Three-day Paddock Club tickets at F1 Singapore GP snapped up despite price crossing five figures

THE price of the most exclusive tickets for the 2023 Formula One (F1) Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix (GP) has crossed into the five-figure range for the first time since 2008.

Three-day Paddock Club tickets are going at S$11,016 this year, an increase of over 10 per cent from S$9,898 in 2022, and S$9,500 in 2019. There were no races in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Despite the high prices, which are the most expensive ever, organisers Singapore GP said these three-day tickets have all been snapped up, with only limited single-day tickets remaining for Friday and Saturday.

A variety of ticket categories – including single-day or three-day passes for premium hospitality suites, grandstand seats around the circuit, as well as walkabout tickets – are still on sale across a wide range of prices.

“Sales for the Formula 1 Paddock Club tickets have been the strongest we have ever seen, with three-day passes and Sunday tickets sold out within a few weeks of release,” said a Singapore GP spokesman, in response to queries from The Straits Times.

There is currently a waitlist for both three-day and Sunday Paddock Club tickets for the Sep 15-17 race weekend.

As for the price increase, the spokesman said the organisers regularly reviews and updates its products to “continuously improve our service standards and hospitality experiences” to make sure the Singapore GP remains a “must-attend” event on the F1 calendar.

The spokesman added this year’s Paddock Club “has a brand new bespoke three-storey atrium structure”, with new facilities, including award-winning restaurants and bars, as well as more viewing opportunities.

The fully air-conditioned hospitality suite typically attracts a high-end clientele and perks such as exclusive access to a daily pit lane walk between the garages and the teams’ motorhomes. F1 drivers and team members frequently traverse this walkway, as do celebrity guests.

Singapore GP said the other hospitality suites within the Marina Bay Circuit have also been fully booked – namely the Sky Suites along the Pit Straight, Green Room as well as Lounge @ Turn 3. Limited tickets remain for Sky Suites and Twenty3.

The spokesman said: “Once a hospitality location has sold out, no additional inventory will be added in that category. However, Singapore GP has been working together with stakeholders and the local authorities to identify new sites for additional exciting hospitality options due to the strong demand.”

Besides the hospitality suites, several other categories of tickets – including the three-day options for Pit, Pit Exit, Turn 1 and Turn 2, Stamford, Padang and Connaught grandstands plus Zone 4 walkabouts – have sold out. Singapore GP said they anticipate releasing more tickets soon.

Some other ticket categories have also seen price changes. The prices of five ticket categories have reduced by up to 20 per cent, while 17 other categories have remained the same as 2022 prices.

Singapore GP added: “Limited Friday Zone 4 (which includes the Padang area) walkabout tickets will be available for sale at a special price, exclusively for local residents at select community events in the lead up to the night race.”

Two new grandstands will also be introduced for the 2023 night race. Sheares Grandstand will be positioned at the first turn of the street circuit under the Benjamin Sheares Bridge, while the Promenade Grandstand will be at the end of the circuit and opposite the Singapore Flyer, between Turns 17 and 18.

Prices start from S$1,188, and ticketholders will have access to all zones in the Circuit Park.

The new seating areas are meant to “mitigate the overall reduction in capacity” due to the upcoming closure of the 27,000-seater Bay Grandstand at the Marina Bay floating platform, which will make way for the new NS Square.

As a result, the circuit length will be reduced from 5.063km to 4.928km and the number of racing laps increased from 61 to 63.

The record-breaking 2022 edition of the race attracted 302,000 fans, surpassing the first night race in 2008 that drew 300,000 spectators.

The first wave of entertainment acts for the 2023 race was announced on Tuesday (Apr 18). It includes British popstar Robbie Williams, American rapper Post Malone, as well as Jackson Wang and Rich Brian. More performers will be announced at a later date. THE STRAITS TIMES