Heavy rain forces delay to Singapore Grand Prix sprint start
The opening sprint race in Singapore was postponed after torrential rain made the track unsafe, with officials pushing the start back by over an hour.
Singapore’s highly anticipated sprint race on Sunday was delayed after a sudden downpour turned the Marina Bay street circuit into a slick, water‑logged track. Race control, citing safety concerns, pushed the start time back by roughly an hour, moving the green flag from the scheduled 14:30 IST to around 15:30 IST.
According to Reuters, the heavy rain hit the city‑state just minutes before the original start time, prompting marshals to activate the drainage system and spray the track with a mixture of water‑repellent chemicals. The decision was taken in consultation with the FIA’s safety delegate and the teams, all of whom agreed that proceeding in the conditions would be too risky for drivers and spectators alike.
The delay meant that the sprint, which determines the grid for Sunday’s main Grand Prix, was compressed into a tighter schedule. Teams had to quickly adapt their strategies, especially regarding tyre choices, as the wet‑to‑dry transition could affect grip levels dramatically. Drivers such as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen were seen on the grid discussing the changing conditions, while the Red Bull and Mercedes engineers worked frantically to fine‑tune their car setups for a potentially mixed‑weather race.Fans in the grandstands were given a brief respite to seek shelter, and the stadium’s massive LED screens continued to broadcast live updates and replays. The delay also impacted the broadcast timetable for international viewers, with the race now expected to finish closer to prime‑time in Europe and early morning in the United States.
For Indian fans: The revised sprint start time translates to roughly 15:30 IST, and the race is expected to wrap up around 18:00 IST. Indian viewers can watch the live coverage on FanCode, which holds the official streaming rights for the Singapore Grand Prix. The delay also means a slightly later start for the Sunday Grand Prix, slated for 14:00 IST, giving fans an extra half‑hour of pre‑race analysis on the platform.
Source: Reuters