The final practice for the Singapore Grand Prix was abruptly stopped on Saturday due to a large lizard appearing on the circuit. As Formula One marshals made attempts to apprehend the unexpected contender, drivers looked on with amusement. This monitor lizard, which isn’t an unusual sight in Singapore, responded to the pursuit by speeding up after leisurely wandering onto the track right after the practice session began in the daylight.
During this time, only Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin and his team-mate Lance Stroll were active on the circuit. Alonso received a warning about the reptile’s dangerous stroll in the last sector through a team radio message. The two-time world champion spotted the lizard in the centre of the track, navigated around it, and then returned to the pits.
Aston Martin’s team owner, Lawrence Stroll was humorously compared to the monitor lizard by Sky television commentator David Croft, who named the reptile Larry, stating it exhibited a determined gait similar to Lawrence’s. The practice session swiftly resumed after the minor disruption.
The grand prix has regularly witnessed lizard encounters, with one notably large one being humorously nicknamed “Godzilla” by Red Bull race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase in 2016. Following the appearance of a smaller lizard during the previous year’s practice, Lambiase joked it could be Godzilla’s offspring. Singapore’s National Parks’ Board asserts that monitor lizards are typically reticent unless trapped. They are also active during the day and sleep at night, which is somewhat comforting for the managers of the night race. – Guardian/