24.360 -> 30:31.120] and things. So it does have to fit the street profile of the
[30:31.120 -> 30:35.360] city and it truly is a city centre track. I mean I've actually stayed in hotels
[30:35.360 -> 30:43.480] that are literally 150 meters away from the circuit and it is quite a
[30:43.480 -> 30:45.640] bizarre thing to come out and find that
[30:45.640 -> 30:50.800] there's a debris fence in front of your hotel entrance.
[30:50.800 -> 30:56.200] You know as crazy as it may sound to say guys I've got a Grand Prix that I can
[30:56.200 -> 31:00.600] see literally from my window it does have its pros and cons but in terms of
[31:00.600 -> 31:04.080] memories from that circuit you've obviously shared great times with the
[31:04.080 -> 31:06.040] Ferrari team working on their PR, you've obviously shared great times with the Ferrari team working on their PR.
[31:06.040 -> 31:09.000] You've obviously spoken about the time where you helped out.
[31:09.000 -> 31:10.920] I mean, not helped out, but yes, helped out
[31:10.920 -> 31:13.000] in the media organization, but also your insights
[31:13.000 -> 31:15.760] on the logistical element of Singapore.
[31:15.760 -> 31:18.160] But just what stands out as one great memory
[31:18.160 -> 31:20.760] that you carry from the circuit, be it on track or off?
[31:20.760 -> 31:23.280] Because in a way, I can imagine Singapore
[31:23.280 -> 31:26.160] creating tons of both of them.
[31:33.520 -> 31:39.280] There's a couple, going back to 2010 I'm thinking, the genuine emotion of Fernando Alonso when he celebrated the victory for Ferrari there. His second win and of course the first one had been
[31:39.280 -> 31:44.480] so much tainted, he'd felt so proud of having won the Singapore Grand Prix and almost it was
[31:44.480 -> 31:49.360] snatched away the 2008 victory although it stands on the record books because it was then said,
[31:49.360 -> 31:58.160] oh well the Renault team had cheated. That really did actually hurt Fernando and his genuine passion
[31:58.160 -> 32:03.840] on the podium, having won it properly and vindicated himself in his own eyes,
[32:03.840 -> 32:08.000] that was pretty special because just before that, about 20 minutes before that,
[32:08.000 -> 32:14.000] right as the race finished we had Hecky Kovaleinen and a Lotus arrive with the car on fire
[32:14.000 -> 32:18.160] just on the outside of where the flag marshals were
[32:18.160 -> 32:29.800] and actually snatched a fire extinguisher off a marshal who was sort of standing there with his mouth open a little bit and put the fire out himself. So that has to be one of the most interesting
[32:29.800 -> 32:33.460] F1 chequered flag moments ever.
[32:33.460 -> 32:37.600] And he was high school, just like all the Finns always are, right? And that was the
[32:37.600 -> 32:42.840] year I remember when the Lotus F1 team, not Lotus-Renault, let's not get confused, but
[32:42.840 -> 32:45.480] the Lotus, the green Lotus F1 team actually
[32:45.480 -> 32:49.960] had an Angry Birds logo with Heike Kohllein on their helmet. So a seven-year-old me was
[32:49.960 -> 32:55.280] actually going bonkers. What a crazy race this has turned out to be all the way through.
[32:55.280 -> 33:03.720] It is. And also thinking back to 2016, which was when Nico Rosberg arrives and it was going
[33:03.720 -> 33:06.000] to be his 200th Grand Prix start.
[33:06.000 -> 33:10.500] And Nico is another guy who wears his heart somewhat on his sleeve.
[33:10.500 -> 33:16.000] And his... because he had a fantastic battle with Lewis Hamilton.
[33:16.000 -> 33:22.500] He also then had to hold off Daniel Ricciardo, who was the fastest man actually on the track in the Red Bull.
[33:22.500 -> 33:25.360] And that was very much a Mercedes strategy race.
[33:25.360 -> 33:33.040] They got the strategy absolutely right and gave Nico his win on his 200th Grand Prix. That was
[33:33.040 -> 33:38.880] a pretty special moment. And you know I'm gonna add my special moment out here. Just like I said
[33:38.880 -> 33:45.640] you know it was a home away from home but another home in Asia. And the Singapore Grand Prix was special
[33:45.640 -> 33:48.920] because I believe this was the first time
[33:48.920 -> 33:51.520] that Force India actually scored
[33:51.520 -> 33:55.840] the fastest lap in a race point with Adrian Suttle.
[33:55.840 -> 33:57.800] And I remember we were all, like I said,
[33:57.800 -> 34:00.700] in the hospitality watching the race on TV.
[34:00.700 -> 34:03.920] Vijay Mallya was on the pit wall.
[34:03.920 -> 34:06.320] He walks in and he's, of course, you know,
[34:06.320 -> 34:11.120] extremely excited because we got the fastest lap of the race.
[34:11.120 -> 34:13.280] It was one of those races where, I can say this now,
[34:13.280 -> 34:15.280] but you know, there are times when midfield teams
[34:15.280 -> 34:17.240] don't know what's the right thing to do.
[34:17.240 -> 34:19.400] So they split strategies, right?
[34:19.400 -> 34:21.720] And Adrian was running as high as fourth.
[34:21.720 -> 34:22.800] We split strategies.
[34:22.800 -> 34:24.900] Unfortunately, he got the wrong one,
[34:24.900 -> 34:26.840] but he still got the fastest lap of the race.
[34:26.840 -> 34:28.140] And he walks in and he's like,
[34:28.140 -> 34:31.200] is this the first fastest lap of the race we've scored?
[34:31.200 -> 34:33.880] And we were all puzzled saying, oh my God,
[34:33.880 -> 34:37.480] nobody knew this because we had never scored it before.
[34:37.480 -> 34:39.840] But I believe then it turned out
[34:39.840 -> 34:43.520] that it was actually the second fastest lap of the race
[34:43.520 -> 34:46.080] because at Monza the year before,
[34:46.080 -> 34:47.760] I believe the first one was scored.
[34:47.760 -> 34:52.760] But just the sheer joy of racing in the city was so good.
[34:52.920 -> 34:55.280] And Singapore is actually the model
[34:55.280 -> 34:57.120] on which a lot of other street circuits
[34:57.120 -> 35:00.520] have based themselves on like Vietnam was trying to do.
[35:00.520 -> 35:03.720] And I think the future of motor racing
[35:03.720 -> 35:06.560] might very well be this, that you take a city,
[35:06.560 -> 35:12.000] you activate it, get the government involved. So you don't have to travel, you know, a couple
[35:12.000 -> 35:18.800] of hours by road to a mountain to watch a Grand Prix race, and so on. So it's a good
[35:18.800 -> 35:24.480] mix of, you know, the traditional circuits like Spa, and then the benefits of the urban
[35:24.480 -> 35:25.860] racing scene that Singapore
[35:25.860 -> 35:32.840] would offer. I 100% agree with you and I hope other... we've had it of course
[35:32.840 -> 35:39.000] repeated at Baku. It's not going to quite be the same I would think in Las Vegas
[35:39.000 -> 35:47.600] because Las Vegas has parking lots big enough to run great Grand Prix's in, but it'll still have a street atmosphere I think.
[35:47.600 -> 35:54.720] And that would be great to see. There have been discussions in the past about Vietnam and even Thailand,
[35:54.720 -> 35:58.640] both of which would be street circuits. Let's see what comes on.
[35:58.640 -> 36:09.000] We're going to have a 24 race calendar for 2023, but there's no reason why we can't have some new circuits coming in as part of that, including Las Vegas.
[36:09.000 -> 36:13.960] The interesting thing I would also say though, from your memories of Force India, this is
[36:13.960 -> 36:19.460] a circuit, because of its unusual nature, where a midfield team can sometimes spring
[36:19.460 -> 36:21.640] a bit of surprise.
[36:21.640 -> 36:27.140] Back in 2009 when Lewis Hamilton scored his first victory at the Marina
[36:27.140 -> 36:33.140] Bay Circuit, anybody remember who came second? Timo Glock in a Toyota. I think
[36:33.140 -> 36:37.020] that was probably the best result Toyota ever got. Or maybe no, they did grab a
[36:37.020 -> 36:40.540] couple of wins, but even so that was still a pretty impressive one. And the
[36:40.540 -> 36:44.740] last two Grands Prix, maybe I shouldn't do this, maybe you may need it as a quiz
[36:44.740 -> 36:46.000] question, but can you remember who set the fastest lap in the last two Grand Prix's maybe I shouldn't do this maybe you need it as a quiz question
[36:46.000 -> 36:48.000] but can you remember who set the fastest lap
[36:48.000 -> 36:50.000] in the last two Grand Prix's
[36:50.000 -> 36:52.000] Hang on, that must be 2019
[36:52.000 -> 36:54.000] and 2018 right?
[36:54.000 -> 36:56.000] For 19
[36:56.000 -> 36:58.000] I get a feeling it might be Charles Leclerc
[36:58.000 -> 37:00.000] because he was on fire on that particular race
[37:00.000 -> 37:02.000] he didn't win, he got pole position
[37:02.000 -> 37:04.000] he did get pole position
[37:04.000 -> 37:05.600] no, fastest race lap went to Kevin Magnussen
[37:05.600 -> 37:11.920] in the Haas, both races. What? You're kidding me. Back when Haas was actually fast.
[37:15.280 -> 37:19.840] So there is always that opportunity for somebody to come through the field and get,
[37:19.840 -> 37:23.760] certainly get, if not on the podium, at very least get the fastest lap.
[37:23.760 -> 37:28.680] Yeah, remarkable how crazy things have been in Singapore in terms of midfield teams and
[37:28.680 -> 37:32.680] I just can't wait to see what happens this time outright and that's exactly what we are
[37:32.680 -> 37:36.360] going to discover on our live race watch along when the race comes on.
[37:36.360 -> 37:40.360] So don't forget to join us folks, it's going to be starting 20 minutes before the Grand
[37:40.360 -> 37:48.840] Prix so check out the link in the description below to find out how you can register. And in the last couple of races, we've had a lot of fun. It's been myself,
[37:48.840 -> 37:53.960] it's been F1 Stats Crisundanam, and of course, Steve himself. And if you just had to look
[37:53.960 -> 37:58.960] forward to one thing in the race, Steve, what would it be for this time apart from just
[37:58.960 -> 38:03.880] the circuit returning, which I suppose is a big relief for all of us, because in a way,
[38:03.880 -> 38:05.920] Singapore is one of the only
[38:05.920 -> 38:08.560] modern classics, if you can call it that way?
[38:08.560 -> 38:11.080] I think it is very much a modern classic.
[38:11.080 -> 38:15.560] And for the first 10 or 12 years of its history,
[38:15.560 -> 38:18.160] it's certainly been a big part of my life.
[38:19.160 -> 38:21.960] But not only that, it's just a great place to go.
[38:21.960 -> 38:27.360] I mean, Singapore itself is a fantastic location to go to.
[38:28.160 -> 38:33.840] It's what I would call Far East 101. You can experience pretty well everything that you're
[38:33.840 -> 38:40.720] going to get elsewhere in the Far East or in China in Singapore in bite-sized chunks. And
[38:40.720 -> 38:49.500] it's not just the Chinese or the Southeast Asian cultures that you can experience there.
[38:49.500 -> 39:07.520] There's a fantastic, very strong Indian culture and the Little India area is very famous for its food, its lifestyle and everything else. And it's also, and remember this, it's also a very good place where
[39:07.520 -> 39:12.960] people of Muslim faith can feel safe coming to. Don't feel threatened like you would do going to
[39:12.960 -> 39:18.400] certain European or North American countries. And that's really important because this is where all
[39:18.400 -> 39:24.400] these different faiths, denominations, cultures all come together and live together 365 days a
[39:24.400 -> 39:29.000] year in Singapore. It's not just about the Grand Prix weekend. Actually, slightly off-topic
[39:29.000 -> 39:33.560] but the way Singapore has modelled their housing model, if you could put it that
[39:33.560 -> 39:36.680] way, to arrange every one of different fates all together, that's also an
[39:36.680 -> 39:41.000] amazing study to actually work on. It has to have a small population but that's
[39:41.000 -> 39:44.800] something that they've done so well, along with constructing a great Grand
[39:44.800 -> 39:47.320] Prix circuit, a circuit that's actually created so
[39:47.320 -> 39:51.800] many great stories and wow that's gonna be awesome this time when I finally the
[39:51.800 -> 39:57.040] Singapore GP returns and we can't wait to share the race as it unfolds with you
[39:57.040 -> 40:00.440] on a live race watch along. But folks thank you for listening to this episode
[40:00.440 -> 40:05.680] of the Inside Line F1 podcast and I just can't wait for the race to begin at this stage
[40:05.680 -> 40:09.680] because this episode has got me so excited and I hope that's the same case with you. So thank you
[40:09.680 -> 40:14.560] Steve for joining us as a part of this one and sharing all of your lovely stories especially
[40:14.560 -> 40:19.280] the Ferrari one at the hotel that that one I still can't fathom but thank you for listening
[40:19.280 -> 40:25.200] folks thank you for watching and we shall see you for the race preview episode that comes up a couple of days before the Grand Prix.
[40:25.200 -> 40:25.700] Bye Bye.
[40:36.430 -> 40:38.490] you