{
  "id": 12841025,
  "title": "When a lizard caused chaos at the Singapore GP",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/when-a-lizard-caused-chaos-at-the-singapore-gp",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-08T09:20:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/sport/when-a-lizard-caused-chaos-at-the-singapore-gp-1.500702998"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Singapore Grand Prix is no stranger to memorable moments, but one incident in 2024 stands out for its unusual cause of disruption. During final practice, a lizard somehow infiltrated the race circuit, drawing the attention of both drivers and officials. As cars raced around the track at high speeds, the reptile casually crossed the asphalt, creating a perplexing situation. With no immediate option other than to halt proceedings, the session was brought to a stop and a red flag was displayed, forcing the cars back into the pit lane. The drivers, understandably confused, turned to their teams for answers. George Russell, famously asking his Mercedes team what was on the circuit, exclaimed, “A what?! It looks like a dragon!” The marshals faced the daunting task of capturing the lizard, with two of them venturing onto the track amidst the chaos. Daniel Ricciardo was caught laughing at the spectacle, adding to the lighthearted atmosphere in the pit lane. The FIA's official account playfully dubbed the incident as “the weirdest red flag ever,” recognizing the surreal nature of the event. The lizard's brief presence on the circuit sparked a chain of events, but it was eventually removed, allowing the session to resume and the drivers to continue their preparations for Sunday's race. However, Singapore's history of reptile-related surprises dates back even further. In 2016, Max Verstappen also encountered a lizard during practice, jokingly referring to it as a \"giant lizard,\" only for it to disappear without causing any disruption. As Formula One returns to Singapore, drivers will once again confront one of the most challenging circuits, where they may need to watch out for more than just their competitors. The FIA has emphasized that safety and wellbeing will guide future planning for events in the Middle East.",
  "summary": "Dubai: As Formula One heads back to Singapore this weekend, it is worth revisiting one of the strangest interruptions the sport has seen at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. The Singapore Grand Prix has produced plenty of memorable moments over the years, but few have been quite as unusual as the sight of a lizard bringing an F1 session to a standstill. It happened during final practice ahead of the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}