Step behind the scenes of Formula 1: our reporters were at every Grand Prix in 2025, including Singapore. Not just online, but in our magazine, we share our experiences. Part 18 of 24: André Venema on a famous ‘Dutch’ Finn.
The Singapore GP is a massive hit! Not just with racing fans worldwide, but also with celebrities. David Beckham has graced this city-state, along with Dua Lipa and many other stars, especially from Asia.
On Saturday night, I spotted Martin Garrix, who had just been at the F1 in Baku two weeks earlier. There, he waved the checkered flag for his friend Max Verstappen, the winner of the Azerbaijan GP. In Singapore, the DJ from Amstelveen was booked for a show, joined by fellow artist Afrojack, who accompanied him in the paddock. The duo watched the qualifying from Red Bull’s garage—what a prime spot!
Much less conspicuous was another well-known former athlete wandering through the paddock. He didn’t have to pose for selfie-hungry teens and adults, but he was recognized and asked for photos by many Asian fans. I recognized him immediately: Sami Hyypiä. Back in the early 2000s, when I lived in Helsinki, I interviewed him several times for Dutch and foreign media.
Hyypiä, now 52, played four years for Willem II before moving to Liverpool, where he spent a decade with the Reds. In Asia, they still remember the central defender fondly. The reunion was heartwarming. “My Dutch isn’t great anymore, but I still understand everything,” the Finn, still an ambassador for Liverpool, shared. One of the first things he mentioned was that his Dutch pension fund for professional footballers from the CFK is nearly fully paid out after ten years. “It’s a fantastic system,” he said. “I received a nice amount every month.”
A nice bonus! But there’s no need to worry about Hyypiä, he assures. He doesn’t have to work anymore and doesn’t want to. “I’m just enjoying life.”
