- Lewis Hamilton started third but finished sixth after an early pit on lap 18.
- His pit decision frustrated him and impacted his race.
- Daniel Ricciardo made a late pit stop to snatch the fastest lap point.
- This race could be Ricciardo's last for Red Bull.
British driver Lando Norris secured a convincing victory at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, reducing Max Verstappen’s lead in the drivers’ world championship. This win marked Norris’ third of the season and followed teammate Oscar Piastri’s recent victory in Azerbaijan, with Piastri finishing third in Singapore.
With Verstappen placing second, Norris cut the reigning champion’s lead to 52 points. The results also benefited McLaren in the constructors’ championship, as their strong performance expanded their lead over Red Bull.
Norris and Piastri’s top three finishes earned McLaren a total of 40 points for the night, giving them a 41-point advantage over Red Bull. This success boosts McLaren’s hopes of clinching their first championship title since 1998.
Red Bull are the reigning champions, having secured the title for the past two consecutive seasons.
“It was an amazing race,” Norris told Sky Sports after the event. “There were a few too many close calls, but overall it was well controlled and fun. Sometimes it’s not about pushing too hard but rather relaxing a bit. It was a great day for the team.”
Starting from pole position after qualifying just 0.203 seconds ahead of Verstappen, Norris got off to a fantastic start. Verstappen chose to focus on defending against Lewis Hamilton in third rather than challenge Norris, remaining in second and falling 13.5 seconds behind by the 19th lap.
Norris led the race with confidence, consistently posting the fastest lap times, lapping all but six drivers, and finishing over 20 seconds ahead of Verstappen in second place.
Despite starting in third place, Lewis Hamilton faced difficulties during the race. The 39-year-old driver began on soft tires but had to pit on just the 18th lap, a decision that visibly frustrated him and affected his performance for the remainder of the race. Ultimately, Hamilton finished in sixth place.
In other news, Daniel Ricciardo, potentially competing in his final race for Red Bull, made a third pit stop near the end to secure the fastest lap point.
