Street circuits are known for being mentally taxing despite the slower speeds involved, requiring full concentration at all times and little time for respite on the short straights.
But Singapore is a beast like no other. It is renowned for being one of the hardest races to compete in both physically and mentally, meaning it requires a kind of preparation unlike any other race.
Daniel Ricciardo says his first Singapore Grand Prix back in 2011 remains the toughest physical activity he has ever completed. “I wasn’t prepared, and that sounds like I was partying all week!” he tells Autosport.
“I didn’t realise how much the humidity and the relentless nature of that circuit with like no real straights to have a rest. I’d never really experienced anything like that.”
It didn’t help that Ricciardo was then racing for backmarker outfit HRT, meaning he found himself four laps down by the chequered flag in 19th place – hardly the same kind of motivation those fighting at the front would enjoy.
“I just remember that race was just a grind for me,” recalls Ricciardo. “I got out of the car, and I remember saying that was physically the toughest thing I’ve ever done.
“I also made a promise saying I will never feel this pain again in a Formula 1 car. Since then, Singapore was actually pretty good.”
F1 drivers may be elite athletes working with performance coaches and their teams to try and unlock more human performance. But their regular level of fitness and training plan is something that still needs adding to in the lead-up to Singapore.
The heat is one of the biggest factors F1 drivers need to adjust to when they race in Singapore. The average year-round humidity in Singapore is over 80%, while the temperature in October is still around 30ºC given its proximity to the equator. The drivers may be used to hot conditions when racing in the Middle East or mainland Europe at the height of summer, but nothing comes close to the sapping conditions of Singapore.
If you follow the F1 drivers on social media, you will have seen some of the inventive ways their trainers have recently been getting them ready for that challenge. Last week, Carlos Sainz posted a video of himself on Instagram riding an exercise bike in a sauna as a way to try and get used to how hot it will be in the cockpit through the race in Singapore. Other approaches include adding extra layers of clothing for routine workouts, or simply sitting in the sauna at a…
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