Marina Bay Street Circuit
Marina Bay Street Circuit at a glance
- Location
- Singapore
- Type
- street circuit
- Length
- 4.927 km (3.061 mi)
- Turns
- 19
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 2008
- Owner
- Singapore GP Pte Ltd (in partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board)
- Capacity
- 90,000
- Website
- singaporegp.sg
Track map and layout
Marina Bay is a temporary street circuit threaded through Singapore's Downtown Core and Kallang districts, closed off from public roads only for the Grand Prix weekend and famous as Formula 1's first night race, run under around 1,600 custom floodlights that organisers describe as several times brighter than a typical stadium. The lap passes directly beneath landmarks including the Singapore Flyer, Merlion Park, the Esplanade and the Fullerton Hotel, combining tight, low-speed 90-degree street corners with the bumpy, uneven surface typical of public roads, making it one of the most physically demanding circuits on the calendar in Singapore's heat and humidity. The layout has been reconfigured several times since 2008, most significantly in 2023 when the old Turns 16-19 chicane section around the old Singapore Flyer pit complex was replaced with a faster flowing sequence, cutting the corner count from 23 to 19 and reducing lap time.
Named corners and sections
- Sheares. Turn 1, named after Singapore's second president Benjamin Sheares, following a 2009 fan naming competition.
- Memorial. Turn 7, named for its proximity to the Civilian War Memorial commemorating victims of the Japanese occupation.
- Singapore Sling. Formerly Turn 10, a chicane named through the 2009 fan competition after the famous cocktail; removed in a 2013 reconfiguration and replaced by a flowing left-hander.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Current Grand Prix layout (2023-present) | 4.93 km | 4.927 km, 19 turns, following removal of the old Turn 16-19 chicane sequence |
Events and race weekends
The Singapore Grand Prix has run at Marina Bay every year since 2008 aside from a pandemic-forced gap in 2020 and 2021, and remains the only F1 night race held entirely after dark rather than at twilight. Formula 1 and the Singapore Tourism Board extended their hosting agreement through 2028, cementing Marina Bay's place as one of the sport's most recognisable fixtures and a cornerstone event on Singapore's tourism calendar.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix | Formula 1 | September/October | F1's original night race, run under floodlights; contract with Singapore runs through 2028 |
Getting there and parking
Marina Bay sits in central Singapore and is served directly by the city's MRT network, with several stations within walking distance of circuit gates during the race weekend, making it one of the most transit-accessible Grand Prix venues in the world. Most international visitors fly into Singapore Changi Airport and travel into the city by MRT or taxi before walking or taking public transport to the circuit itself.
- Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) · about 25 min drive
The circuit is walkable from several Downtown Core MRT stations; because roads are closed for the event, driving or taxiing directly to the circuit is impractical during the race weekend, and public transport is the recommended way in and out.
Hotels and camping near Marina Bay Street Circuit
Singapore's Downtown Core, Marina Bay and the Civic District put visitors within walking distance of the circuit and its landmarks, while the broader Orchard Road shopping district and Chinatown/CBD areas offer a wider range of hotel prices a short MRT ride away. Rooms in and around Marina Bay sell out and rise sharply in price around the Grand Prix weekend, so early booking is recommended.
Where to look
Marina Bay and the Civic District for circuit-adjacent stays (including landmark hotels like Marina Bay Sands); Orchard Road for a wider range of hotels a short MRT ride away; Chinatown/CBD for more budget-friendly options.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
There is no public track-day access to the Marina Bay Street Circuit; it exists only as ordinary public roads for 51 weeks of the year and is closed off, resurfaced in places and fitted with barriers and floodlights solely for the Formula 1 race weekend, after which the street furniture is removed and the roads reopen to normal traffic.
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formula 1 race lap record (current layout) | — | — | — | — |
Spectator guide
Grandstands line much of the lap through the Downtown Core, with the Turn 1 area giving spectators a clear view of the start and the first braking zone where most opening-lap overtaking happens. Because the circuit weaves between skyscrapers and waterfront landmarks, many stands also offer views of Singapore's skyline alongside the racing itself, and the night-race format means comfortable evening temperatures despite the city's tropical humidity during the day.
Seating
Grandstands are named for their location around the lap (including Turn 1, Bay, Stamford and Padang areas); walkabout general-admission tickets allow movement between several viewing zones.
Best places to watch
Turn 1 for start and first-corner action; stands overlooking the Marina Bay waterfront combine racing with Singapore's skyline backdrop.
Weather
- September/October (race weekend): hot and humid even at night, evening temperatures typically around 26-30°C with a chance of tropical downpours
History of Marina Bay Street Circuit
Formula 1's first night race
The Marina Bay Street Circuit was built specifically to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix under lights, breaking ground in August 2007 and opening in time for the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix in September 2008. Constructed by engineering firm KBR at a cost of roughly SGD 33 million for the circuit infrastructure, it became the first Formula 1 race held entirely at night, illuminated by around 1,600 purpose-built floodlights that organisers say produce light several times brighter than a conventional sports stadium, designed so the race could be broadcast live in European daytime hours while still running after dark locally.
A showcase for Singapore
Threading through the Downtown Core and Kallang districts past landmarks such as the Singapore Flyer, Merlion Park, the Esplanade and the colonial-era Fullerton Hotel, Marina Bay quickly became known as much for its spectacular urban backdrop as for the racing itself, and helped establish Singapore's Formula 1 weekend as a major event on the city-state's tourism and entertainment calendar, complete with concerts and nightlife layered around the race. The circuit's bumpy street surface and unforgiving barriers, combined with Singapore's heat and humidity, have made it one of the most physically demanding rounds of the season for drivers.
Reconfigurations and a long-term future
The layout has been revised several times since 2008, including removal of the original Turn 10 'Singapore Sling' chicane in 2013 and, most significantly, a 2023 change that replaced the old Turns 16-19 sequence near the pit complex with a faster flowing section, cutting the corner count from 23 to 19. Formula 1 paused its Singapore race in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic before returning in 2022, and Singapore GP subsequently extended its hosting agreement with Formula 1 and the Singapore Tourism Board through the 2028 season, securing the night race's place on the calendar for years to come.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Marina Bay Street Circuit?+
The current layout, in use since 2023, is 4.927 km (3.061 miles) long with 19 turns, run in a clockwise direction.
Is the Singapore Grand Prix still F1's only night race?+
It was the first Formula 1 race held entirely at night, starting in 2008, and remains one of the sport's few full night races, run under roughly 1,600 custom floodlights.
How long is the F1 contract to race at Marina Bay?+
Formula 1, Singapore GP Pte Ltd and the Singapore Tourism Board extended their hosting agreement to keep the race at Marina Bay through the 2028 season.
Can you drive or ride the Marina Bay circuit outside race weekend?+
No. It is a temporary circuit built from ordinary public roads that are closed, fitted with barriers and lit only for the Grand Prix weekend; there is no public track-day access at any other time.
How do you get to the Marina Bay Street Circuit?+
The circuit sits in central Singapore and is directly served by the city's MRT network, with several Downtown Core stations within walking distance of the gates during the race weekend.
Where do F1 fans stay for the Singapore Grand Prix?+
Many visitors stay in the Marina Bay and Civic District area within walking distance of the circuit, while Orchard Road and Chinatown/CBD offer a wider range of hotels a short MRT ride away; rooms sell out and prices rise sharply around race weekend.
Other tracks nearby
- Johor Circuit · 22 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Sepang International Circuit · 287 km · road course
- Putrajaya Street Circuit · 302 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Kuala Lumpur Street Circuit · 317 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Jakarta International E-Prix Circuit · 888 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Jakarta National Monument Circuit (Monas, planned/never built) · 893 km · historic circuit (defunct)
Facts checked against 4 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.