Formula 1: Singapore Airlines extends Grand Prix title sponsorship by 3 years, calls race ‘important milestone’ for city
- Extension will start with this year’s race in October, which is first time sport has been to city since coronavirus pandemic hit
- F1 is enjoying a boom in popularity and Miami Grand Prix set viewing-figures record for live broadcast in US
Formula One “will be an important milestone for Singapore, marking the return of a major international sporting event to the city after a two-year disruption due to the pandemic,” Lee Lik Hsin, Singapore Airlines’ executive vice-president for commercial operations, said.
The renewed deal also heralded the country’s determination to woo back tourism as it recently lifted most rules for fully vaccinated travellers and eased other domestic restrictions, in line with its policy to live with the virus.
Air-passenger traffic to Singapore reached 400,000, or 31 per cent of pre-Covid levels, in the week ending April 17, according to latest data from the country’s civil aviation authority.
Singapore Airlines first signed as the title sponsor in 2014 for four years, and subsequently extended it in 2018 and 2020 for two years respectively.
Formula 1’s popularity has continued to grow and the sport is enjoying a strong start to the 2022-23 season, highlighted by record viewing figures in the US for the inaugural Miami Grand Prix last weekend.
