This is something to spice up the end of the Formula 1 season even more. At the end of a race led from start to finish, the British driver Lando Norris won the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, September 22, beating the Dutch driver Max Verstappen (Red Bull) by more than 20 seconds. His Australian teammate at McLaren, Oscar Piastri, winner of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last week, completed the podium and allowed the British team to widen the gap in the constructors’ standings.
In the stifling heat of the Marina Bay street circuit, Lando Norris’ victory could have been even more comfortable if the Briton had not made several mistakes during the race. After a successful start, the young McLaren driver had several scares. First on lap 29e lap, when his wing hit the wall due to poor braking. Then, during the 47e lap, when his right rear wheel hit a wall before yet another turn.
“It was an incredible race, I had some moments that were a bit hot and tense, but otherwise I controlled the race well. The car was flying today [dimanche] ! With Oscar’s podium, it’s a very good day for the team”reacted the 24-year-old Englishman.
The gap in the general classification is narrowing
With this victory, Lando Norris, second in the general classification, further reduced the gap with his Dutch counterpart, Max Verstappen, who now has only 52 points ahead with six Grands Prix remaining in the season (a victory is worth 25 points). The three-time reigning world champion has 331 points, compared to 279 for Norris. While he remains the leader, the Red Bull driver confirms his poor form: despite a better performance than his fifth place obtained in Baku, the Dutchman failed for the eighth time in a row to win the race. The ogre of the discipline in recent years has not crossed the checkered flag in the lead since his victory in Barcelona, three months ago
“I did my best. The first stint was quite difficult, the second was better, I felt better. After the complicated start to the weekend, being second is a good thing even if obviously we are not happy not to win”said Max Verstappen.
Behind this podium, George Russell (Mercedes) took fourth place after having resisted well the attacks of the Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) at the end of the race, who had started from ninth position. The seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), third on the grid, dropped back to sixth place after a failed strategy from his team, which made him stop too early.