F1 Singapore GP:  Norris claims his third win; Ricciardo calls it quits

Lando Norris won the race for McLaren, facing a couple of close moments with his brakes and tyres. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claimed second place after successfully defending against Lewis Hamilton at the start. Oscar Piastri moved up from fifth to finish third, passing Hamilton and George Russell. Despite finishing second, Verstappen has a championship lead of 52 points.

F1 Singapore Grand Prix: Advantage Lando

Norris overcame his prior difficulties at the start, surging past Verstappen at Turn 1 and leading for the majority of the race, despite several close encounters with the walls. Verstappen came in a distant second, while McLaren’s Piastri climbed from fifth to third, thereby widening McLaren’s advantage over Red Bull in the constructors’ standings.

Happy with the victory, Norris said, “It was an amazing race. A few too many close calls.” 

Norris celebrated as he and the other podium finishers arrived in Parc Ferme, reducing Verstappen’s title lead from 59 points to 52. McLaren left Singapore with a 41-point lead over Red Bull in the constructors’ standings.

F1 Singapore Grand Prix: Verstappen’s tribute to Daniel Ricciardo

Max Verstappen paid tribute to Daniel Riccardo after the Australian driver announced his retirement after the race. It has been declared that Liam Lawson is expected to replace Daniel Ricciardo at VCARB for the next race at the Circuit of the Americas. As this was his last F1 race, Ricciardo contributed to Max Verstappen’s championship lead. 

Lando Norris was leading the race and had the fastest lap, earning an extra point, but Ricciardo made a late pit stop for soft tyres and set the fastest lap himself. As a result, Verstappen’s lead over Norris is 52 points instead of 51 heading into the U.S. race next month.

Verstappen and Riccardo spent three years as teammates at Red Bull, despite the track collision in the 2018 Azerbaijan GP, they maintained a good friendship. Verstappen reported to the media that, “Daniel and I go a way back.  We’ve always had a great relationship, great friendship, and a lot of respect for each other. Just a great guy. I get on well. It just clicks. There’s no fake person.”

He further added, “We just get along, easy going. We’re like that. He will be remembered as a very fast driver. Everyone knows that but also a great guy in the paddock.”

F1 Singapore Grand Prix: Rest of the pack

Piastri stayed out longer in the first stint and passed Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell with fresher tyres. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari also tried to make up ground as a late stopper, overtaking Hamilton but failing to pass Russell, finishing in between the two Mercedes drivers. Teammate Carlos Sainz, recovering from a qualifying crash, took seventh.

Fernando Alonso secured eighth place for Aston Martin, while Nico Hulkenberg finished ninth for Haas. Sergio Perez, who was knocked out in Q2, completed the top ten. Franco Colapinto claimed the 11th position, followed by Yuki Tsunoda and Esteban Ocon in 12th and 13th, and Lance Stroll in 14th. 

Sauber drivers Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas finished 15th and 16th, benefiting from a tough race for Pierre Gasly and a three-stop strategy for Daniel Ricciardo, who set the fastest lap after switching to soft tyres. Alex Albon lost several positions at the start and retired due to overheating, while Kevin Magnussen also did not finish after a puncture.