Singapore GP 2025: Start time, TV and streaming for F1’s toughest night race
Qualifying’s in the books. Now it’s time for the sweatiest two hours in Formula 1. Marina Bay returns under the floodlights on Sunday with the usual cocktail: heat, humidity, concrete walls and just enough chance of rain to keep strategists twitchy on the pit wall. Buckle up.
When does the Singapore Grand Prix start?
The race gets underway at 8:00pm local time on Sunday, 5 October 2025. Here’s how that translates around the world:
– United Kingdom: 1:00pm
– United States/Canada: 5:00am Pacific, 7:00am Central, 8:00am Eastern
– Central Europe: 2:00pm
– South Africa: 2:00pm
– Gulf Standard Time: 4:00pm
– India: 5:30pm
– Indonesia (WIB): 7:00pm
– China: 8:00pm
– Japan: 9:00pm
– Australia (AET): 11:00pm
– New Zealand: 1:00am, Monday 6 October
Note: Check local listings if you’re in a region that observes daylight saving changes.
How to watch on TV
Broadcast partners vary by territory. Here’s where to find live coverage or highlights:
– United Kingdom: Sky Sports F1 (live), Channel 4 (highlights)
– United States: ESPN / ESPN Deportes
– Canada: TSN (English), RDS (French)
– Australia: Fox Sports
– New Zealand: Sky Sport (live), Prime (highlights)
– Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport
– Middle East & North Africa: beIN Sports
– Netherlands: Viaplay
– Germany: Sky Sport F1
– France: Canal+
– Spain: DAZN
– Italy: Sky Sport F1
– India: FanCode
– China: CCTV
– South Korea: Coupang Play
– Central Asia: Setanta Sports
Streaming options
UK viewers with Sky can stream via Sky Go; NOW Sports Month Membership also carries live race coverage without a contract. In many regions, F1 TV Pro offers live timing, onboard cameras from every car, and pre/post‑race shows. Availability is territory-dependent and the app supports Apple TV, Android TV/Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Chromecast (Gen 2+). If you’re traveling, double‑check local availability and blackout rules before lights out.
Race distance and format
Singapore runs to 62 laps around the Marina Bay Street Circuit, hitting the standard F1 distance of just over 305km unless the two‑hour race limit (inside a three‑hour event window) is reached first. It’s often one of the longest races on the calendar by elapsed time, and one of the most draining. Hydration plans will be as important as tyre plans.
What to expect on Sunday
– Heat and humidity: Even with the night start, cockpit temperatures soar. Expect drivers nursing tyres and themselves in the opening stint.
– Safety cars likely: Singapore’s walls are unforgiving and the tight layout leaves little room for error. Neutralisations can flip strategies on their head.
– Strategy window: Under the lights, the hard and medium compounds tend to be the workhorses. An early Safety Car can tempt teams into bold one-stoppers, but a late one often triggers chaos.
– Rain watch: There’s a chance of showers drifting in off the bay. Intermediates under the lights? That’s when Marina Bay turns into a chessboard on ice.
Why this race matters
With the 2025 campaign deep into its flyaways, momentum is currency. Singapore is a notorious form disrupter: some frontrunners struggle to switch tyres on in the humid night air; others come alive on a circuit that rewards precision over outright power. Track position is king here, but brave undercuts or well-timed pit stops can still win the day.
Quick tips for viewers
– Build in buffer: Pre‑race shows often carry crucial grid and weather updates. Aim to tune in 30 minutes early.
– Expect the unexpected: Plan for a finish that edges close to the time limit. It’s Singapore.
– Keep a second screen handy: Live timing or onboard feeds (where available) add a lot at a circuit where gaps accordion through the twisty middle sector.
The headline figures are simple: 8pm local start, 62 laps, and a night that punishes mistakes. The rest? That’ll be decided between concrete and courage.
