Lando Norris claimed a decisive victory at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, significantly reducing Max Verstappen‘s lead in the drivers’ championship standings.
The win marked another strong performance for McLaren, following teammate Oscar Piastri’s recent victory in Azerbaijan. Piastri secured a third-place finish in Singapore, contributing to a solid day for the team.
This victory was Norris’ third of the season, cutting Verstappen’s championship lead to 52 points after the reigning champion finished in second place. McLaren’s success also positively impacted their standing in the constructors’ championship, as the team’s combined performance extended their lead over Red Bull.
Norris and Piastri’s top-three finishes yielded a total of 40 points for McLaren, giving them a 41-point advantage over Red Bull. This result boosts McLaren’s ambitions for their first championship title since 1998.
Norris started the race from pole position, having qualified just 0.203 seconds ahead of Verstappen. He quickly established a commanding lead, while Verstappen opted to focus on maintaining his position ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who started in third. By lap 19, Norris was already 13.5 seconds clear of the field.
Norris consistently set the fastest laps and lapped all but six competitors, finishing over 20 seconds ahead of Verstappen.
Hamilton, starting on soft tires, encountered difficulties early in the race and was forced to pit on lap 18, a decision that hampered his performance for the remainder of the event. He ultimately crossed the line in sixth place.
In a noteworthy performance, Daniel Ricciardo, potentially competing in his final race for Red Bull, made a late pit stop to secure the fastest lap point.
