September 23, 2024
SINGAPORE – In the heat of the cauldron that is the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Lando Norris displayed his credentials to be a future world champion by registering a dominant win on Sept 22 at the Formula One Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, where McLaren reigned supreme for the first time since 2009.
The papaya orange-clad McLaren driver punched the air in delight as he emerged from his car after a comfortable victory over world champion and championship leader Max Verstappen in a 62-lap drama-free race – which included the lack of a safety car for the first time in Singapore.
As fireworks lit up the Marina Bay skyline, Norris took the chequered flag in 1hr 40min 52.571sec, finishing a whopping 20.945 seconds ahead of Verstappen and 41.823sec ahead of McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.
Mercedes’ George Russell held off Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc for fourth while Lewis Hamilton, who has enjoyed success here previously, finished sixth. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz recovered from his qualifying crash to take seventh while Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso finished eighth. Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg was ninth while Red Bull’s Sergio Perez completed the top 10.
Crucially for Norris, his win had also reduced Verstappen’s lead in the drivers’ championship to just 52 points with six races to go.
Norris said: “A win is a win. Yes, maybe it (the dominance) puts a slightly bigger smile on (my) face but the main job is getting the win. I am just happy we got maximum points.
“It was going to be a tough race here but I felt good all weekend, so all I had to do was go out there and perform like I have been performing.”
McLaren’s Lando Norris celebrates after winning the Singapore Grand Prix on Sept 22. PHOTO: THE STRAITS TIMES
Former world champion Nico Rosberg hailed the manner of victory, saying: “More than the win – it’s that performance and the speed today. That’s going to have Red Bull scared because with this speed to the end of the year, it’s really realistic Lando can win all the races to the end of the year and for Max to come second is so difficult, it seems.”
While Norris had won only one race from his previous five pole positions, topping the qualifying for the Singapore GP had given him a strong chance of victory on the tight and twisty 4.94km street circuit.
The Briton was largely untroubled as he led from start to finish – making it the 10th time in 15 editions of the night race that the pole-sitter has gone on to claim victory. Any danger of losing his grip on a race win that was there from the get-go came only from his own doing as he had two swipes of the barriers.
Norris’ triumph sees him become the seventh different winner of the Singapore Grand Prix and it also means that Verstappen’s winless streak now extends to eight, a period in which McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes have all claimed victories.
McLaren also marked another stellar weekend as they extended their constructors’ championship lead over Red Bull to 41 points.
This was McLaren’s second consecutive victory of the season – Piastri was the winner at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sept 15 – and their fifth of the 2024 season.
Verstappen’s last win before this came at the Spanish Grand Prix in June. Looking ahead to improvement, the 26-year-old Dutchman said: “We will want to do better and hopefully we come out better in Austin (Oct 20) and from there onwards to more.”
Norris, however, knows that he still has a real battle on his hands if he is to pip Verstappen to the title.
The Briton cut an exasperated look when asked if he expects the race to go down to the wire.
He said: “I can’t tell the future so I’m working as hard as I can and I am sure Red Bull and Max are as well. So I’m sure there’s going to be plenty of competition until the end of the year, and as a team, the only thing we can do is try and score the most points possible.”
“I still have a lot of points that I got to catch up. It is not going to be easy job. It’s against Red Bull and it is against Max, the most dominant pairing you’ve ever seen in Formula One.
“So I have some of the toughest competition that Formula One has ever seen in the sport. We are doing a better job as a team right now because our car is quicker than theirs, but that’s just credit to the team doing an amazing job.
“I’m working my butt off to try and make sure that happens (winning). He is trying to make sure it doesn’t happen.”
Topping the Singapore Grand Prix’s qualifying race the day before had given Norris a strong chance of victory on the tight and twisty 4.94km street circuit. PHOTO: THE STRAITS TIMES
Fans catching a glimpse of Norris from outside Marina Square on Sept 22. PHOTO: THE STRAITS TIMES
Singapore GP results
1. Lando Norris (Gbr) McLaren 1hr 40min 52.571sec
2. Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull +20.945sec
3. Oscar Piastri (Aus) McLaren 41.823
4. George Russell (Gbr) Mercedes +1:01.040
5. Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 1:02.430
6. Lewis Hamilton (Gre) Mercedes 1:25.248
7. Carlos Sainz (Esp) Ferrari 1:36.039
8. Fernando Alonso (Esp) Aston Martin 1 lap
9. Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Haas 1 lap
10. Sergio Perez (Mex) Red Bull 1 lap
11. Franco Colapinto (Arg) Williams 1 lap
12. Yuki Tsunoda (Jpn) RB 1 lap
13. Esteban Ocon (Fra) Alpine 1 lap
14. Lance Stroll (Can) Aston Martin 1 lap
15. Zhou Guanyu (Chn) Sauber 1 lap
16. Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Sauber 1 lap
17. Pierre Gasly (Fra) Alpine 1 lap
18. Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) RB 1 lap
DNF
Alexander Albon (Tha) Williams
Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas