After a 3 year absence due to the COVID pandeminc, F1’s return to Singapore was delayed by torrential rain before the scheduled start at Marina Bay. After the over hour delay, it was lights out in Singapore for the first grand prix held there since 2019. In a start feared to be reminiscent of 2017, everyone got away without contact as Sergio Perez nailed the start to take the lead into turn 1.
TREMENDOUS START FOR VETTEL, A POOR ONE FOR VERSTAPPEN
In his final Singapore grand prix, Sebastian Vettel got off to a fantastic getaway, jumping from 13th to 8th in his Aston Martin. Vettel is the most successful driver in the history of the Singapore grand prix, showing at the start his knowledge of this track to jump 5 places. Champion elect Max Verstappen however had the exact opposite happen to him at the getaway, bogging his Red Bull down and dropping as far down as P12.
MERCEDES GET IT ALL WRONG
George Russell started from the pitlane and switched to slicks a little too early from everyone else and was at the back almost all night. Russell would suffer a puncture right after the safety car restart, ending any chance at points for the British driver. Lewis Hamilton would fly into the barriers on lap 33, virtually ruining his race from P4 in his pursuit of Carlos Sainz. An uncommon error from the 7 time world champ cost him his chance at another podium in a constant struggle of a year for the Mercedes duo compared to where the team has been the past 10 years. The Mercedes finished P14 and P9 respectively
HUGE DAY FOR MCLAREN
A huge day for McLaren as Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo finished P4 and P5 after everything seemed to fall their way. Ricciardo was able to make his way up the order after 6 retirements ahead of him and well timed safety cars put him into the top 5 for the first time this season, while teammate Norris benefited from Lewis Hamilton putting it into the barriers trying to pass Carlos Sainz.
ROUGH DAY FOR WILLIAMS
It was a rough day for the Williams duo of Alex Albon and Nicholas Latifi. Albon spun his car on the first lap at turn 7, very lightly touching the barrier with the rear of his car but was able to keep going. Nicholas Latifi however suffered a puncture on lap 8 after making contact with Zhou Guanyu which resulted in both drivers retirements and bringing out a short safety car to keep the streak going of having a safety car at every Singapore grand prix since it joined the calendar. Albon then again plowed into the barriers on lap 26, losing his front wing in the process and causing another virtual safety car to recover his front wing.
ALONSO’S 350th GP ONE TO FORGET FOR HIMSELF AND ALPINE
350 grand prixs in and many distance records broken by Fernando Alonso, his 350th grand prix was one he would like to put on the back burner of his memory as he retired with an engine failure on lap 22. It got worse for Alpine on lap 28 when Esteban Ocon had to retire due to an engine failure. Both retirements will dampen Alpine’s chances of getting 4th in the constructors championship after a wonderful drive from Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo rocketing into the points for McLaren
DOUBLE PODIUM FOR FERRARI
It was close but no cigar for Ferrari again this weekend in Singapore. After grabbing pole with Charles Leclerc and P3 with Carlos Sainz, neither Ferrari could catch and overtake Sergio Perez after he took the lead off the line. Leclerc put immense pressure on Perez after the switch to slicks but could never get quite close enough to pass the Mexican driver, eventually falling to over 7 seconds back. Carlos Sainz on the other hand was really nowhere all night, running a very lonely race and finishing P3. Ferrari finally got the strategies correct but couldn’t quite get the Red Bull again.
FURTHER DOWN THE ORDER
For the backmarkers, it was a mix of good and bad fortunes for them. Haas struggled early on with Kevin Magnussen shown the black and orange flag for an endplate being loose on his car, and Mick Schumacher being really nowhere all race, hanging on to the fringe points positions but eventually suffering a puncture after contact with George Russell. Pierre Gasly was contending all night for points positions while Yuki Tsunoda crashed out on lap 36 causing yet another full course safety car. Aston Martin were able to get a good haul of points with Sebastian Vettel finishing P8 in his final Singapore grand prix, and Lance Stroll making the rare appearance in the points finishing P6. Valterri Bottas brought home the only finishing Alfa Romeo in P11.
ANOTHER RED BULL WIN BUT NOT WHO YOU THOUGHT
It was Red Bull’s day in Singapore but not the driver you may have thought it would be. Sergio Perez wins the Singapore grand prix after his excellent getaway at the start and led pretty much the whole way through, and handled immense pressure from Charles Leclerc at the end to hold on. His teammate and eventual champion Verstappen had a race to forgot after 5 weeks of dominance saw his race go up in smoke trying to make a move on Lando Norris after the safety car ended. The win gives Perez his second of the season, and extends the championship fight to the Japanese grand prix next weekend.