Fifty shades of night
It all started with Singapore. Formula 1's first ever night race was held in 2008 and that Grand Prix earned its place in history more for what happened the following year with the Crashgate saga, than for the atmosphere generated by the 1500 floodlights that lined the route around 23 corners of the Marina Bay track, putting out 3000 lux of light. From then on, the interest in night races grew, especially in the Middle East. A year on from Singapore's debut, Abu Dhabi joined the night club and in 2014, Bahrain shifted its timetable to run under floodlights. Then in 2021, the number of night races in the Gulf states went up to four, with the arrival of the Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail and the Saudi Arabian race in Jeddah.
Thanks to Liberty Media, Formula 1 has once again put down roots in the United States, with the number of races here going from one to three in recent years. The latest addition is Las Vegas the world capital of entertainment and so, naturally, it had to be held at night. The Nevadan city hosted two races in the early Eighties, but they were run in blinding sunlight on a track built up around Caesars' Palace.
Therefore, it has taken 16 years to reach a total of 50 night time Grands Prix. Marina Bay and Yas Marina are the longest serving venues with 15 races apiece, followed by Sakhir (12), Jeddah (four), Lusail and now Las Vegas on two. Lewis Hamilton is the Night-time King, with no fewer than 16 wins under the lights – five each at Abu Dhabi and Sakhir, four in Singapore and one at Lusail and Jeddah. Next up are Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen with ten wins apiece, followed by Sergio Perez and Nico Rosberg on three and Fernando Alonso on two, while Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, Lando Norris, Kimi Raikkonen and Valtteri Bottas have one each.
As for the manufacturers, naturally enough the lion's share goes to the two teams that have dominated Formula 1 since 2008, namely Mercedes and Red Bull on 18 night time wins each. Ferrari is third with seven, followed by McLaren on three while Racing Point, Renault and Lotus, three teams which for one reason or another no longer exist under those names, the first having transformed into Aston Martin and the other two into Alpine, can each claim one victory.
