Formula 1®’s night race in Singapore is set for an exciting evening with an electric atmosphere as the city-state prepares to host this prestigious event and welcome drivers, celebrities, and personalities. Known for its extreme physical demands, the track’s high humidity can lead drivers to shed up to 3kg during the race. The Marina Bay Street Circuit spans 4.94km (3.07 miles) and has 19 corners, providing a challenge for competitors as they manoeuvre through the course.
Challenges are not unfamiliar to a brand like Rolex, who has supported motor racing since the 1930s, representing a legacy of engineering excellence and precision. Rolex and Formula 1® continue their storied partnership into the 2024 FIA Formula One World Championship™. This year, the Formula 1® season is the largest to date with 24 races, across five continents.
Together, Rolex and Formula 1® share a rich history of pioneering thinking and a desire to perpetually innovate for this generation and the next. Standing as a symbol of precision and as a witness to this relentless pursuit of excellence, the Rolex Pit Lane Clock is present at each of those Grands Prix™. Fostering this legacy and a commitment to the future, the sport continues to develop safer and more efficient technologies, with the planned introduction of 100% sustainable fuel in 2026. The aim, four years later, is to achieve net-zero carbon by 2030.
Rolex continues its dedication to fostering the innovations and advancements that drive Formula 1® forward while working alongside some of the sport’s most prominent figures. The Swiss watchmaker’s family of Testimonees includes three-time FIA Formula 1® Drivers’ World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart, multiple Formula 1® Grand Prix™ winner Mark Webber, and 2009 FIA Formula 1® Drivers’ World Champion Jenson Button.
What the Rolex Testimonees say
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- Sir Jackie Stewart
Racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart joined the Rolex family of Testimonees in 1968 and went on to win three FIA Formula 1® Drivers’ World Championships (1969, 1971 and 1973), having spent his life pushing the boundaries, whether taking the chequered flag or revolutionising safety.
On this year’s Formula 1® season: “Since 2013, Rolex has been a Global Partner and the Official Timepiece of Formula 1® , supporting the sport through each era of change. In 2024, we have more Grands Prix™ on the calendar than ever, with three races in the US. As the sport continues to grow geographically, so does the support; we are witnessing spectators flocking in their hundreds of thousands to iconic locations that play host to Grands Prix™ around the world. It’s an incredible time for the pinnacle of motor sport.”
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On Rolex and Formula 1®: “Formula 1® is the highest level of motor sport and that’s where the best technology comes from. Rolex is the Official Timepiece of the most demanding form of performance there is on a track and that’s why the relationship is so natural; there’s mutual appreciation for magnificent craftsmanship, style and, ultimately, the importance of timing.”
- Mark Webber
Multiple Formula 1® race winner Mark Webber competed at the pinnacle of motor sport for 12 seasons, from 2002 to 2013. Following his retirement from Formula 1® , Webber made the switch to endurance racing in 2014, taking part in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Driving for Porsche, Webber and his teammates were crowned champions of the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship. In 2017, Webber joined the Rolex family.
On the Grand Prix™ in Singapore: “As a driver, you have to be world-class and at the top of your game for the Singapore Grand Prix™ as the precision required on-track is astronomical. The penalty for smallest of errors is massive because it’s so narrow and the artificial light plays havoc with your vision. The drivers have a lot of respect for this race because of the physical and mental demands for everyone involved. It’s one of my favourite races on the calendar.”
On the future of Formula 1®: “The sport never stands still, it’s always moving forward, challenging the future, and that’s why Formula 1® has never been bigger. In the future, I hope to see Formula 1® grow even further. I expect it to continue to be the pinnacle of motor sport with the best driving talent and technology in the world, always pushed to the limits. It’s incredibly special that Formula 1® is able to race in some of the biggest cities in the world, and it’s also great to have a mix of classic circuits which the drivers love and where the fans can reminisce about the sport’s incredible history.”
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- Jenson Button
British racing driver Jenson Button competed in Formula 1® for 17 seasons, between 2000 and 2016, winning 15 Grands Prix™. In 2009, Button was crowned the FIA Formula 1® Drivers’ World Champion, taking victory in six of the opening seven races that year. This year, Button made his Rolex 24 At DAYTONA debut and makes a full-time return to racing this season in the FIA World Endurance Championship, including its cornerstone event, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Button became a Rolex Testimonee in 2022.
On Rolex and Formula 1®: “Rolex and Formula 1® are perfectly aligned. They share a passion for advanced engineering, timeless appeal and world-class competition, and they’re both at the pinnacle of what they do. I admire how a watch is built; it’s so finely tuned, much like a high-performance car, and it’s all about the precision, mechanics and how you’re using it.”