20 December 2023, Singapore – The Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2023 wraps up the year on a series of highs, having been lauded ‘Best Race’ of the season by numerous international media outlets, and as the ‘Best Team of Officials’ by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).
Sky Sports, ESPN, the UK’s Metro, and online racing news site WTF1 have named Singapore the Best Race of 2023, while Motorsport Magazine has nominated the Formula 1 night race for the accolade. Comments from the media outlets included:
“It was genuinely a thriller to the end” – Sky Sports
“Some of the closest racing we have seen across the season” – WTF1
“Singapore was perhaps a standout moment for many” – Motorsport Magazine
The Singapore team of recovery marshals have also been recognised as the ‘Best Team of Officials’ by the FIA. The award is conferred annually as one of the categories under the FIA Volunteers and Officials Awards, which celebrate the efforts of volunteer race officials across motorsports events around the globe.
Winners of the award were assessed based on their achievement, leadership, ability to overcome difficulties, performance, and dedication. The recovery marshals at this year’s Formula 1 night race was recognised for their teamwork and efficiency in carrying out 17 recoveries, including Lance Stroll’s dramatic Aston Martin crash, Esteban Ocon’s retirement due to his Alpine’s gearbox failure, and George Russell’s final lap crash in his Mercedes over the race weekend.
“I am delighted that our recovery team, which is made up of 50 volunteers from a myriad of different backgrounds, have been recognised for their hard work, personal sacrifices, and dedication with this award. Their success is a reflection of the wider teamwork and commitment of our 900-strong team of volunteer marshals for the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix. Around 90% of them return as volunteers for every edition of the race, and I feel privileged to work with such a passionate team year after year,” said Janette Tan, Race Operations Director of Singapore GP.
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Annex A
1. FIA Volunteers and Officials Award Winners announcement
2. The Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix’s past FIA awards recipients
2012 Best Secretary of the Meeting of the Season – Mike Gray
2015 Best Official of the Season (Overcoming Adversity) – Fyn Wu 2018 Best Team of Officials of the Season – The Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix’s Officials
2019 Best Medical Official of the Season – Dr. Kelvin Chew
2020 Inaugural Charlie Whiting Award – Janette Tan
2021 Best Doctor of the Season – Dr. Wang Chin Foong
2023 Best Team of Officials of the Season – The Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix’s Recovery Team
3. International accolades
SKY SPORTS
Race of the year: The Singapore Grand Prix. We are not saying this because it's the only one Red Bull didn't win, it was genuinely a thriller to the end as Carlos Sainz, Lando Norris, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton had a big four-way scrap for the lead in the closing stages. Russell pushed a bit too hard though and crashed on the final lap.
METRO
Best race: Singapore
Red Bull’s one marmalade-dropper came in Singapore, where they could get neither car’s tyres up to temperature and Verstappen finished a season-worst fifth.
This left the door open for a floodlit battle royal between Carlos Sainz, Norris, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. The top four were glued together on the last lap.
ESPN F1
Best Race: Singapore
WTF1
We don’t think we have ever seen so many F1 fans agree on one topic. But the ‘what was the best race of the season?’ question seems to have brought many of us together to all share the same thoughts.
Across our social media channels, the clear favourite was the Singapore GP.
For many reasons, it was the one race this season that Red Bull was finally taken from the top step of the podium, as Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz executed his win brilliantly with a clever and calm approach. Fans loved how he helped former McLaren teammate Lando Norris stay on the podium while also boosting his chances of a victory.
It was some of the closest racing we have seen across the season, with both Mercedes chasing down Sainz and Norris. Don’t forget the last lap drama of George Russell’s turn 10 crash.
MOTORSPORT MAGAZINE (NOMINEE)
The majority of Formula 1 grands prix in 2023 may have ended with the same result, but chaotic moments caused by ever-changing weather fronts or brilliant on-track action meant some events still managed to keep us on the edge of our seats.
A rare non-Red Bull victory in Singapore was perhaps a standout moment for many, but as was the series’ return to Las Vegas — racing under the lights of world famous landmarks certainly brought its fair share of drama.
Best race nominee: Singapore Grand Prix
The only race Red Bull didn’t win came to a nail-biting end as leader Carlos Sainz fended off two snarling Mercedes — by slowing down, which gave second-placed Lando Norris DRS assistance to defend.
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ABOUT THE FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX The Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix organised by Singapore GP Pte Ltd is a global motorsport extravaganza with a unique combination of spectacular night racing and world-class live entertainment at the picturesque Marina Bay Street Circuit. See the world’s finest drivers go wheel-to-wheel under lights at speeds of up to 320km/h in the heart of Singapore’s city centre, against a backdrop of iconic heritage buildings, modern architecture and a stunning skyline. Nothing Else Comes Close.