A Look Back at F1’s First Night Race Before the Saudi Arabian GP 2021 Gets Underway

Formula One races usually take place in the afternoon. However, in 2008 the sport held its first night race in Singapore at the Marina Bay circuit, and just like any other Grand Prix weekend, it was filled with drama that is still remembered by the F1 community.

With it being the first time ever a night race was on the F1 calendar, fans and drivers were very much looking forward to Sunday’s race. And, it didn’t disappoint as Singapore Grand Prix provided the fan base with intense action around the track.

The first F1 night race, the Singapore Grand Prix

2008 was the first year Formula One introduced a night race and the venue to host the weekend was the Marina Bay circuit in Singapore. It was something different than F1 has ever done before, fans all across the world were excited by it.

And, like any other Grand Prix, it was filled with moments that will forever be remembered by the F1 community. One of them was the crash of Nelson Piquet Jr. Even though it seemed like an accident, it went on to become the infamous “Crashgate” scandal.

The other was Felipe Massa’s pitlane incident. As the Brazilian driver was exiting the Ferrari pit, his fuel rig was still attached, spraying fuel in the pitlane.

Watch Story: From Shocking Lewis Hamilton Crash to Ferrari Pit Stop Blunder: Most Sensational Moments in Bahrain GP History

The 2021 season will have four-night races

The 2021 season will have four-night races this year, with Bahrain and Qatar being done and dusted with. The next one is the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah this weekend.

The Jeddah circuit was recently constructed for round twenty-one of this season. Saudi Arabia will host its first F1 race this year and will create an exciting race around the Jeddah circuit under the track floodlights, and with cars zipping around the track, creating sparks underneath them, which will mesmerize the F1 community.

Formula One F1 – Qatar Grand Prix – Losail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar – November 21, 2021 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton leads at the start of the race REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani

Shortly, after the Saudi Arabian GP, the Formula One paddock heads off to Abu Dhabi for the final race of the season. Interestingly, this is another night race. With it being the final race of the season, it is bound to display an exciting race between the two title rivals, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.

Read More: Why Max Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton Won’t Recieve Their F1 Title Trophy in Abu Dhabi

The post A Look Back at F1’s First Night Race Before the Saudi Arabian GP 2021 Gets Underway appeared first on EssentiallySports.