F1 Singapore Grand Prix 2024 Review: Lando Norris blazes to third season win

McLaren’s Lando Norris solidified his position in the Drivers’ championship battle as he picked up his third win of the season at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, holding off championship rival Max Verstappen.

Norris’ teammate, Oscar Piastri, finished third, helping McLaren take a considerable lead in the Constructors’ Standings. 

Also read: F1 Singapore Grand Prix 2024 Qualifying Review: Lando Norris pips Max Verstappen for Singapore pole

As the lights went off at the Marina Bay Circuit, pole-sitter Norris got off the line well, keeping Verstappen at bay, while Lewis Hamilton tried to get past the Red Bull driver but failed to do so. Williams’ Franco Colapinto, meanwhile, made up a couple of places on the first lap, breaking into the top ten.

Up ahead,\ Norris kept Verstappen out of the DRS range for the opening few laps, looking to consolidate his lead. By Lap 6, he was almost a second and a half clear of Verstappen, with Hamilton a further 1.3 seconds behind the Dutchman. 

Norris was 4.5 seconds clear of Verstappen by Lap 10. While he blazed ahead, Piastri, George Russell, Charles Leclerc, Fernando Alonso, and Nico Hülkenberg tussled for P4.

By Lap 25, Norris was almost 20 seconds clear of Verstappen. He clipped his front wing on Lap 31, however, and had to come in for his stop, though no changes were made to the front wing. Norris re-joined right where he left off, a good six seconds clear of his teammate with Verstappen in P3.

Norris continued growing his lead and was ahead by 23 seconds by Lap 39 when Piastri came in for his stop. There was little to no action up front between the front two as Norris continued to dominate, except on Lap 48 when he clipped the wall once again but hardly slowed down. While he dominated up front, the Dutchman built a similar gap to Piastri in third. 

Norris eventually eased to a comfortable race win, with Verstappen finishing 20.9 seconds behind him. Piastri finished further behind, with Russell and Leclerc rounding out the top five places. Hamilton, Carlos Sainz, Alonso, Hülkenberg, and Sergio Pérez completed the points places.

Norris’ win has cut down Verstappen’s championship lead to 52 points, while Piastri’s podium finish now puts him eight points behind Leclerc, who holds third place in the Drivers’ Standings for now.

In the Constructors’ Standings, McLaren now have a 41-point lead over Red Bull, with Ferrari creeping up on them—as well a further 34 points behind.

After the Singapore race, Formula One will now take a month-long break before heading to Austin, Texas, for the United States Grand Prix.