Norris cuts Verstappen’s championship lead down to 52 points after claiming a dominant victory at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix.
Lando Norris delivered an extraordinary performance at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, securing a commanding victory that significantly narrowed Max Verstappen‘s lead in the Formula 1 championship standings.
The race held under the dazzling lights of Singapore’s Marina Bay Street Circuit showcased not only the Brit’s exceptional driving skills but also the strategic prowess of his McLaren team.
As the race commenced, pole sitter Lando Norris quickly established his dominance by maintaining his lead off the line ahead of Verstappen, who started in second place, attempting to challenge the race leader but found it difficult to keep pace with the MCL38.
The opening laps were crucial as both drivers navigated the tight and twisty circuit which is notorious for its unforgiving barriers. Norris’ early lead allowed him to dictate the pace of the race, while Verstappen focused on staying within striking distance.
It was not long before the first major incident happened on lap 10 when George Russell crashed into the barriers, prompting a safety car deployment.
The incident provided teams with an opportunity to reassess their strategies with both Norris and Verstappen opting to pit for fresh tires during the brief stoppage. However, it was McLaren’s quick pit stop that allowed their star driver to retain his lead when racing resumed on lap 15.
Once back on track, Norris showcased his superior pace as he gradually built a comfortable gap over Verstappen, who struggled with tire degradation as the race progressed. By lap 25, Norris had established a lead of several seconds, demonstrating not only speed but also excellent tire management.
Meanwhile Oscar Piastri in the sister McLaren was having a strong race as well as he moved up through the field after starting from fourth. By lap 30, Piastri had secured third place after overtaking George Russell and beginning to close in on Verstappen.
This created a thrilling subplot as both McLaren drivers looked poised for a podium finish.
As the laps wound down, Norris maintained his lead comfortably ahead of Verstappen and Piastri however tension remained high as the latter began to challenge the reigning world champion for second place.
In the closing laps of the race, Piastri managed to close the gap significantly but ultimately crossed the line in third place behind Verstappen, finishing just over 41 seconds behind Norris.
The result marked a remarkable victory for team papaya as Norris cuts Verstappen’s championship lead down to 52 points with six races remaining in the season.
George Russell finished fourth after starting from fifth. Russell had a steady race but was unable to make a charge against the top three drivers following Mercedes’ struggles with pace throughout the weekend.
His teammate Lewis Hamilton also struggled to find pace and fell back in the order after starting from third on the grid. The team’s decision to start the seven time world champion on soft tires didn’t pay off as expected, leading to a disappointing performance that saw him finish sixth.
Meanwhile, Ferrari struggled to make ground throughout the race as both Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc suffered dismal pace and tire management, ultimately finishing outside of the podium positions.
Leclerc managed to salvage a fifth-place finish after starting from sixth as Sainz finished seventh. Aston Martin‘s Fernando Alonso and Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg both finished one lap down in eighth and ninth places respectively, while Sergio Perez completed the top ten.
Norris had the point for fastest lap snatched away from him at the end by the RB of Daniel Ricciardo in what is likely to be his last race in F1. The Australian is rumoured to be leaving the Red Bull junior outfit after the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix.
