Norris dominates Singapore GP for third win of the F1 season
Lando Norris secured his third victory of the season in commanding fashion at the Singapore Grand Prix, cutting into Max Verstappen's championship lead.
Starting from pole position, the McLaren driver led every lap at the Marina Bay circuit, fending off challenges despite minor scrapes with the walls.
He crossed the finish line 20.945 seconds ahead of Verstappen, who started and finished second for Red Bull. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri rounded out the podium, moving up from fifth on the grid.
This win puts Norris 52 points behind Verstappen in the drivers' standings, with six(6) races and three(3) sprints left in the season, leaving a potential 180 points still available. McLaren also extended their lead over Red Bull in the constructors' standings to 41 points.
"It was an incredible race, though a bit tricky at times," Norris said after his third victory of the season.
"The car felt amazing, and we were able to push the entire time. A couple of close calls, but we managed it well. I'm a bit winded, but it was a lot of fun."
Norris missed out on an extra point for the fastest lap, which was taken by Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull.
Ricciardo made a late stop for fresh soft tyres, denying Norris the bonus point, in what many speculate could be the Australian's final race in Formula 1.
Remarkably, the race was free from any major incidents or safety car deployments, with only two retirements.
Verstappen, who had a solitary race, acknowledged the challenge Red Bull faced in Singapore.
"We expected to struggle this weekend, so second place is a decent result," he said. "But we're not content with just that. We'll keep working to improve.”
Mercedes' George Russell finished in fourth, followed by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in fifth, who made a strong recovery from ninth on the grid. Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, completed the top six for Mercedes.
With six(6) rounds left in the season, including sprints, the championship battle remains open, though Verstappen still holds a significant advantage.
