F1, Italian lights switch on at Marina Bay for the Singapore Grand Prix

As DZE Director in Singapore Marco Scaioli points out, 'the main competitive advantage of our system is its modularity. This modular approach is especially crucial in the case of changes to the track layout: the system can be disassembled, repositioned and reassembled quickly and efficiently, whereas a fixed system would make this operation almost impossible.

In 2023, a significant change was the transition from discharge lamps to LEDs. This 'relamping' was achieved with a 1:1 replacement ratio, thus maintaining the same luminaire arrangement and ensuring the same apparent wattage but with a marked improvement in efficiency. Where in the past 2000 watts were required, today around 1300 are sufficient, with an average energy saving of 30%. In total, DZE Asia installed 1584 three-module and 34 two-module LED luminaires.

Switching to LED is certainly not a fad, but a responsibility to reduce consumption and indirect emissions. Also in future terms, the investment has an additional positive economic return due to lower maintenance costs, as LEDs last longer.

DZ Engineering is not limited to lighting: the other half of the scene is communication on the track. From the control rooms, which are also coordinated in Italy for the Monza and Imola GPs, DZE has developed a technological ecosystem that supports every phase of the race: from emergency management to live feeds for television, from recovery interventions to the synchronisation of FIA decisions.

In addition, 'Race Control Systems' allow real-time monitoring of the status of lighting equipment. With this data, the company provides preventive maintenance and reduces the risk of blackouts or critical failures. Other technologies include monitor walls, CCTV camera management and joysticks to move them. Finally, DZE has developed Digiflags, the digital signalling system on the track. Instead of traditional flags, there are multi-coloured electronic panels that provide clear signals for drivers and teams. Today it is an FIA standard, used in all Grand Prix and has spread to other motor sports.

With seven races to go, the drivers' championship still has no master: the mistakes of the McLaren drivers and the boundless talent of Max Verstappen have thrown anxiety and uncertainty on the Papaya fans. Piastri's advantage over the Dutch driver is still very wide (69 points) but, with a Red Bull on the rise (also demonstrated by Yuki Tsunoda's improvement), nothing seems predictable anymore. The Singapore Grand Prix, with its unpredictable weather conditions and a track that does not forgive mistakes, could be the last wildcard for Max, before a series of more traditional tracks.

The question is, in fact, whether Red Bull's progress is linked to the Milton Keynes car's ability to perform in extreme conditions, such as the very fast Monza and Baku, and whether McLaren's difficulties (apart from driver errors) can be attributed to the surprisingly cool temperatures in Baku. In the meantime, the bookmakers, who until two Grands Prix ago were quoting Verstappen's victory 100 times the stakes, have now dropped to much more moderate values, around 8, i.e. a probability of success of around 12%.

The other 'winner' in Baku was Carlos Sainz. The Williams driver brought the British team back to the podium after six years and, with his third place, collected practically the same points as he had earned so far. The Spaniard had been going through a lean season, consistently losing out in races to teammate Alexander Albon. However, the negative results were often conditioned by an ability to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, something that did not happen in Baku: excellent second place in qualifying and a GP lived with free air in front and little stress behind, given the counter-performances of the drivers of the top teams.

It is paradoxical that Sainz celebrated a race podium before his replacement at Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton. After 17 races, it can objectively be said that the SF-25 is a bad design as well as disappointing. In a race in which even Charles Leclerc did not do well, the Maranello team sees the overtaking in the constructors' standings by Mercedes complete, as well as the approach of Red Bull. It is possible to hypothesise a final finish even in fourth place, despite the opponents' negative performance of their second driver. On the other hand, of the four top teams, it is the only one not to have won any races, and the best driver (Leclerc) is fifth in the standings, well off the podium.

Looking back at the history of the Singapore Grand Prix, it can be said that, like Monaco, the Marina Bay circuit always makes history in relation to the rest of the season. The warm temperatures and the ability to exploit the mechanics have always seen Ferrari perform well, and here it boasts an absolute record of seven poles in sixteen editions, as well as four victories (like Mercedes and Red Bull). Not bad for an era in which Ferrari has collected little.

Indeed, Singapore is a very special GP: the only track among those fixed in the calendar that has not yet heard the Dutch anthem played for Max Verstappen. Last year, with not a few thrills, Lando Norris brought home victory and pole position.

The Singapore weekend starts on Friday with the first free practice session at 11:30 am Italian time (5:30 pm local time). Saturday's qualifying at 15:00 (21:00 in Singapore) and finally the race on Sunday not to be missed at 14:00 (20:00 local time).