Singapore: The Editorial Team’s Hits and Misses
It is now time to discuss the main satisfactions and disappointments of this weekend in Singapore!
The top 3
Lewis Hamilton dazzling
This weekend in the Singapore night is further evidence of the Briton’s talent. On such a circuit, securing pole position was paramount. From a mere outsider, the former McLaren driver has become the benchmark, delivering a “Senna-esque” lap in Q3, a performance that will be remembered when the end-of-season reviews are written. His race was less spectacular but equally effective: Hamilton expertly managed traffic and strategy, unfazed by Vettel’s aggressive choice. His victory further strengthens his incredible streak: 4 wins in the last 5 races! The fifth crown is approaching rapidly: has he already done the hardest part? In the meantime, Lewis Hamilton is definitely at the peak of his career, now 40 points ahead of Sebastian Vettel. Even if Ferrari finally capitalizes on its good form in the upcoming races, #44 will have a small safety margin.
Max Verstappen in the spotlight
The Red Bull driver rediscovered his good side after being noted for his aggressiveness against Bottas in Italy. A remarkable Saturday and Sunday, each time ahead of Vettel’s Ferrari. One might wonder how he managed this, powered by an increasingly sluggish French engine. A small drawback: the Dutchman did not take advantage of his start from the front row with a difficult start on the dirty part of the track. He also had the wisdom not to insist when Vettel passed him just before the safety car intervention. His strategy was also well executed, with a pit stop allowing him to get ahead of the German again. Showing sportsmanship, Verstappen even stated he “did not attempt a kamikaze overtake on Hamilton” when he was right in the middle of the Sirotkin-Grosjean-Gasly battle. Communication or not, will the Dutch lion be the spice of this season’s end? In his team, he is asserting himself as the leader of Red Bull, facing a Ricciardo who has been absent since signing with Renault.
Fernando Alonso, the star still shines
The double world champion delivered a performance that will make us regret his departure at the end of the season. The Spaniard took full advantage of his 11th place on the grid, which allowed him to choose his starting tires. 9th from the first lap, he made the right decision to extend his first stint as much as possible to gain positions. Bingo, with this 7th place finish, all with a hand still suffering from the crash with Hülkenberg at Spa. Here in Singapore, Alonso was the best of the rest for the first time since Australia. And to think that his final farewell tour (or goodbye) is already starting!
P7 = 😀 @alo_oficial
“It’s a small win for us”> https://t.co/99qLJz0Z26
#SingaporeGP 🇸🇬 #F1 pic.twitter.com/bmpncq7SaI
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 16, 2018
The flop 3
Ferrari blows a fuse again
The team sinks into the night of regrets. While this Grand Prix was supposed to heal the wounds of a painful previous Italian weekend, the Scuderia again lets Hamilton and Mercedes take the victory. The defeat will be hard to swallow once more, leading until the qualifications and then outsmarted by the rival driver’s talent. But to top it all, the team also lost second place on Sunday, which Vettel had taken from Verstappen just before the Safety Car’s intervention. The four-time world champion was stopped and relaunched right under the nose of Pérez’s Force India, costing him three decisive seconds. In the words of the main person concerned, the team is “fighting on its own” and seems to be out of solutions in the struggle for the title. Even though Vettel still insists he will always defend the Scuderia, during the race, he seemed a disheartened driver. The two titles are slipping through their fingers. Incredible for a team that has at least a car as powerful as the Mercedes!
Dark night for Racing Point Force India
The new team also shot itself in the foot. Both cars showed promising performance during the qualifications, but the race was chaotic from the start, with the collision between the two drivers. While the theory of a racing incident prevailed, one can mention Pérez’s action, who steered more than necessary, and Ocon’s attempt at an impossible overtake when patience would have been wiser. Result: zero points and a complicated recovery operation in the constructors’ championship. Will team orders be issued for the last meetings of the season?
` Haas misses the points`
Regrets for Kevin Magnussen, eliminated in Q1 on Saturday due to a poor setup. Result: 1-second difference with Grosjean on Saturday. On Sunday, his race was already too compromised to aim for a good placement. At least he secured his first career fastest lap and the team’s. But the former driver
Renault is on the right track to extend the adventure with Haas in 2019. Can Romain Grosjean say the same? In general, the American team missed its night weekend in Singapore.
The boy Dane good 😉
A first @DHL_Motorsports Fastest Lap Award for @KevinMagnussen 👏🇩🇰
#SingaporeGP 🇸🇬 #F1 pic.twitter.com/M6nkbba5Mc
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 16, 2018
