For those who have never been, Formula One Grand Prix is one of the world’s most thrilling sporting events. Formula One is where the highest echelon athletes command the highest-performance vehicles backed by billions of dollars in high tech engineering and equipment as well as a pit stop team that operates with surgeon like precision. Beyond the race, plenty of action takes place away from the track with A-list concerts, exclusive events, and over the top after parties that last all the way into the wee hours of the morning. One of the most thrilling weekends on the F1 calendar was this year at the Formula One Grand Prix Singapore 2019.
The F1 Singapore 2019 is a thrill ride for not only the drivers, but for all the 268,000 fans who attended. It takes place on a street circuit of public roads around the Marina Bay area. Race fans jet set from around the world and descend on the small country of Singapore to take part in a three-day weekend and an adrenaline filled perfect storm of excitement, sport, and parties.
The cosmopolitan city of Singapore has hosted the event for the past 12 years and was the first in Asia. It was the first night race of the series as the lights of the track light up the track and cars whiz through the shiny skyscrapers along the banks of the Singapore Bay. The action of away the track was fast as well with a blistering pace of swanky private receptions, concerts, and high octane exclusive after-parties specially designed for the uber-sexy and ultra-hip F1 crowd.
The Formula One Grand Prix series is among the favorite high society events such as sailing regattas, horse races and polo. There’s something about these sporting events that make them uniquely special. Perhaps it is the billions of dollars behind these sports, the traditions that go back over 100 years, or the high stakes in terms of winning and the ultimate defeat, death, as these sports certainly contain a serious element of danger.
Formula One Grand Prix is first and foremost about the race and those 20+ drivers who put their lives on the line to compete for the Grand Prix title while thrilling their fans along the way. For those who have followed F1 over the past several years the top winning competitors have been Lewis Hamilton with Mercedes and Sebastian Vettel with Ferrari. The rivalry is extremely fierce as rivalries go in the sport. In years past it was Senna vs Prost, Lauda vs. Hunt, or Hakkinen vs Schumacher. Today Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes team have become perennial favorites to the chagrin of the field as he has now won five championships and is on track to break the all-time record of seven held by Michael Schumacher.
But this is a sport where anything can happen. Upsets are the norm where one mistake on the track or a second or two lost in the pit stop can be the difference between getting a champagne spray on the podium or being first in line at the afterparty. Such was the case at this year’s at Singapore Grand Prix with a thrilling upset of Mercedes where the heavily favorited Hamilton, and last year’s winner, did not make the stand and came in forth place. The winning duo was none other than Ferrari and Hamilton’s nemesis, Sebastian Vettel, who along with his teammate Charles Leclerc took the number one and two checkered flags.
The action away from the track draws fans as much as the races do and the night life at F1 Singapore did not disappoint. From the Amber Lounge to the concerts at the Singapore F1 Padang Grandstand, there was something to excite even the most jaded of jet setters.
The after-race concerts began to heat up Singapore on Friday night with Swedish House Mafia who put on a high energy concert with their dance and must sing-along hits Don’t You Worry Child and Dream Bigger. Saturday night’s concert saw pop sensation Gwen Stefani take the stage as fans danced under the stars to her nostalgic hits Sweet Escape and Hollaback Girl. The closing night brought the concert series final headliner, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, with their hits from their Grammy Award winning album Californication and other hits including Give It Away.
After the concerts, with only a half tank of gas in the energy reserve, the allure of a night is too much to resist with plenty of parties to get to over the course of the long weekend. Singapore’s largest and its most over the top night club is a newly opened nightclub from Las Vegas’ Tao group. The newly opened three story mega-club, The Marquee, kicked off the weekend with a hot mix of RnB and dance tunes from one of the America’s hottest track masters, DJ Ruckus. Across town, it was Club Zouk x Martel and a night of pulsating EDM tracks. For another vibe, fans hung out at a block party in the Kampong Glam heritage district, while others partied in the sand at the Tanjong Beach Club.
The Singapore F1 racetrack runs under the shadows of its ginormous skyscrapers. Those towers also happen to provide alfresco party spots under the stars at some of the hottest rooftop clubs anywhere. Singapore’s most renown sky bar sits 57 floors over the city at one of the world’s architectural wonders, the Marina Bay Sands. That’s also where you’ll find some of Singapore’s sexy in-crowd along with F1 fans hanging out behind the velvet ropes of Ce La Vi.
When you are the top hotel in a landscape of luxury you are expected to shine among the stars. The Marina Bay Sands is awe-inspiring with a sky-high view of the track from across the massive boat like structure that runs across the three buildings of the complex. This was the hot spot, both by day and night, for cocktails and nosh and a bird’s eye views of the racetrack. As night set in, Ce La Vi was the blue-chip party scene with top international DJs such as Atlanta-based DJ Baby Drew who kicked things off on Friday night.
However, if one could compare the night life at F1 to the winner’s podium stand, the top two places are reserved for Amber Lounge, Podium Lounge and then everything else.
The Podium Lounge has become an F1 institution and has put on their marquee after race event for the past 11 years next to the racetrack at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia. The ultra A-List soiree took place over the three nights of the F1 weekend and drew over 10,000 guests and a cadre of royalty, F1 drivers, international artists and celebrities to its uber posh venue. The libations flowed freely with ubiquitous Jeroboams of bubbles and Grey Goose at every turn. The sexy international crowd was whipped into a frenzy by the former Spice Girl Melanie C who kicked Friday night into high gear with 90s favorites. Saturday night featured The Cuban Brothers while the Sunday race after-party featured a live performance from the Game of Thrones Commander of the Unsullied and rising musical talent, Raleigh “The Worm” Ritchie.
This top-shelf party is the one not to miss over the F1 weekend so be sure to book your Podium Lounge tables early for their glamourous race after-parties in Singapore as well as Abu Dhabi, Melbourne and Monaco.
The pièce de résistance of the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix party smorgasbord was the Amber Lounge. It is the F1 Drivers After Party of choice at races around the world and caters to a select mix of motor-racing drivers, celebrities, royals and the very, very rich. The festivities began on Saturday night and drew a list of who’s who including F1 Legends, Celebrities, Supermodels and Asia's Jet-Setting Party Elite.
During this year’s F1 weekend, The Amber lounge brought in international performers, DJs, and acts and a Methuselah of high energy entertainment to the party scene as well as its fashion shows and an unlimited flow of cocktails and champagne. For those who needed a break from the action, there was chilled out terrace outside that provided the perfect place for conversation and decompression.
Saturday was a night to remember with unforgettable performances from Ella Eyre and DJ Sigala who performed their smash hit, Just Got Paid. In addition to spectacular fashion shows, entertaining performers and live music, attendees were treated to an appearance by F1 royalty including two-time Formula One World Champion, Mika Häkkinen, one time world champion Damon Hill, Nico Hulkenberg, Carlos Sainz, Lando Norris, Alexander Albon, Pierre Gasly, George Russell, David Coulthard, Mika Salo and Johnny Herbert.
On Sunday night, the action moved straight from the paddock to Amber Lounge’s closing Grand Prix party where the drivers and their teams let of a bit of steam after the three days of gruelling races. The party was delightfully over the top with live acts and performers adding to the ambiance of high energy created by the beats from top international DJs.
The Amber Lounge is the Original Grand Prix After Party and has been impressing those lucky to get beyond its red carpet for 16 years. They consistently throw events that are the talk of the nightlife scene during F1 Monaco, Abu Dhabi and Singapore. One thing is for sure, is that a night at the Amber Lounge will NEVER fail to impress.
This year’s F1 Singapore was an enjoyable three days of exciting racing, events, and glamorous parties with race fans and Singapore’s uber-sexy in-crowd.
