Why is S'pore GP still the hottest ticket’?

On Oct 5, “it’s lights out and away we go” as the Formula One Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix flags off its 16th edition at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, where thousands of fans will soak in the adrenaline-pumping action and festivities around the 4.927km racetrack.

- Deepanraj Ganesan

Fans getting a close-up view of a Ferrari pit practice on Oct 2 during the Pit Lane Experience, where they can also see the F1 team garages.

(ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR)

Since its 2008 debut as F's first night race, the annual spectacle has remained the hottest ticket in town.

The Oct 3-5 race weekend is sold out, although a notice on the official ticketing website states that a “limited number of tickets will be released in the coming days to prevent secondary sales”.

A spokesperson for race promoter Singapore GP said that sales of both grandstand and hospitality tickets are at record levels since the redesign of the track after the redevelopment of The Float @ Marina Bay, noting that “we are assured of another sellout edition in 2025”.

After close to two decades, The Big Question is: Why is the Singapore Grand Prix still the hottest ticket in town?

Unlike the classic races in Monaco, Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps, the Singapore Grand Prix’s unique selling proposition lies in its winning mix of speed, glamour, business and entertainment.

For locals, the Fl weekend is not just about the racing on the track.

Levainthiran Sunthiramogan, 32, who is a Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari fan, said the concerts at the Padang, fringe events and Fl-related parties make it an event to look forward to every year.

Over the years, the Padang stage has hosted iconic punk rock band Green Day, pop stars Rihanna, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber and Dua Lipa, as well as Post Malone, Elton John and The Killers. This weekend, British music icon John returns to the stage along with Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi, K-pop stars G-Dragon and CL, American rock band Foo Fighters and Norwegian DJ-producer Alan Walker.

“Tt is not just a race weekend; it is like a three-day festival,” said Levainthiran, who works in the marine industry.