Norris slashes Verstappen's championship lead
Monday, 23 September 2024
The Marina Bay circuit proved to be a perfect match for Norris
Lando Norris delivered a masterclass performance at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, taking a commanding victory and cutting Max Verstappen's Formula 1® championship lead to 52 points. The McLaren driver's dominance was evident from the start, as he converted pole position into a lead that he never relinquished.
The Marina Bay circuit proved to be a perfect match for Norris's McLaren, with the Brit showcasing exceptional pace throughout the weekend. Verstappen's Red Bull, despite a significant setup overhaul on Friday night, couldn't match the blistering speed of the McLaren.
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Norris's comfort level was apparent when he responded to his team's request to increase the gap, stating he was at "pace 6 or something." He proceeded to extend his lead, sometimes lapping over a second faster than his closest rival. However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for Norris, who had two close calls with the unforgiving Singapore barriers. The first occurred towards the end of his initial stint, where he locked up and nearly crashed at Turn 14. The second brush with the wall came near the race's conclusion, prompting his team to advise him to "chill out" and bring the car home safely.
Despite these heart-stopping moments, Norris crossed the finish line with a staggering 20.9-second lead, cementing his dominance in the race. The victory was made even sweeter as it significantly reduced Verstappen's championship lead with six full races and three sprints remaining in the season.
Oscar Piastri, Norris's teammate, put in an impressive performance to complete the podium. Starting from fifth, Piastri's McLaren showed incredible kindness to its tyres, allowing him to stay out longer than any other frontrunner. This strategy paid off as he managed to overtake both Mercedes drivers with relative ease in the final stint.
The race wasn't without its challenges for other drivers. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell of Mercedes struggled with tyre management, while Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz of Ferrari had to recover from a disastrous qualifying session.
Sergio Perez had a particularly disappointing race, struggling with his Red Bull's performance and finishing in a lowly 10th place. He complained that his car had no traction and was "bouncing like a kangaroo" during a long stint on hard tyres.
Norris shared his thoughts on the victory: "I'm absolutely thrilled with this result. The car felt amazing all weekend, and even with a couple of close calls with the walls, we managed to bring it home. This win means a lot for the team and keeps us in the championship fight."
The final standings for the top 10 drivers were:
- Lando Norris (McLaren) 1:40:52.571
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +20.945s
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +41.823s
- George Russell (Mercedes) +1:02.863s
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +1:05.293s
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +1:28.111s
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +1:38.902s
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +1 lap
- Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) +1 lap
- Sergio Perez (Red Bull) +1 lap
