According to local meteorologists, the temperature is expected to reach thirty degrees during the race on Sunday. This prompted the FIA’s race director to issue a mandatory Heat Hazard Declaration as a warning to the entire F1 community. However, not everyone in Singapore is taking heed of this warning.
The weather in the concrete Asian metropolis is predictable: temperatures range between 25 and 30 degrees, humidity is consistently high, and a heavy thunderstorm is almost a daily occurrence. Wednesday evening was no exception, providing a spectacular lightning show and heavy rainfall from the comfort of a hotel room. The storm broke out at the circuit around half past two on Thursday. In the paddock, everyone is bracing for potential delays in the coming days due to the weather forecast.
The local population is accustomed to the tropical climate: they are always lightly dressed, never in a hurry, always have an umbrella at hand, and are constantly seeking every bit of shade or refreshing air conditioning available. On the world-famous shopping street, Orchard Road, many pedestrians wait inside air-conditioned stores at crosswalks until the light turns green for them to cross. It’s a matter of routine.
In the past, I had no problem with the tropical weather conditions. Now that I’m over sixty, it hits me harder. The walk from Promenade metro station to the paddock takes just under ten minutes, but by the time I arrive, sweat is pouring from my face, no matter how deliberately and slowly I move. Tomorrow, I’ll take a towel from the hotel as a precaution…
Many fans waiting at the entrance of the Marina Bay Street Circuit paddock have done the same. They stand for hours in the oppressive heat, waiting for the arrival of the drivers. They are packed in rows, screaming hysterically when an F1 star steps out of the car. I know for sure that one young lady, at least on Thursday, didn’t make it. Sweaty and pale, she faints as I walk by. Well, you have to be willing to endure a lot for an autograph or a selfie with a driver…
Perhaps the tropical heat of Singapore is not the best place for that.
