The championship puts on its evening attire: it's time for Singapore

FRED FERNANDO, HEALTH MANAGER

1. The climatic conditions make the Singapore race one of the most demanding. How does the team deal with this event?
The weather in Singapore in September is quite extreme, given that it is in the Southwest Monsoon season, with very high humidity and frequent rain. Daily temperatures can vary from 27°C to 31°C, with humidity levels above 80%. As a company, Ferrari always puts the health of its workforce first, through its Formula Benessere (Formula Wellbeing) programme, which includes annual health checks, promoting a healthy lifestyle and encouraging physical activity, therefore we believe that all team members will be able to cope with the conditions without any difficulty. 

2. The Singapore timetable is unusual in that the track day runs on European time, whereas in Japan, the weekend will operate on conventional local time. What advice do you offer the team to ensure performance doesn’t suffer?
Singapore is unusual, with a night time schedule running pretty much to European time, but then in Japan it’s more conventional, with daytime track action and so the time difference is felt even more. We advise gradually adjusting sleep patterns in the days prior to the trip, moving one’s bedtime and meal times closer to those of the destination country. It’s important to drink a lot of water, because dehydration can compound the effect of jetlag, while alcohol and coffee are definitely not a good idea as they can disturb sleep. We also suggest taking power naps of between 20 to 30 minutes which can boost one’s energy level when needed. In addition, you should avoid the use of smartphones, TV or other light-emitting devices in the hour before going to sleep as the white light can suppress the production of melatonin. To tackle the heat and humidity, it’s always best to maintain a good hydro-saline intake and to eat light meals. On this latter point, the catering team at the track has worked with us to come up with a specially formulated menu.

3. What are the most frequent problems you team doctors have to deal with in Singapore?
The most common complaints are the usual musculoskeletal pain, for example, aching muscles, lumbago, neck pain, which at this race can be aggravated by the powerful air conditioning in use, after people have sweated a lot. The aircon can also cause respiratory problems, such as colds and flu symptoms, and have an effect on digestion, with gastroenteritis and constipation. The sleep cycle can also be disturbed by the long journey, the environment and food purchased outside the track that might not have been prepared very hygienically. That’s why a doctor and a physio attend every Grand Prix with the Scuderia.

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Fred Fernando
Nationality: Italian
Born: 30/9/60
In: Rome (Italy)

Singapore Grand Prix: facts & figures 

1. The number of Olympic gold medals won by Singapore. A large number of the population is involved in sport with around 60% of persons under 50 taking part in at least one discipline. However, with such a small population, international sporting success is rare. The only Olympic gold medal was won at Rio de Janeiro by Joseph Schooling in the 100 metres butterfly swim. The country has four other medals: two silver in table tennis and weight lifting and two bronze, both at table tennis.

6. The different Marina Bay track layouts used in the 14 Singapore Grand Prix held to date. The first, in 2008, was run over 5.067 kilometres, extended to 5.073 the following year. In 2013 the Sling chicane was removed and the length dropped to 5.065. That was still the length in 2015, even though turns 11 and 13 were altered, while thanks to small changes in 2018 to turns 16 and 17, the length dropped to 5.063 kilometres. This year sees the biggest change yet, with the disappearance of turns 16, 17, 18 and 19 so that the section is now a straight, bringing the length down to under 5 kilometres at precisely 4.940.
 
17. The position, on Lonely Planet’s guide to the twenty best dishes in the world, of Singapore’s national dish, the chili crab. It is very complicated to prepare and is much loved by fans of spicy shellfish. The list of ingredients says it all: the crab of course and shallots, ginger, garlic, chili pepper, fish soup, tomato paste, chili sauce, salt, sugar, cornflour, egg, spring onion and Chinese parsley. Good luck if you try to make it at home… 

30. The number of international race wins for Singapore’s most successful race driver. Mok Weng Sun is a three-time GT Asia champion and winner of a round of the World Endurance Championship at Silverstone in 2017, at the wheel of the Clearwater Racing Ferrari 488 GTE. 

152. The length in meters of the swimming pool on the Marina Bay Sands sky deck, making it the longest elevated pool in the world. It is also the largest infinity pool on a rooftop, with peerless views of the city from the 57th floor. It is very exclusive, open only to hotel guests who need their room key to access it.