Norris Totally Dominant In Singapore

The next stop on Formula 1’s global tour was in hot and humid Singapore this weekend, and, following today’s night race, it was McLaren’s Lando Norris who claimed an unchallenged lights-to-chequered flag victory ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

2024 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix

1 Lando Norris (McLaren) 1hr40m52.571s
2 Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +20.945s
3 Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +41.823s
4 George Russell (Mercedes) +1m1.040s
5 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +1m2.430s
6 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +1m25.248s
7 Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +1m36.039s
8 Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) Lapped
9 Nico Hülkenberg (Haas) Lapped
10 Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) Lapped
11 Franco Colapinto (Williams) Lapped
12 Yuki Tsunoda (RB) Lapped
13 Esteban Ocon (Alpine) Lapped
14 Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) Lapped
15 Zhou Guanyu (Sauber) Lapped
16 Valtteri Bottas (Sauber) Lapped
17 Pierre Gasly (Alpine) Lapped
18 Daniel Ricciardo (RB) Lapped
19 Kevin Magnussen (Haas) Retired
20 Alex Albon (Williams) RetiredMercedes introduced a one-off new livery for its cars in Singapore, trading silver for emerald green, the corporate colour of its longtime title sponsor, Petronas. The energy giant, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, is based in nearby Malaysia, and the Singapore round represents the nearest the company gets to a home race these days. This weekend, the RB team also raced in special denim-effect livery designed by team sponsor and fashion brand Hugo.

Coinciding with the start of the Singapore weekend, it was apparent that the British Grand Prix management team at Silverstone has clearly been conscious of the recent public furore about the controversial dynamic pricing policy used by Oasis for its tour next year, under which ticket prices rose dramatically due to demand. As a result, Silverstone has reduced the level of its own dynamic ticket pricing approach for 2025 and has increased the number of its cheapest general admission tickets available.

Singapore was seven hours ahead of BST as Friday’s first free practice session began at 17.30 local time, with second practice not set to start until 21.00 to help the teams and drivers prepare for today’s night race. Following Oscar Piastri’s win in Baku last weekend, it was subsequently clear that McLaren had been exploiting the rear wing regulations to increase the top speed of its car, and in Singapore, following complaints from other teams, the FIA told the Woking-based outfit that its rear wing was outside the regulations and needed to be modified.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz sandwiched the McLaren of Norris at the top of the opening practice timing screens, and after the second hour of running, the 24-year-old British driver led the way ahead of the pair of red cars from Maranello. The gap between Norris and Leclerc was a mere 0.058s though, even if they had an advantage over the rest of the field by more than half a second. The appearance of a monitor lizard on track during yesterday’s final practice session caused a temporary red flag stoppage, but it proved to be Norris who again went fastest, followed by Mercedes’ George Russell, Piastri, and Verstappen.

The teams were aware that it would be a challenge to keep the cars cool enough, as well as their human passengers onboard...

Like second practice, the crucial three-part qualifying hour on the floodlit Marina Bay circuit didn't begin until 21.00 local time yesterday evening, and Norris was obviously aiming to repeat his blistering practice pace and claim pole position on today's grid. Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez, after an upturn in form last weekend in Azerbaijan prior to a late accident, returned to more of a norm and was soon out after being only 13th quickest, in contrast to his teammate, Verstappen, who was showing front row pace.

It, as always, came down to the top ten shootout, but Sainz made a mistake on cold tyres and put his Ferrari into the Tecpro barriers at the final corner as he prepared to start a hot lap. Red flags followed, and, after the action had resumed, it was indeed Norris who became the polesitter for today’s Grand Prix, with Verstappen joining him on the front row. It felt so appropriate for the main pair of contenders for this year’s Drivers’ Championship title to be leading the way, with Sir Lewis Hamilton and Russell claiming the second row for Mercedes just to their rear. Sainz’s error meant he would start 10th, and the Spaniard was joined on the fifth row by his teammate Leclerc, who had his sole Q3 lap time deleted after exceeding track limits at Turn 2.

Singapore's high air temperature and humidity always make racing around its streets physically exhausting, and as tonight's 8pm start approached, all of the drivers were bringing plenty of fluids onboard. The teams were aware that it would be a challenge to keep the cars cool enough, as well as their human passengers onboard, and that, despite four DRS zones, overtaking would be very difficult, and therefore strategy and track position would be vital.

Incredibly, Norris had by this stage extended his lead over Verstappen to almost half a minute, but he had survived two wake-up calls along the way after kissing the barriers

It’s only 177 metres from the front of the grid to the braking point for Turn 1 here in Singapore, and we witnessed a clean start, with the top six runners at the end of the opening lap being as per grid order. As the race settled, it was soon clear that Ferrari was rueing its poor qualifying performances, but what was even more apparent was the fact that Norris was absolutely flying as he started to gradually increase his advantage over second-placed Verstappen, which was soon into double digits. Mercedes had opted to split its tyre strategy, putting Hamilton on soft rubber and Russell on mediums, like most of the other leading contenders. This was to backfire on the Brackley-based team, as the multiple champion was unable to benefit from his softer compound early on, as had been hoped, and was the first of the frontrunners to pit for hards on the 18th tour.

...one of the less enthralling Formula 1 Grands Prix that I have reported on...

On lap 30, Norris pitted to change his medium specification tyres for hards, and such was his advantage over Verstappen that he was able to rejoin the action still in the lead. Piastri was the last of the leading contenders to pit, and, after his stop eight tours later than Norris, he returned to the track in fifth position, behind Norris, Verstappen, and the pair of Mercedes cars. Soon though, Piastri had dispatched both Hamilton and Russell to climb into third place, and Leclerc passed Hamilton for fifth. Incredibly, Norris had by this stage extended his lead over Verstappen to almost half a minute, but he had survived two wake-up calls along the way after kissing the barriers.

There had been significant rumours within the Singapore paddock that this race was likely to be Daniel Ricciardo’s last for RB and quite possibly the last of his F1 career too, with an announcement expected shortly about his drive being handed to New Zealand’s Liam Lawson from the next round onwards. With this in mind, RB pitted the 18th-placed Australian just before the final lap and sent him back on track on soft, sticky tyres to set the fastest lap of the Grand Prix. His race position meant he didn’t receive the extra point for doing so, but it was perhaps a fitting gesture to mark what may have been his last F1 finish. This also meant that RB, the sister team to Red Bull, stopped Norris from taking the additional point, which might just be useful for Verstappen as the season approaches its conclusion.

So, for now, it will be a case of the calm before the storm as both world titles are ultimately settled.

So, after what admittedly was one of the less enthralling Formula 1 Grands Prix that I have reported on, Norris, Verstappen, and Piastri stepped onto the post-race podium amidst the colourful fireworks that lit up the night sky. This left Russell, Leclerc and Hamilton to complete the top sextet of finishers.

Norris’ highly impressive display today meant that he reduced Verstappen’s lead in the Drivers’ Championship by a further eight points to just 52. With six Grands Prix and a trio of Sprint races remaining this season, Formula 1 is now set for a four-week interval before reconvening at the excellent Circuit of the Americas, just outside Austin in Texas, USA, and that round will then be followed on consecutive weekends by Mexico and Brazil. So, for now, it will be a case of the calm before the storm as both world titles are ultimately settled.


2024 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship

1 Max Verstappen 331
2 Lando Norris 279
3 Charles Leclerc 245

2024 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship

1 McLaren 516
2 Red Bull 475
3 Ferrari 441