The Singapore Grand Prix always promises drama on the track, but during the third practice session (FP3) of the 2024 race weekend, an unexpected guest stole the spotlight - a giant lizard. As the cars zipped around the Marina Bay Street Circuit, a lizard made a surprise appearance on the track, prompting a red flag to halt the session. This isn’t the first time the Singapore circuit has seen a reptilian interruption, but this one was hard to miss.
The red flag was waved as marshals scrambled to clear the reptile from the racing line. It brought back memories of an incident from the previous year, when Fernando Alonso inadvertently struck a lizard, humorously dubbed "Lenny the Lizard." Some speculated in jest that this could be Lenny's vengeful relative, returning to disrupt the race once again. One commentator even joked, "I'm not a big fan of this Godzilla sequel."
Here is the video:
A long-time tradition of wildlife!
As the lizard evaded marshals with surprising speed, fans couldn’t help but make light of the situation. Social media flew, with one suggesting, "Stick it at the back of the grid on Sunday—it might give Stake and Alpine a run for their money!" Despite the humour, the unexpected guest caused a genuine disruption as the session was momentarily paused.
Once the lizard was removed, the red flag was lifted, and the session resumed with 45 minutes left on the clock. The drivers quickly returned to action, making up for lost time on the track. In a circuit as thrilling and unpredictable as Marina Bay, wildlife appearances have become almost a quirky tradition, adding a layer of unpredictability to an already challenging race. As the green flag waved, all eyes returned to the cars, but the lizard’s brief appearance left a lasting impression on fans and drivers alike.