Written by Owen Bradley
Lando Norris took a dominant victory around the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore, the Brit closes the gap in the championship to Max Verstappen, the pair separated by just 52 points.
Norris maintained the lead for the first time in his career, as Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton went side-by-side into the first corner. Franco Colapinto would dive up the inside of multiple cars at the beginning of the race, to the dismay of his teammate Alex Albon.
Oscar Piastri would attempt to make his way past George Russell at the beginning of the race, the Australian unable to find a way past the Mercedes driver as many drivers began finding themselves trapped behind the car in front.
One of those drivers, would be Charles Leclerc, who quickly became frustrated as the Monegasque found himself stuck behind Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin.
Norris extended his lead to well over 10 seconds after around 20 laps, building a buffer to assist the McLaren driver with the pit stop window. Elsewhere, Lewis Hamilton would come in at the end of Lap 17 to fit the Hard compound tyres, an unpopular decision with Hamilton himself, who felt that the team had pitted the car too early.
Max Verstappen managed to build a solid gap to the cars behind, albeit losing time to Norris out front.
Further behind in the race, Franco Colapinto ran in 11th place, looking to challenge Sergio Perez, the Argentine looking to score points in his debut Singapore Grand Prix, as his teammate Alex Albon would be forced to retire from the race.
Norris would run into trouble on Lap 29, hitting the barrier at Turn 15 and picking up minor front wing damage. The Brit would also run off the track whilst attempting to overtake Colapinto, who went a lap down in the final third of the race.
Kevin Magnussen would bump into the outside wall at Turn 5, picking up a rear left puncture, nursing his Haas machine back to the pits. Lewis Hamilton would be caught by Oscar Piastri, who came into the pits over 20 laps later, as Piastri overtook the seven-time champion at Turn 7.
Piastri would replicate this move on George Russell for third place just a few short laps later, as Piastri set his sights on potentially closing the gap to Verstappen in second.
Daniel Ricciardo would come into the pits in the final few laps, fitting the Soft compound tyre in what may be his final Formula One race, as the Australian attempted to get the Fastest Lap. Ricciardo would be successful, as he set the fastest lap with a 1:34.486. This also ensures that the previous fastest lap set by Lando Norris, would be ruled obsolete, Norris unable to pick up an extra point.
Lando Norris would drive his McLaren through the final corners to take a dominant victory, leading every single lap, with Verstappen and the rest of the field unable to get anywhere close. Verstappen would round out a solid performance, finishing in second place and minimising the damage in the championship, whilst Piastri managed to put his McLaren onto the podium after an intelligent and measured drive.
F1 Singapore Grand Prix - Results
1st Lando Norris, McLaren
2nd Max Verstappen, Red Bull
3rd Oscar Piastri, McLaren
4th George Russell, Mercedes
5th Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
6th Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
7th Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
8th Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
9th Nico Hulkenberg, Haas
10th Sergio Perez, Red Bull
11th Franco Colapinto, Williams
12th Yuki Tsunoda, RB
13th Esteban Ocon, Alpine
14th Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
15th Guanyu Zhou, Sauber
16th Valtteri Bottas, Sauber
17th Pierre Gasly, Alpine
18th Daniel Ricciardo, RB
DNF Kevin Magnussen, Haas
DNF Alex Albon, Williams
Formula One returns in a few weeks after an extended break, for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas.
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