Formula 1 heads back to Singapore this weekend for the first time since 2019 as the 2022 world championship continues.

The pandemic cancelled the 2020 and 2021 editions of the race but we're finally heading back to the south-east Asian country, for what should be a spectacular event.

It's always exciting seeing F1 cars sparking along underneath the floodlights during darkness and we'll be getting that again this weekend, though Ferrari will hope for something a little more like 2019 and a little less like 2008.


Felipe Massa's costly Singapore pit-stop

Indeed, whilst in 2019 they won the race through Sebastian Vettel, 2008 was a far different story with Felipe Massa losing the lead following one of the strangest pit-stops we've ever seen in the sport.

Coming in from P1, the Brazilian's stop appeared to be going to plan before he inexplicably pinned the throttle and drove away with the fuel nozzle still attached, spraying fuel up the pitlane and scattering Ferrari mechanics everywhere.

VIDEO: FELIPE MASSA'S DISASTROUS PIT-STOP AT THE 2008 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX

[Video credit: F1]

It soon became apparent that an issue with the Scuderia's pit release system was to blame, however, with the team using a set of lights to show the driver when it was safe to leave his pit-box.

Indeed, on-board footage of the incident showed that Massa had been given the green light and, being a racing driver, he didn't need a second invitation to pull away, clearly unaware that the signal had gone too early and that fuel was still being delivered into his car.

It gave us the scarcely believable scene of his Ferrari heading down the pitlane with the nozzle still attached, then, whilst his mechanics had to quickly chase after him in the hope he'd notice and pull over.

Thankfully, the Brazilian did indeed notice and stopped safely before heading back out on track, giving his team time to remove the nozzle and let him get back out on the circuit, though by this time he'd plummeted down the order from the lead of the Grand Prix.


A controversial ending

Fernando Alonso Singapore GP 2008

SINGAPORE - SEPTEMBER 28: Fernando Alonso of Spain and Renault celebrates on the podium after winning the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 28, 2008 in Singapore. The event is the first Formula One race to be held at night. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

The drama did not end there, though, with Fernando Alonso taking the lead and going on to win, before it transpired that there'd been a successful attempt from Renault to manipulate the race.

Nelson Piquet Jr had been told by team members Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds to deliberately crash and bring out the Safety Car, which worked in Alonso's favour, with the plan coming to light a year later in 2009.

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