Singapore’s Marina Bay Circuit is set to undergo track layout changes ahead of the 2023 Grand Prix due to redevelopment work in the final sector of the city circuit.
On Wednesday, the Singapore Grand Prix confirmed that the street circuit will see some temporary changes for the 2023 season due to the redevelopment of ‘The Float’ at Marina Bay. The area is transitioning into an entertainment zone called the “NS Square”. This means that Turns 16 to 19 of the track layout will turn into one long 397.9m straight. This will reduce the number of corners from 23 to 19.
In the tweet below you can see both the current and future track layouts.
🚨 The Marina Bay Street Circuit will be updated from 2023 due to the redevelopment of The Float at Marina Bay into "NS Square". The #F1 #SingaporeGP track will be reduced to 4.928km with Turns 16 to 19 re-aligned into a straight. More info at https://t.co/b54sENWDYu pic.twitter.com/YUpqwL6MFg
— SingaporeGP (@F1NightRace) October 19, 2022
Faster & More Laps
The revised circuit layout will fall from 5.063 to 4.928km. That new distance will increase the number of laps from 61 to 63. According to simulations with 2020 F1 cars, the new best qualifying time on the new track layout will be around 1m 27.7s. This is almost nine seconds faster than Charles Leclerc’s 2019 pole of 1m 36.217s. It also suggests that the minimum race time is expected to be around 1h 30m 34s. A welcome change for a GP that typically runs long.
The changes are subject to the approval of the FIA. Further information will be released when the changes are finalized. Below is a look at the proposed layout for 2023.
Forced Changes, Better Circuit?
The Singapore Grand Prix is regarded by drivers as one of the most difficult races on the F1 calendar. It is both physically and mentally demanding. A high number of corners, a lack of “real” straights, and the difficulty in overtaking. However, removing these turns and adding the straight will greatly benefit both the drivers and the racing.
The most important and best change ever.
Racing will be significantly better with the bottleneck that is T16-19 removed. A much longer straight along the Bay means a new braking zone for overtaking. While the removal of the narrow & tight T16-19 allows for cars to follow better
— Ray 🇸🇬 | (@everraydy_msprt) October 19, 2022
The work around the circuit will see the redevelopment of the Float at Marina Bay into ‘NS Square’ – a community and events venue that promises to have a National Service-themed gallery, community sports facilities, and a new public waterfront promenade. Construction is set to start in March and is expected to be completed at the end of 2026.
