Sebastian Vettel won for the first time this season at the Singapore Grand Prix ahead of his unhappy team-mate Charles Leclerc. The German – a four-time world champion – had endured a tough season prior to the race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit and qualified third behind Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
Despite facing questions over his future this season after a number of high-profile errors, he drove a faultless race to win for the first time since Belgium last year. He did, however, benefit from a strategic decision by Ferrari which cost Leclerc the victory and Vettel, once in front, never lost his lead as Ferrari emerged victorious for the third straight race.
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The Scuderia had brought the German in early to avoid him getting stuck behind Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg. He worked his way past the slower cars more efficiently than Leclerc to build up a six-second advantage by the time they were running one-two after 33 laps – just over half distance.
Three safety cars periods ensured the tyres on the Ferraris lasted the distance. Max Verstappen finished the race third, while championship leader Lewis Hamilton was fourth ahead of Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas in fifth. Hamilton, on 296 points, is 65 points clear of the Finn at the top of the standings, with Leclerc and Verstappen level on 200 points and Vettel fifth with 194.
