Why Singapore F1 track is so tough: rising star Sergio Perez

It was an entrance that could not be beat and a fitting start to the season.

In the midst of Clarke Quay, at the Central Fountain, a tent was inauspiciously set up. And while curious bystanders milled about, wondering what the hubbub was all about, they were none the wiser that two of Formula One’s all-stars were about to make their debut.

Mika Häkkinen and Sergio Perez roared into town this week – and all for a good cause.

The entrance was pretty spectacular, without a doubt. Booming bass, thundering music and strobe lights abound, while two overhead sectional doors to the sides of the main stage descend – to reveal the drivers in pole position, just inside. Revving their engines to rousing applause, the drivers made their entrance and their way to the stage thereafter, to champion the cause.

Under the auspices of the Johnny Walker ‘Join the Pact’ campaign, two-time world champion Häkkinen and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Perez came together to launch the next leg of the initiative. The aim, which pushes for safe driving practices in order to save lives on the road, is especially apt in light of the on-going celebrations of the season.

Meeting of old and the new

Both drivers spoke with Yahoo about Formula One and the Singapore leg of the race.

Intense and measured, Häkkinen is clearly an old-hat at interviews, while the younger and more earnest Perez represents the new blood who is more open.

Speaking with the two, you see a balance of the old and the new – one more savvy and politically-correct, the other more willing to shoot from the hip and address the issues as they are.

On the Singapore leg having teething problems in previous years of the race, Perez says he can understand these issues, and highlights the bright lights and humidity as an examples.

“There was an issue with the lights, no? I mean, it’s only my third season with Formula One but I heard about the lights, the drivers were complaining about them. But they (the organisers) made some changes and I have to say it’s pretty good now. It is also very humid. Basically, it's one of the more demanding circuits in the calendar. It is so humid and the track itself is more demanding – full of corners, so you don’t have time to stop and relax. So, all the way, you are very tense. And even though it is at night, it is very hot. The humidity is really, really crazy.”

But he says the training that the athletes go through helps them overcome potentially adverse conditions.

“It doesn’t affect you because at the end of the day, you have to be very fit for these conditions. You have to train, a lot. The fitter you are as a driver, the better you will perform around here. This is one of those segments where the physics really make a difference.”

Winner takes all

The conversation takes an interesting and unexpected segue as well, as the two men start talking to each other about what it takes to succeed, with Perez asking the more experienced Häkkinen how long it took for him to win.

Häkkinen shares, “It took seven years! Oh okay, it took a total of about five to six years. It is very difficult to say on that one, you know? I was with the McLaren team, a great team, and we definitely got fantastic results. But it took quite a long time. I believe in the team in that way, and what we have been through together. And it was definitely worth the wait.”

He then goes on to share his thoughts about Perez’s chances of coming into his own and fulfilling expectations that he will one day be the one to beat.

“He is in the front position. It is very, very difficult and he is in a situation where they are not winning at the moment. They have to be cautious because they are not performing like they would like to be performing. It will come, for sure, but it’s a great time to be hungry and develop yourself. Formula One is quite challenging because there’s so many things to learn. So what do you want to learn, and why you want to learn, this is important to understand. And then when you take this information for yourself, you become very good.”

Häkkinen is easily one of the standouts of the sport. With two titles and 20 Grand Prix wins, he is head and shoulders above most of his peers; his name is one of few synonymous with the motorsport.

Perez, dubbed “The Mexican Wunderkind”, is touted as one to watch as well, even on the back of a relatively dismal season. However, his potential earmarks his capacity to be a frontrunner on the scene, with enough races under his belt.

And as the newsmakers, to this end, the drivers and the team behind ‘Join the Pact’ aim to gather one million global commitments to never drink and drive. This will be done via the unique hashtag #ImNOTdriving.

To honour the one million commitments online, Johnnie Walker will be giving away one million kilometers of safe rides home, globally – beginning with Singapore during this week’s race.

And for a final flourish, one lucky soul will get a chance to have the all-star Häkkinen drive them home from celebrations, at the Johnny Walker Circuit Lounge party on the 21st of September.

Now that’s a safe passage, to be sure.

To be in the running for this competition, fans can make their pledge online on social media pages – in the form of a tweet, Facebook post or Instagram snapshot. The winner will also receive two VIP invites to the party.