Singapore rewind: Three memorable moments from the Singapore Grand Prix
09 October 2026Formula 1 has been racing beneath the floodlights at Singapore’s Marina Bay Street Circuit since 2008, and in that time, the venue has established itself as a modern-day Monaco, where overtaking is at a premium, but drama – and the ever-present barriers – are never far away.
From career-defining mechanical failures to one of F1’s most infamous scandals and a calamitous Turn 1 incident, here are three of the most memorable moments from the Singapore Grand Prix.
1. 2012: The final straw for Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton demonstrated his 2012 McLaren’s impressive pace in Singapore by taking pole position. He made a strong start to the race too, opening up a lead at the front and appearing firmly in control.
But on Lap 23, Hamilton’s race suddenly came to an end when a gearbox problem forced his McLaren to stop at the side of the circuit.
Hamilton had been fighting for the championship that season and the lost points proved costly. It was also a significant moment in a season during which he was weighing up his future, before ultimately making the move from McLaren to Mercedes for 2013.
2. 2008: Crashgate
The inaugural Singapore Grand Prix was already historic as Formula 1’s first night race, but its place in F1 folklore was secured by an incident that only became fully understood a year later.
Fernando Alonso had started way down the field in 15th for Renault, but an early pit stop left him perfectly placed to benefit when team-mate Nelson Piquet Jr crashed heavily at Turn 17. The resulting Safety Car compressed the field and handed Alonso the advantage, eventually helping him to claim the first Singapore Grand Prix victory.
Almost a year later, after Piquet was unceremoniously let go from Renault mid-season, an investigation uncovered that the crash had been deliberately orchestrated by Renault to improve Alonso’s chances of winning. The scandal became known as ‘Crashgate’ and remains one of the most infamous controversies in Formula 1.
3. 2017: Chaos off the line
Sebastian Vettel arrived at the 2017 race just three points behind Lewis Hamilton in the championship, and pole position gave the Ferrari driver a huge opportunity to seize the initiative. Hamilton, meanwhile, started fifth, with Max Verstappen and Kimi Räikkönen lining up alongside Vettel at the front.
With the track still damp after rain, the front runners surged towards Turn 1 with very little room to spare. Räikkönen made a rapid start and moved alongside Vettel and Verstappen, but the three cars converged.
The Ferraris made contact with Verstappen caught in the middle, eliminating all three from the race before they had even completed the opening corner. Fernando Alonso was also swept up in the aftermath, while Hamilton emerged from the chaos to take a crucial victory and strengthen his championship lead.
