Lando Norris dominates Max Verstappen as Lewis Hamilton fumes at Singapore Grand Prix
Lando Norris made a clear statement with a dominant win at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Lando Norris produced a statement victory at the Singapore Grand Prix, finishing nearly 22 seconds clear of title rival Max Verstappen. Oscar Piastri rounded off the podium to cap off a strong weekend for McLaren.
Norris headed into the Grand Prix knowing full well that his pole position conversion rate was under scrutiny. The Brit didn’t let the pressure get to him though, and he led Verstappen across the line at the end of lap one following a slick getaway from the grid.
With nine laps in the bank, race engineer Will Joseph asked his driver to open up a five-second lead over Verstappen. Seven laps later, Norris had obliterated that target, moving 13 seconds ahead of his championship rival.
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The Singapore heat claimed its first victim on lap 17 as Alex Albon was forced into the pit lane. The Thai-British racer’s power unit overheated mere laps after his first stop, bringing his race to a premature end.
Meanwhile, out front, Norris was turning the screw and inflicting more pain on Verstappen. On lap 30, the reigning champion came in for his stop, although his title rival nearly had a disastrous moment, clipping the wall after a lock-up.
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Piastri, meanwhile, ran long, stretching his opening stint out to lap 39, giving him a massive tyre offset after strapping on a fresh set of hards. After moving past the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, he set off after Verstappen in P2.
Hamilton's evening in Marina Bay was nothing short of infuriating for the seven-time world champion. The Brit accused his strategists of "killing him" with an unfavourable soft-to-hard strategy. He took the chequered flag in P6 after starting third on the grid.
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Norris had a couple of close calls while navigating his way through traffic, but ultimately the 24-year-old was untouchable at the front of the field, cruising to a third career Grand Prix triumph.
Every point will count as Norris and Verstappen creep towards a final-race showdown, and Daniel Ricciardo took one away from the McLaren driver on what could be the final tour of a glittering career. The VCARB racer pitted to steal the fastest lap from under his former team-mate's nose.
