Race winner Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren, Second placed Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Third placed Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren celebrate on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 22, 2024 in Singapore, Singapore. (Photo by Joe Portlock/Getty Images)
SINGAPORE – Oscar Piastri’s commanding victory in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix put McLaren in control of the World Constructors Standings, and with Lando Norris fighting for the World Drivers Championship, the streets of Marina Bay for the Singapore Grand Prix set the stage for the next fight between McLaren and Red Bull in the battle till the end of the season.
The Marina Bay Street Circuit entered the F1 schedule in 2008 as the first Grand Prix to be raced at night, lit up entirely by artificial lighting. The 3.060-mile-long circuit has seen its fair share of chaos and controversy through the years, from Crashgate to a string of every single race since joining the calendar where a Safety Car has been deployed at some point during the race means teams must be ready for anything at any moment.
During the qualifying that set the grid on Saturday, Max Verstappen had his Red Bull in contention for the pole. Still, the continuously quick McLaren with Norris behind the wheel once again had the two title rivals set to be lined up side-by-side for when the lights went out. No penalties after qualifying meant that the grid would be lined up as it was expected to be.
The tire covers were removed in the final moments before the cars departed for their formation lap. The tire strategies were revealed for the expected one-stop race, as most of the field elected to start on the Medium tire compound. At the same time, Mercedes and Visa Cash App RB had Lewis Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo on the Soft compound tire, while Kevin Magnussen’s Haas, Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin and both Kick Saubers of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu elected to start on the Hard compound tire.
Norris led Verstappen and the field around for the formation lap, and once all cars returned to their grid slots, the lights went out, and the Singapore Grand Prix began. Norris stormed out to the lead in his McLaren, while Verstappen and Hamilton scrapped for second place. Finally, it was likely that the title challenger would lead the opening lap following a pole position for the first time.
Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren MCL38 Mercedes leads Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 and the rest of the field into turn one at the start during the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 22, 2024 in Singapore, Singapore. (Photo by Joe Portlock/Getty Images)
Further down the field, Piastri’s McLaren attacked George Russell’s other Mercedes. Still, after being put in a compromised position, Nico Hulkenberg’s well-qualified Haas slipped for fifth past before Piastri got the spot back heading into Turn 7.
Meanwhile, a scrap was building up in the midfield as Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari fought Franco Colapinto’s Williams, who was still impressing early in his F1 career, and Sergio Perez’s Red Bull. Norris, up ahead, had pulled out of Verstappen’s DRS range, giving him safety through the track’s four DRS zones.
The first stops of the day occurred when Visa Cash App RB called in Ricciardo to switch from the Soft tire to the Medium tire, while Williams called in Alex Albon to switch from the Medium tire to the Hard compound tire after a compromised start. Ferrari called in Carlos Sainz for his expected stop, as Norris was told that the undercut was working out.
While Colapinto was fighting against Perez for the position, disaster struck Albon as his race ended early due to overheating.
The lead was up to 13 seconds as Mercedes called Hamilton in for his stop on Lap 18. However, after being put into traffic, the seven-time world champion lamented that the pit stop may have come too early. Meanwhile, McLaren was contemplating pitting Norris later to extend the stint.
Leclerc had been behind Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin for quite some time, awaiting his opportunity to pass. He did not have to wait long. When they made it to Lap 26, the Ferrari sailed past the Aston Martin, while Hamilton’s race was quickly turning sour as he told his pit wall that something might be wrong with the car.
When Mercedes had pitted Russell, Piastri could finally put his McLaren in some open air to make inroads on Verstappen, who was some 25 seconds behind the leader. Soon, possible drama turned attention to the leader as Norris called to his pit wall for potential damage. The replays showed that the young title contender locked into Turn 14 and brushed against the wall.
Red Bull pitted Verstappen around that time, and a lap later, McLaren called in Norris for his stop, plus a preventive front wing change. Norris continued ahead as the pit cycles continued.
As the race continued, more drivers completed their pit stops. Leclerc, who had made up some time, finally pitted on Lap 37, shortly followed by Yuki Tsunoda’s Visa Cash App RB and Pierre Gasly’s Alpine, while Piastri was the last to pit on Lap 39.
Once the pit stop cycle had finally settled, Norris was ahead of Verstappen by over 20 seconds, with Russell another 15 back. Hamilton had recovered to fourth, but Piastri quickly approached by utilizing the fresh tires on his McLaren.
Piastri’s fresh tires worked in his favor as he sailed past Russell for third and decided to chase down Verstappen for a McLaren 1-2. However, making up 18 seconds in 16 laps would be a challenge, even with as powerful as the McLaren has been.
Race winner Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren, Second placed Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Third placed Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren pose for a photo on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 22, 2024 in Singapore, Singapore. (Photo by Joe Portlock/Getty Images)
Another scare happened for Norris, this time on Lap 45, as he once again brushed against the wall in Turn 10. However, he escaped any severe damage. However, this did not deter him, as shortly after that, he pumped in another fastest lap before being reminded to stay entirely concentrated and drink water for the final stretch of the Grand Prix.
Leclerc was starting to put on a show on his fresh tires as he sailed by Hamilton and set forth on Russell. However, much like Pisatri ahead of him, it looked to be too much time to make up in too little time.
Meanwhile, Magnussen brushed the wall in the first sector, picking up a puncture, and made the slow trip back to the pits for a fresh set of Soft tires, which promptly gave him the fastest lap.
Norris was ready to respond to take back the fastest lap; however, after a call from his race engineer, he backed off. Another late stop occurred as Visa Cash App RB called in Ricciardo for an attempt at the fastest lap, which he did obtain, taking away a chance for Norris to pick up max points on the day.
The final laps trickled down, and finally, the checkered flag flew as Lando Norris picked up a dominating victory for the third time in his career, finishing ahead of Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri. Russell could fend off Leclerc as Hamilton and Sainz were the last drivers on the lead lap. Alonso, Hulkenberg, and Perez rounded out the points-paying finishers in the Top 10.
Colapinto was the first driver outside the points, finishing 11th ahead of Tsunoda. The Alpine of Esteban Ocon, Stroll, Bottas, Guanyu, Gasly and Ricciardo were the final runners at the finish after Haas returned Magnussen to the pits following his late stop. At the same time, Albon’s early retirement ended his day early. The 2024 Singapore Grand Prix was the first to run without any Safety Car period.
There is now a short break before Formula 1 heads back to America for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas. McLaren will hope to continue its quest for double world championships, while Red Bull hopes to take the fight back after falling behind.
