The sweltering conditions at the Singapore Grand Prix pushed the Formula 1 drivers n the grid to their physical limits. The Marina Bay Street Circuit, notorious for its physical demands, was practically an oven with temperatures hovering around 32°C (89.6°F) and humidity soaring past 70%. Under such brutal conditions, hydration is a must. But if Sergio Perez's comment via his radio is anything to go by, it sounds as though the Mexican driver wasn't given a drink for his Singapore campaign.
Perez's race was a difficult one. Qualifying in P13, he started on the backfoot and finished only tenth, behind the likes of Haas's Nico Hulkenberg and Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso. But following the race, the driver admitted through the radio that he didn't have a drink: "Yea, it was hard without a drink as well," he told his race engineer Hugh Bird.
Sergio Perez had no drink for the Singapore GP#F1 #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/15Y52qY8bj
— MultiViewer (@f1multiviewer) September 22, 2024
Despite the absence of a hydration system, Perez remarkably reported no health concerns. His endurance and focus are impressive, given that drivers can lose up to 5 kilograms of body fluid during such a taxing race. Yet, if this is true, the gamble by Red Bull Racing raises concerns. Conventional hydration systems in F1 cars, typically consisting of a 1.5-liter fluid bag with a drinking tube activated by a button on the steering wheel, are important for maintaining driver performance and focus. For Perez, the lack of this system likely meant battling a level of dehydration for the race's duration.
The race’s intensity was evident across the field, as multiple drivers showed signs of fatigue nearing the end. Lando Norris, who won his third Grand Prix win today, battled the barriers due to exhaustion, while George Russell described his cockpit as feeling "like a sauna".
Red Bull's decision to prioritize car weight over hydration in the RB20 was obviously a measured decision, but . Dehydration can escalate rapidly, leading to symptoms such as dizziness, weakened performance, and in severe cases, loss of consciousness. In a sport where split-second reaction times and peak physical condition are of the utmost importance, the risk of dehydration-induced errors is a tangible threat.
2024 Singapore Grand Prix Results
1. Lando Norris
2. Max Verstappen
3. Oscar Piastri
4. George Russell
5. Charles Leclerc
6. Lewis Hamilton
7. Carlos Sainz
8. Fernando Alonso
9. Nico Hulkenberg
10. Sergio Perez
11. Franco Colapinto
12. Yuki Tsunoda
13. Esteban Ocon
14. Lance Stroll
15. Zhou Guanyu
16. Valtteri Bottas
17. Pierre Gasly
18. Daniel Ricciardo - Fastest Lap
19. Kevin Magnussen - DNF
20. Alex Albon - DNF
