Kim Kardashian’s appearance at the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix created quite a stir. But beneath the celebrity headlines, there were some terrific sporting stories: Nico Hülkenberg’s 8th place, an emotional evening for Liam Lawson, and another confident performance from Max Verstappen.

There was also the less glamorous side of Singapore: lengthy entry queues, thunderstorms, and heat that left drivers and everyone working around the circuit absolutely spent. From a photographer’s perspective, those contrasting moments are what make a Grand Prix weekend so interesting.

Kim Kardashian’s Publicity Value for F1

Love her or hate her, Kim Kardashian has an enormous reach. With 343 million Instagram followers, she brings attention well beyond Formula 1’s usual audience. When she steps into the Singapore paddock, photographs and footage travel around the world.

On a purely business level, her presence is a fantastic deal for Formula 1. The value of that publicity is enormous compared with the cost of providing access. Ferrari benefited too, with Kardashian spending time in its garage supporting Lewis Hamilton.

Not everyone likes the idea of celebrities receiving complimentary access. I understand that reaction. But personal opinions about a celebrity and the commercial value of their appearance are 2 different things. If you ran Formula 1 as a business, you would be delighted with this sort of international coverage.

Interestingly, when I checked her Instagram during the weekend, she had not yet posted anything about being at the circuit. That hardly stopped the publicity. There were already plenty of photographs, reports, and clips circulating, with more coverage likely to follow in newspapers and magazines.

How a High-Profile Paddock Visit Works

Kardashian arrived with security on Saturday and timed her movements carefully. Like many major celebrities, she entered when much of the media was occupied on the grid. That gave her a quieter route to hospitality. Her departures on both Saturday and Sunday also came during relatively quiet periods in the paddock.

While photographing in pit lane on Saturday, I spotted her at the back of the Ferrari garage waiting for Hamilton. Later, she was photographed leaving with just 1 bodyguard.

She is also very particular about her image. Where she has approval arrangements with organisations such as Formula 1, she takes an active interest in which photographs are released. Her preferences include flash lighting and photographs taken around head height rather than from a low angle. She also spends time editing her own pictures.

That does not extend to my independent photographs. Those go to a different audience. But where she can control the process, she knows precisely what she wants.

A Better Exchange With Martin Brundle

Her conversation with Martin Brundle on the grid was another positive moment. At an earlier race appearance, she had not appreciated his standing in the sport, and their interaction had been rather frosty.

This time, she made time for him and joked about whether she had misunderstood the etiquette or whether they had started badly. Credit where it is due: she handled it with good humour.

Her impression of Formula 1 was enthusiastic. She described it as exciting, fun, extraordinary, and unlike anything she had experienced before. That is useful praise from someone with such a substantial international profile.

Singapore’s Entry Queues Need Attention

Celebrity access is one thing. The experience for people paying hundreds of dollars to attend is another, and Singapore’s entry arrangements deserve scrutiny.

The security checks here were among the most thorough I have encountered on the F1 calendar. Bags were searched extensively, and queues built up during peak arrival periods.

A fan named Louise told me that, on 1 day, the queue at what she believed was Gate 4 near the Fullerton Hotel stretched about 1 kilometer. Getting inside took well over 1 hour.

Among the items receiving particular attention were vapes and cigarettes brought in from overseas, rather than locally purchased cigarettes. Those were not the only things security staff were checking, but their prominence surprised me.

I discussed the situation with ESPN’s Nate Saunders, and we agreed on the broader problem: Formula 1’s popularity has grown faster than some circuits’ entry procedures. At busy times, there simply do not appear to be enough staff to process everyone promptly.

My longest wait was roughly 17 minutes. As someone working at the event, I would normally expect a much shorter queue. For a paying fan standing in Singapore’s heat, a wait of 1 to 2 hours is a very different proposition.

Similar difficulties occurred in Malaysia, although that event had more of a one-off character. Singapore’s organisers should address the issue for future races. Thorough checks and a reasonable entry time should not be mutually exclusive.

The Best Post-Race Stories Were Behind the FIA Garage

For the post-race photographs, I sent Jase to cover parc fermé while I positioned myself behind the FIA garage. He captured some lovely celebrations and interactions, but I felt the story elsewhere would be just as strong.

After roughly 100 minutes in a car in stifling heat, drivers emerge with very little energy left to disguise their feelings. You see delight, relief, disappointment, and exhaustion. It is one of my favourite places to photograph.

Liam Lawson’s Emotional Evening

I had not realised how well Lawson had done until he appeared with a beaming smile. He went straight to a manager for a hug, then to Britt, his press officer, and then to his sister, Lea.

Lea was in tears. It was a tremendous effort from Liam, and the reactions around him made clear how much it meant.

My feeling was that this drive may well have secured his Racing Bulls seat for 2027. That is my assessment, not an announcement of a confirmed contract, but it certainly looked like an important performance for his future.

Nico Hülkenberg’s 8th Place and a Family Celebration

Hülkenberg was another excellent story. Again, I did not know his finishing position until he came out grinning. His 8th place prompted a lovely sequence of reunions: an embrace with his wife, Egle, a hug from his manager, Raoul, and a moment with his daughter.

Those are the moments that make the back of the FIA garage so rewarding. Not every driver leaves with a smile, of course. Isack Hadjar appeared disappointed, while Fernando Alonso looked completely drained.

The Coconut Water Detail

There was also a rather unusual recovery drink. Hülkenberg emerged carrying an actual coconut with a straw in the top.

I asked his trainer, Alex, about it. Nico enjoys coconut water, and Alex explained that this was the first race at which they had used it, with the hot conditions making recovery a particular focus.

Later, Alex came out carrying another coconut and offered it to me. Raoul explained that it was a gift from Team Hülkenberg. I thoroughly enjoyed it. A small gesture, but a very welcome one after that evening’s work.

Thunderstorms, Haze, and Brutal Heat

A major thunderstorm shortly before Saturday’s sprint threw plans into disarray. Only 13 of the 22 starters finished. I got absolutely drenched, but the conditions produced some interesting photographs.

Jayce photographed from the bridge, and the elevated angle produced stunning results. He returned there for the start of Sunday’s Grand Prix, giving us another striking perspective on the field.

Rain was only part of the weather story. Haze persisted throughout the weekend, and the heat was oppressive. On Sunday morning, the forecast showed 31°C with a feels-like temperature of 43°C.

Nearby storms eventually reduced the temperature by a few degrees. That made conditions tolerable, but never comfortable.

The Physical Toll on Drivers

Behind the FIA garage, I noticed Oscar Piastri having his temperature checked. I heard a reading of 37-point-something mentioned, although I did not catch the precise number.

George Russell later said during a speech in a corporate area that his temperature after the sprint had reached 39°C. That is a temperature normally associated with a fever, and it illustrates the physical demands of racing in these conditions.

These are seasoned athletes, but they had just completed 2 very hot race weekends in succession. The exhaustion was plain to see.

Photographing in that environment is bloody hard work too. We spend much of the day outside in the sun. Darkness brings a small drop in temperature, but the humidity remains. It felt rather like boot camp, and by the end of the trip I had lost several kilos.

Austin’s forecast was around 30°C for the following week or so. I was looking forward to it nonetheless. Dry heat is much easier for me to handle than tropical humidity.

Verstappen’s Confidence and a Paddock Full of Partners

Max Verstappen had won 2 races in a row, and Red Bull looked confident. Away from the racing, something else caught the photographers’ attention: he arrived with Kelly Piquet on 3 of the weekend’s 4 days.

I could not recall many recent occasions when they had walked in together, so seeing it repeatedly stood out.

They were far from the only couple in the paddock. Family and partners formed a substantial part of the weekend’s atmosphere:

• Lily accompanied Oscar Piastri, while Carmen was also at the circuit.
• Lauren Fitzsimmons, Isack Hadjar’s girlfriend, attended.
• Alex Albon arrived with Lily, and Rebecca Donaldson caught up with Carlos Sainz outside the FIA garage after the race.
• Lance Stroll’s girlfriend was present, as was Alicia with Oliver Bearman.
• Egle and Nico Hülkenberg’s daughter were there, and Kika also attended.

Alongside Kardashian’s appearance, these arrivals and reunions provided plenty of opportunities to capture the personal side of a race weekend.

Small Paddock Details Worth a Second Look

Some of the most enjoyable stories have nothing to do with a finishing position. A reserve driver’s optimism, a television prank, or an unusual choice of accessories can all become memorable photographs.

Paul Aron’s Positive Mindset

Paul Aron is a lovely fellow and very keen to earn an F1 race seat. During the weekend, he approached my camera with his mouth wide open. I missed that first photograph, but after a chat he posed for another.

He explained that the expression represented his reaction when he gets an F1 opportunity. The important word was when, not if.

Every reserve driver wants that chance. Paul’s confidence was a nice reminder of the positive mindset needed while working towards it.

Liam Lawson’s Sky Sports Prank

I also found myself becoming the subject of a Sky Sports pre-race segment, rather than merely appearing in the background.

The piece had been filmed on Thursday. I had been warned that Lawson might approach and take my camera to make some photographs. Instead, he wanted my bucket hat, which caught me by surprise. He then asked for a picture while posing with his biceps.

It took me a few seconds to work out what was happening. Afterwards, I followed some of the other amusing things he did around the paddock. Liam and Arvid Lindblad were both good sports throughout.

The production turnaround was tight. About 2 hours before the segment aired, the team asked me for the photograph. The edit was not finished until roughly 90 minutes before broadcast.

Why Toto Wolff Wore 2 Watches

Another detail took a couple of days to resolve. I had noticed Toto Wolff wearing 2 watches on the same wrist and finally managed to ask him why.

The answer was straightforward: 1 was a new Singapore edition, while the other was his own watch set to European time.

It reminded me of Hamilton wearing 2 watches in the Miami media pen during the debate about the FIA’s restrictions on jewellery inside the cockpit. Hamilton used his accessories to draw attention to a rule he considered unnecessary.

The FIA was also scrutinising drivers’ underwear requirements at the time. Sebastian Vettel’s humorous response produced one of my favourite photographs.

The Norris-Piastri Debate and the Run to the Season’s End

Sunday is generally my favourite day of the 4-day race weekend. There is usually a relatively relaxed spell of about 90 minutes, which creates room for conversations and unexpected photographs.

One such moment involved Gabriel Bortoleto chatting with Martin Garrix. The world-renowned DJ had performed after the race in Malaysia and was also playing in Singapore. He is a familiar friend of Formula 1 and Lando Norris.

Norris, meanwhile, had attracted plenty of criticism on my Saturday social media post about his last-lap collision with Piastri in the sprint.

The FIA classified it as a racing incident. Many people responding to the post disagreed and felt Norris should have been held responsible. The official decision and the public reaction were clearly different.

That is one of the useful aspects of social media: people can explain their position, and others can read and challenge it. An official verdict does not necessarily end the discussion.

After Singapore and the preceding tropical race weekend, I was certainly ready for a change of climate. Next came the USA, beginning a run of 3 consecutive races. A weekend off would follow, then a final triple-header to complete the season.

So, is Kim Kardashian good for Formula 1? In publicity terms, I think the answer is clearly yes. But Singapore also showed that the sport’s appeal runs much deeper than celebrity attention. Lawson embracing his sister, Hülkenberg celebrating with his daughter, and exhausted drivers emerging after a demanding race were every bit as compelling.

The opportunity for F1 is to bring those stories to a wider audience while making sure the people paying to attend have an experience worthy of the sport’s growing popularity.