Ferrari and Mercedes took very different approaches to their strategies at the Singapore GP. Charles Leclerc questioned the Scuderia’s plan, Mercedes got theirs wrong…
Here is how race night unfolded in Singapore…
Carlos Sainz was keeping cool, he even had his rubber duck for company.
Infinity pool needed! Ready to race! 🌶💪🏼#carlo55ainz pic.twitter.com/uMbXjG3nLU
— Carlos Sainz (@Carlossainz55) September 22, 2019
If Carlos or anyone else needed something to help them wind down, then the national anthem was doing just that…
Anyone else feeling absolutely dreamy after that rendition of the Singaporean national anthem? 🇸🇬🎶👌#MakeItCount #F1 #SingaporeGP
— SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team (@RacingPointF1) September 22, 2019
Daniel Ricciardo wasn’t a happy Honey badger going into the race. He started from the back after being DQ’d from qualifying for a breach of the rules on power output from the MGU-K.
The top three stayed the same out of Turn 1 but Sebastian Vettel was all over Lewis Hamilton on the opening lap.
Further down the field there was contact for Nico Hulkenberg, Sainz, George Russell and Ricciardo.
Hamilton shook off the attention of Vettel and began to make gains on Leclerc. But action was minimal as the pack crawled around Marina Bay to save their tyres. George Russell was the fastest man on track.
Hamilton sets the fastest lap as he closes in on Leclerc. Verstappen is getting close to Vettel too#SingaporeGP #F1
— Lights Out ●●●●● (@LightsOutF1Blog) September 22, 2019
Luckily we had Danny Ric to provide some thrills. Sergio Perez was dispatched and Daniil Kvyat was next as he improved to P12.
WHAT A BEAST!!! #RSspirit #SingaporeGP
— Renault F1 Team (@RenaultF1Team) September 22, 2019
With Leclerc going so slow at the front it made pitting impossible for the rest of the top six – doing so would put them well down the order.
Live scenes from the front of the field at the #SingaporeGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/qTYXT1VFNo
— Planet F1 (@Planet_F1) September 22, 2019
Just outside the points we had a battle between Romain Grosjean and Hulkenberg. This one had some background.
MAG pits! And the battle between Nico and GRO intensifies! He gets him!
Daniel P10, Nico P12.We try not to make eye contact with @HaasF1Team next door. 🙈#RSspirit #SingaporeGP
— Renault F1 Team (@RenaultF1Team) September 22, 2019
Vettel and Verstappen were the first of the top runners to blink and pit on Lap 20. Hard tyres for both of them but the results couldn’t have been more different.
Vettel was able to get out ahead of Hulkenberg and into nice clear air, but Verstappen wasn’t so lucky.
LAP 20/61
Our first leaders are in! Vettel and Verstappen dive in…
Vettel emerges tenth, but Verstappen drops behind Hulkenberg in P12#F1 #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/KPS1xn5ctL
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 22, 2019
Leclerc was in on the next lap to fit the hards, but it was disaster for the youngster as Vettel sailed past – the undercut had worked.
Vettel gets the undercut!!! He passes Leclerc at pit exit and is now the net leader. Hamilton in trouble? #F1 #SingaporeGP
— Luke Smith (@LukeSmithF1) September 22, 2019
In came Bottas as everyone was left scratching their heads as to why Mercedes weren’t pitting Hamilton.
On his current pace Hamilton would be lucky to come back out ahead of Albon.
Mercedes working the strategy puzzle atm #SingaporeGP @pitlane_girl pic.twitter.com/pE4os7RvWQ
— Tim Wagner 🏁🎳📷🚗 (@timwagner66) September 22, 2019
The Ferraris were now closing in on Lance Stroll – Mercedes were hoping that the Canadian and Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly and Antonio Giovinazzi ahead would hold up the leaders.
Right now Hamilton's problem is he's slower on old softs than Giovinazzi, Gasly, Ricciardo and Stroll behind on mediums. So Vettel and Leclerc would still be gaining time #F1 #SingaporeGP
— Chris Medland (@ChrisMedlandF1) September 22, 2019
Wingman alert for Valtteri…
Close, Valtteri gets the call – Mercedes tells him to slow down to the tune of three seconds per lap to create a gap for Hamilton to pit into #F1 #SingaporeGP https://t.co/OWvZNkvsT4
— Chris Medland (@ChrisMedlandF1) September 22, 2019
Hamilton finally pitted on Lap 26 as Giovinazzi went into the lead of the Singapore GP – the first time an Alfa Romeo had been in the lead of a Formula 1 race since Belgium 1983.
Out Hamilton came just ahead of Bottas as planned.
Lap 31 and Vettel moved into the lead of the Singapore Grand Prix.
#Seb5 taking the leadership after passing GIO. we are halfway into #SingaporeGP
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) September 22, 2019
Ricciardo’s wild side finally turned around and bit him as he went for a lunge on Giovinazzi.
It's a puncture for Ricciardo and now he's dropping down the order!#F1 | #SingaporeGP | #NightRace
— Motorsport Week (@MotorsportWeek) September 22, 2019
Speaking of wild, seriously Romain? Out came the Safety Car. That was Williams’ first DNF of 2019.
⚠️ SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED (LAP 35/61) ⚠️
Grosjean and Russell collide, and the Williams is out
RUS: " ******… I shouldn't be surprised"#F1 #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/V14BQfZX2I
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 22, 2019
With the SC gone Leclerc set about taking back that P1 which he felt was rightfully his.
It's safe to say Charles Leclerc is not a happy man in second behind his teammate Sebastian Vettel.
"My head is down and it will be down until the end of the race, I just wanted to let you know my feeling."
➡ https://t.co/2agKfNL6gM #bbcf1 #F1 🇸🇬 #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/TMJKSJdMUf
— BBCF1 (@bbcf1) September 22, 2019
It wasn’t long though until the SC returned when Perez’s SportPesa Racing Point ground to a halt. Moments before Stroll had hit the wall and picked up a puncture.
When tweets don't age well 😩 #F1 https://t.co/7sgIXm3l6r
— Planet F1 (@Planet_F1) September 22, 2019
As the racing resumed Leclerc was giving Ferrari a mild heart attack.
Leclerc: "I want everything, even engine mode
Engineer: "Charles we need to bring the car home"
LEC: "Yeah yeah, I won't do anything stupid. It's not my goal. I want us to finish 1-2. I just think it's unfair. This one time, I won't be stupid"
— Luke Smith (@LukeSmithF1) September 22, 2019
A third Safety Car of the night briefly cooled any potential battle though…
⚠️ SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED (LAP 50/61) ⚠️
Kvyat and Raikkonen crash at Turn 1!
The Iceman retires 😕#F1 #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/n1OoNCSoSu
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 22, 2019
It would be Vettel who kept it clean and claimed victory – a record fifth win at the Singapore GP and his first in 392 days! Oh boy did he need that.
No Mercedes on the podium.
🏁🇸🇬 🏆 Sebastian Vettel wins the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix!
It's his first win since the 2018 Belgian Grand Prix, his 53rd win in F1 and a record-breaking fifth victory at the #SingaporeGP!
Leclerc 2nd, Verstappen 3rd #F1 pic.twitter.com/jG5Uou3c8v
— Lights Out ●●●●● (@LightsOutF1Blog) September 22, 2019
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