By Phyllis Lee
Amidst doubts on whether it is beneficial for Singapore to continue on as a Formula 1 ( F1 ) venue, it was announced last Friday (Sept 15) that the Grand Prix will be here to stay until 2021 – and majority of Singaporeans are in favour of this decision.
A global media intelligence company Meltwater tracked online reactions in the lead-up to and during the F1 weekend between Sept 13 to 18.
While 76% of reactions to the last-minute deal were positive, 22.5% remained neutral. Only 1% reacted negatively to the news.
“In general, the Singapore F1 Race generates a huge amount of interest across social media, but the renegotiated deal by organisers and the Singapore Government further bolstered buzz, reaching record levels this year,” said Neil Brennan, Area Director, Meltwater Japan and South East Asia.
This interest was seen not only in the renewal, but also in the event itself.
Despite an early exit in the race after a crash, Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel scored higher mentions than any other racer, making up 37% of social media chatter. Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton came in second with a social media score of 36%.
Apart from the races, another highlight from the F1 weekend was the performances from notable artists.
Ariana Grande clinched the top spot for celebrity mentions with 74% of the total mentions, followed by One Republic at 15% and Chainsmokers at 6%.
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