Formula 1’s 2024 Singapore Grand Prix Race Review
Norris Breaks his Pole Position Curse with Statement Win
Lando Norris delivered a dominant performance under the lights of Marina Bay, securing a commanding victory at the Singapore Grand Prix and cutting Max Verstappen’s championship lead to 52 points. The McLaren driver controlled the race from start to finish, converting pole position into a flawless win and reinforcing McLaren’s recent resurgence as a force to be reckoned with in the 2024 season.
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Singapore Grand Prix Qualifying
In an electrifying qualifying session at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, Lando Norris stormed to pole position with a remarkable lap of 1:29.525, holding off a determined Max Verstappen, who finished just two-tenths behind. The Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell showed solid pace, securing third and fourth positions, respectively, while Oscar Piastri placed fifth in the second McLaren. Nico Hülkenberg continued to impress for Haas in sixth, followed by Fernando Alonso and Yuki Tsunoda in seventh and eighth, and Ferrari’s day ended in disappointment, with Charles Leclerc ninth after his best time was deleted and Carlos Sainz crashing out early in Q3 to start tenth.
Sergio Perez had a tough outing, failing to make it out of Q2 and ending up 13th. The back end of the grid saw struggles for Daniel Ricciardo, who missed the Q2 cut-off and will start 16th, while Lance Stroll, Pierre Gasly, Valtteri Bottas, and Zhou Guanyu brought up the rear. The session set the stage for an unpredictable, action-packed race under the Marina Bay lights.
Singapore Grand Prix Race Day
A Perfect Start for Norris
After securing his sixth career pole in a thrilling qualifying session, Norris had the perfect launch off the line to keep Verstappen at bay into Turn 1. The early laps saw the McLaren driver quickly build a lead, with Verstappen unable to match his pace and eventually settling into a distant second. Behind them, Oscar Piastri was battling the Mercedes of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton as the McLaren driver looked to recover from a compromised start.
Norris’s start from pole was crucial. Unlike previous struggles, he nailed his getaway and was never truly threatened in the opening stages. By Lap 10, the British driver was already outside Verstappen’s DRS range, controlling the pace and gradually pulling away. McLaren’s strategy, aiming for a straightforward one-stop race, was executed flawlessly as Norris extended his lead to over 13 seconds before pitting.
Mid-Race Strategy and Piastri’s Charge
The mid-race phase was all about tire management and strategic positioning. While Norris continued to dominate at the front, the battle for the final podium spot intensified. Oscar Piastri, starting from fifth, played a patient game, extending his first stint longer than anyone else and emerging from his pit stop with fresher tires than his rivals.
Piastri’s charge was a highlight of the race. The Australian methodically picked off Hamilton and Russell, using his tire advantage to full effect. His move on Russell, going around the outside at Turn 7, was a standout moment, showing his confidence and maturity as he climbed to third place. Meanwhile, Verstappen, unable to challenge Norris, focused on preserving his tires and fending off any potential late-race threats.
Charles Leclerc, who started from the lower half of the top ten, also made significant progress. Running a similar strategy to Piastri, the Ferrari driver found himself in a battle with the Mercedes cars. Leclerc cleared Hamilton and set his sights on Russell, but time ran out before he could make a decisive move, leaving him in fifth.
Late-Race Drama and Dominance
Despite leading comfortably, Norris had his share of scares. A brush with the wall at Turn 10 raised concerns over possible damage, but McLaren opted against changing the front wing during his pit stop, allowing Norris to maintain his commanding lead. He responded by setting a series of fastest laps, quelling any doubts, and extending his gap over Verstappen to nearly 30 seconds.
Behind the top three, Russell held on for a solid fourth despite dealing with overheating issues in his cockpit and pressure from Leclerc. Hamilton’s race, meanwhile, was a story of what could have been. A decision to start on soft tires did not pay off, forcing an early pit stop that left him struggling with tire wear in the closing stages. He eventually finished sixth, ahead of a recovering Carlos Sainz.
Sainz, who crashed out in qualifying, produced a gritty drive to finish seventh, salvaging valuable points for Ferrari. Fernando Alonso added more points to Aston Martin’s tally with a solid eighth-place finish, while Nico Hulkenberg gave Haas something to celebrate in ninth. Sergio Perez, who endured a frustrating weekend, rounded out the top ten, unable to make significant progress after starting outside the top ten.
Colapinto’s Impressive Performance
Franco Colapinto continued his impressive run of form, narrowly missing out on points in 11th place. The Williams driver, who replaced Logan Sargeant mid-season, has quickly adapted to the demands of Formula 1. His battles with more experienced drivers, including Perez and Yuki Tsunoda, showcased his potential as a future star.
Further down the order, Daniel Ricciardo’s three-stop strategy saw him set the fastest lap of the race on fresh soft tires, but a series of setbacks left him 18th, behind teammate Tsunoda and the Kick Sauber pair of Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas. Kevin Magnussen and Alex Albon were the only retirements, with both suffering from car-related issues.
2024 Singapore Grand Prix Final Standings
| RANK | DRIVER | COUNTRY | TEAM | FASTEST LAP |
| 1 | LANDO NORRIS | BRITAIN | MCLAREN | |
| 2 | MAX VERSTAPPEN | NETHERLANDS | RED BULL | |
| 3 | OSCAR PIASTRI | AUSTRALIA | MCLAREN | |
| 4 | GEORGE RUSSEL | BRITAIN | MERCEDES | |
| 5 | CHARLES LECLERC | MONACO | FERRARI | |
| 6 | LEWIS HAMILTON | BRITAIN | MERCEDES | |
| 7 | CARLOS SAINZ JR | SPAIN | FERRARI | |
| 8 | FERNANDO ALONSO | SPAIN | ASTON MARTIN | |
| 9 | NIKO HULKENBERG | GERMANY | HAAS | |
| 10 | SERGIO PEREZ | MEXICO | RED BULL | |
| 11 | FRANCO COLAPINTO | ARGENTINA | WILLIAMS | |
| 12 | YUKI TSUNODA | JAPAN | RB | |
| 13 | ESTEBAN OCON | FRANCE | ALPINE | |
| 14 | LANCE STROLL | CANADA | ASTON MARTIN | |
| 15 | ZHOU GUANYU | CHINA | SAUBER | |
| 16 | VALTERRI BOTTAS | FINLAND | SAUBER | |
| 17 | PIERRE GASLY | FRANCE | ALPINE | |
| 18 | DANIEL RICCIARDO | AUSTRALIA | RB | 1:34.486 |
| RETIRED | KEVIN MAGNUSSEN LAP-57 | DENMARK | HAAS | |
| RETIRED | ALEXANDER ALBON LAP- 15 | THAILAND | WILLIAMS |
Conclusion: A Statement Win for Norris
Norris’s victory in Singapore marks his third win of the season and sends a clear message to the rest of the grid. McLaren’s dominance, with Piastri finishing third, also strengthens their lead in the Constructors’ Championship, now 41 points ahead of Red Bull. While still leading the Drivers’ Championship, Verstappen will be wary of McLaren’s momentum as the season heads into its final stretch.
With his gap to Verstappen now reduced to 52 points, Norris has reinvigorated the championship battle. The stakes couldn’t be higher as Formula 1 heads to the United States Grand Prix next. The Circuit of The Americas has traditionally favored Red Bull, but McLaren’s current form suggests anything is possible.
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