The Singapore Grand Prix is notoriously one of the most demanding and difficult tracks on the F1 calendar. This is due to the sheer heat and humidity. This year, it is on the F1 Academy calendar again, with drivers set to take part this weekend.
Ahead of this weekend’s F1 Academy Singapore GP, ART Grand Prix teammates Lia Block and Courtney Crone preview their expectations from the demanding circuit.
A Singapore debut
While Block faced the streets of Singapore last year, this will be Crone’s first time racing the circuit. While Crone isn’t certain on what she can expect, she predicts a similar experience to Jeddah. It plays into the Haas backed driver’s benefitted that she lives in the hot desert scene of Southern California.
“I have never been to Singapore, but obviously I predict it’s going to be pretty similar to how Jeddah was this year. Living in the desert in Southern California, it’s quite hot where I live, so I’ve already been doing my training throughout the summer break.”
The preparation heading into her second Singapore GP
With Block returning for her second outing in Singapore, she finds herself prepared once again. She stated that preparation begins as early as possible. Notably, she claimed that in the months prior to the Singapore round, she has been increasing her heated training sessions.
Despite training for the heat, Block also noted that nothing completely prepares them for the heat they face. An extra layer of heat is of course added when it comes to putting on their fireproofs and race suits. She also acknowledged that it takes a lot of mental preparation as well as physical. The humidity is far worse than the heat according to Block.
“As early as possible you need to start thinking about it. At least a couple months out you’re just starting to slowly ramp up the heat training sessions and everything for me was the best last year. It worked out pretty well, so be overprepared. I think that’s the best rather than being underprepared.
“Nothing can really prepare you for being in that heat all the time. We’re there for a week, walking back-and-forth from the track and getting in the car. It’s an extra level of heat when you are putting your fire protective suit and helmet on, getting in a car and sitting there waiting for the race to start — that’s the worst part! It’s mentally preparing yourself this time, just knowing what you’re going to step into when you get off that plane.”
“You got to get ready for the humidity, that’s the worst part! I can do dry heat all day, but when you step out of the hotel and you’re soaked in sweat just because it’s so moist, that sucks.”
Block’s need for cold plunges
The temperatures in Singapore tend to sit at roughly 30˚C with 78% humidity. This makes it feel at least 10 degrees hotter, prior to entering their cars. It becomes crucial to manage body temperature through cold plunges, and manage sweat via increased electrolyte consumption.
While Block stated that she isn’t a fan or drastic heat or cold. She was grateful for the cold plunge last year. This is something she will be carrying into this weekend, as well as electrolytes from the moment she wakes.
“The biggest thing for us last year with managing body temperatures and training is the cold plunge. We used it before almost every session to get the core temperature down so it doesn’t raise as much when you’re in the car.
“That was super helpful, I’m so glad I had that last year. It’s something we’re going to carry into this year because I’m a baby with heat and cold plunges, I don’t like the drastic cold or hot. Straight from when you wake up, we’re having electrolytes and preparing your body throughout the day because you sweat so much.”
Crone’s alternative cooling system
Crone added that any weekend that is expected to be excessively hot provokes the use of ice vests. While she acknowledged Block’s use of cold plunges, she noted that she does not use one. Hydration is key on any race weekend, although it becomes even more crucial in Singapore.
Crone added: “On any given weekend that it’s going to be excessively hot, we have the ice vest. Lia has a cold plunge, I don’t have a cold plunge. We try to hydrate as much as we possibly can regardless, but of course it’s excessively important when it’s humid especially because you’re sweating much more than when it’s dry heat. It changes a little bit, but it’s not huge drastic changes, little tweaks here and there when you’re getting in the car.”
Mental focus at Marina Bay Circuit
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit remains the only other circuit on the calendar with more turns than the Marina Bay Circuit. With the added factor of the heat and sweat, the circuit becomes incredibly demanding. Crone reflected on driving with sweat in her eyes in Jeddah. She noted that the sweat and rehydration becomes quite physically demanding.
This requires drivers to remain mentally sharp and focused in every session. She noted that remaining prepared and ready to go in also key. Crone explained that once she hops into the cockpit, everything else fades away, and her focus is on driving.
“The biggest physical part of the heat would be the sweating. In Jeddah this year, I had sweat in my eyes as I was driving so that did not help. Physically, it’s much more the actual sweating itself and having to rehydrate with electrolytes. When you fatigue out physically, you usually fatigue out first mentally.
“Mentally, it’s just being able to stay sharp in our sessions, keeping yourself prepared and already ready to go in between the sessions. Once you get in the car, everything kind of melts away and the adrenaline kicks in. You kind of forget what’s happening in front of you and you just drive, but it’s in between sessions that it’s the most important to keep yourself mentally focused.”
The discomfort brought by sweat
Block added that by the end of Race 2 in 2024 she became incredibly uncomfortable from sweating. She also noted the wet residue it left. She recalled being desperate for the race to be over. Once she jumped out of the car, she felt the need to peel off all of her wet racing gear.
Overall, Block aimed solely to keep herself as cool as possible in 2024. She also noted the dislike she holds for disrupting the routine she sets once she gets in the car.
“I remember Race 2 and at the end of it, I was getting very uncomfortable just from sweating, feeling my gloves get wet on the steering wheel. Near the end of the race I was like ‘when is this going to be done’ because it’s so uncomfortable in the suit and everything. I got it off as soon as I got out of the car, hung it up and hoped it would dry.”
“Trying to stay as cool as possible, that’s all I focused on last year. I hate getting out of the car on the grid because when I warm up and I’m getting in the car in the box that’s my routine. If I disrupt that routine by taking my helmet off, it just feels weird to me.”
