Norris dominates Singapore GP to cut Verstappen’s title lead
MARINA BAY, Singapore — Lando Norris delivered a commanding performance at the Singapore Grand Prix, converting pole position into a triumphant victory and slicing Max Verstappen's championship lead down to 52 points.
Norris, who has grappled with subpar starts from the front of the grid in past races, executed a flawless getaway, securing the lead ahead of Verstappen at Turn 1. From there, he took control of the race, widening the gap and consistently demonstrating his superior pace despite a few minor brushes with the walls.
Verstappen, unable to match Norris's speed, settled for a distant second place. Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri's impressive rise from fifth to third, coupled with Sergio Perez's lowly points finish, allowed McLaren to extend their lead over Red Bull in the constructors' standings.
Piastri employed a strategy of staying out longer during the first stint and then charged past Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and George Russell with fresher tires. Charles Leclerc, another driver opting for a late-stop strategy, tried to replicate Piastri's moves in the closing laps. While he managed to overtake Hamilton, Leclerc could not get past Russell and finished in a "Silver Arrows" sandwich, with teammate Carlos Sainz recovering from his qualifying crash to take seventh place.
Fernando Alonso secured more points for Aston Martin by finishing eighth, while Nico Hulkenberg brought some celebration to Haas by claiming ninth place. Perez, who was knocked out in the second qualifying phase, rounded out the top ten.
Franco Colapinto continued his impressive season, finishing P11, just seconds behind Perez and narrowly missing out on points. Yuki Tsunoda and Esteban Ocon led the RB and Alpine contingents, finishing 12th and 13th respectively, followed by the second Aston Martin driver, Lance Stroll.
Sauber drivers Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas crossed the line in 15th and 16th, capitalizing on a tough race for Pierre Gasly in the other Alpine and a challenging three-stop strategy for RB’s Daniel Ricciardo, who set the fastest lap after a late switch to soft tires.
Alex Albon lost several positions at the start due to contact with his Williams teammate Colapinto and later retired with an overheating car. The Haas driver Kevin Magnussen joined the list of retirees after suffering a puncture nearing the race's conclusion.
Norris's victory punctuated an emotional end as he punched the air in delight. With this win, he has trimmed Verstappen's title lead from 59 to 52 points. McLaren now depart Singapore with an enhanced 41-point advantage over Red Bull in the constructors' championship.
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