Under the blistering night lights of Marina Bay, Lando Norris seized the
Singapore Grand Prix with an electrifying performance from pole to top step of
the podium. Max Verstappen, wrestling with a challenging car, showcased his
championship-calibre skill with an impressive drive to second. Meanwhile, Oscar
Piastri clawed his way back from fifth, displaying sheer determination to claim
the final spot on the podium.
For the first time since its inaugural race in 2008, the Singapore Grand
Prix unfolded without a single safety car or even a yellow flag. This flawless
run highlighted the exceptional skill and concentration of every driver,
especially in the punishing conditions that sap energy with every lap. Yet,
perfection was elusive, as several drivers brushed against the barriers—Lando
Norris included, who found himself getting a little too close for comfort in at
least two occasions.
Still, the McLaren driver delivered a masterclass of driving to win by
nearly 23 seconds over Verstappen. Such was his pace that he lapped everyone
P8. George Russell held off Charles Leclerc in the closing stages to finish
fourth for Mercedes, but he came home a staggering 61 seconds behind Norris.
Leclerc salvaged fifth for Ferrari after having his qualifying lap time deleted
on Saturday. Elsewhere, Lewis Hamilton’s gamble to start on the soft tyre
didn’t pay off and an overall lack of pace left the 7-time champion to finish
sixth overall. Saturday wasn’t any better for Carlos Sainz as a crash in the
final part of qualifying left him to start tenth on the grid. Sainz ultimately
recovered to seventh ahead of Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg in eighth and
ninth. Checo Perez capped yet another miserable weekend in tenth.
Both Alex Albon and Kevin Magnussen retired from the race. Albon’s
Williams appeared to suffer from overheating while Magnussen exited the race
after picking up a puncture. The newly minted F1 Franco Colapinto continued to
impress with a fine 11th place finish in the Williams.
The 2024 Singapore Grand Prix is also likely to have been Daniel
Ricciardo’s last F1 race. It is all but confirmed that Liam Lawson will take
over the RB cockpit from the next race in Austin, Texas. If it is to be so,
it’s an unfortunate end to Ricciardo’s otherwise impressive and lengthy career.
He did manage to snatch the point for fastest lap away from Norris in favour of
his good friend Max Verstappen as perhaps a final parting gift.
Norris’s win cuts Verstappen’s lead in the standings to 52 points. It
remains a monumental task to overcome but certainly not an impossible one.
