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Lando Norris wins his third Method One race of the season, taking the Singapore Grand Prix 20 seconds forward of Max Verstappen.
This narrows the driving force championship hole to 52 factors, with Verstappen nonetheless within the lead.
Norris was nonetheless main by the tip of Lap 1, and he started constructing a niche to Verstappen, getting over 11.5 seconds clear by Lap 17. However behind the leaders in the beginning, it was a messy Flip 1 as quite a few automobiles ran broad. Franco Colapinto divebombed his approach into the highest 10, a spot he held till he pitted on Lap 30. Sergio Pérez struggled to go him for a time period.
“He’s superb,” the Crimson Bull driver stated over the radio on Lap 16. “Troublesome to go, Colapinto.”
It grew to become evident in the course of the early phases of the Singapore GP that the undercut was trying sturdy. That is when a automotive pits earlier than these in entrance to realize a bonus.
Lewis Hamilton was among the many first frontrunners to pit, swapping his gentle tires for laborious tires on Lap 19. However he later stated over the radio that he felt they’d have hassle afterward, including that he was already combating the laborious tire by lap 23. The Singapore GP is historically a one-stop race until the race is neutralized.
It appeared like it could be a runaway for Norris, who was constructing a notable lead. However by round Lap 30, he reported over the radio that he had entrance wing injury and started slowing. Nevertheless, when he pulled into the pits, McLaren didn’t change his entrance wing — it simply tweaked the setup and swapped the medium tires for the laborious compound. Norris was later informed over the radio that it was a “small challenge however nothing severe.”
All eyes fell on Oscar Piastri because the race reached the center phases. George Russell pitted on Lap 29, and the McLaren driver lurked behind him. Piastri started taking outing of Verstappen’s laps, shifting into second because the Dutchman pitted. However the McLaren driver might really feel his tires dropping off, lastly pitting for laborious tires on Lap 39. It was a late pit cease, a daring transfer by McLaren at a observe the place overtaking will be tough. However he had a notable tire offset.
Piastri emerged from the pits behind the Mercedes duo and wasted no time passing Hamilton. He started searching down Russell for the ultimate podium place, nailing the overtake on Lap 45 at Flip 4 as he took the good distance across the Silver Arrow.
The race settled from there. Norris had an in depth name when he clipped the wall, the identical place the place Russell crashed final yr, however he put collectively a quickest lap shortly after, practically two seconds faster than Verstappen’s earlier lap. In the meantime, Pérez reported over the radio that he had no traction and was “bouncing like a kangaroo.”
Colapinto was proper on his tail, placing the Crimson Bull beneath stress, however the Williams driver in the end completed outdoors of factors, by no means getting round Pérez.
In a twist on the finish, Daniel Ricciardo pitted for a 3rd time within the remaining few laps, swapping for a set of sentimental tires. He was flying, and on the time, Norris had the race’s quickest lap. Ricciardo as an alternative took the quickest lap, spoiling Norris’ likelihood at his first grand slam.
📻 GP: “Your previous pal Daniel obtained the quickest lap on the finish there as nicely.”
📻 Verstappen: “Thanks, Daniel.”#F1 #SingaporeGP
— Luke Smith (@LukeSmithF1) September 22, 2024
Right here’s how the highest 10 completed:
- Lando Norris
- Max Verstappen
- Oscar Piastri
- George Russell
- Charles Leclerc
- Lewis Hamilton
- Carlos Sainz
- Fernando Alonso
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Sergio Pérez
This can be a creating story.
High photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty Pictures