Nico Rosberg wins the Singapore Grand Prix and retook the championship lead with 8 points ahead of his team mate Lewis Hamilton. He resisted a late charge from Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo. The Australian was with 3-stop strategy. His team-mate in Mercedes Lewis Hamilton completed the podium.
Rosberg, in his 200th F1 race, held his pole advantage at the start and controlled on a two-stop race, before rivals switched to three. Ricciardo closed in with his new ultrasoft tures, but had to settle for second, ahead of Hamilton and Kimi Raikkönen.
“With 10 laps or 15 laps to go after pitstop they said he would be with me at the end of the race, which was the case, Rosberg said. – I had to be on it, get everything right and it worked out. The tyre lasted just right so I’m very happy of course. By the time I started the last lap, I knew it was enough as his tyres were not fresh, so it was okay.”
Hamilton takes third
Raikkonen was third before the final stops, but was undercut by Hamilton with earlier pitstop for tyres. “This weekend’s just been a bit of a tricky one for me, Lewis said. – I’m so glad I could get back up on the podium and get some points for the team. I was struggling with my brakes, which were overheating, so I had to slow down and watch the other guys pull away. We were looking at different ways to try and get them back under control. In the end once, my brakes were under control.”
Sebastian Vettel climbed from the back of the gird to fifth. Sixth was Max Verstappen, who did a very bed start and has to recover in Singapore.
He was battling with Daniil Kvyat and eventually managed to went pass. At the end he passed also Alonso. The Mclaren driver finished 7th. Kevin Magnussen in Renault took the final point, behind Kvyat and Sergio Perez.
Safety car in the begining
Verstappen’s slow getaway from fourth triggered chaos. Carlos Sainz Jr and Nico Hulkenberg tangled as they tried to go around the Red Bull, sending Hulkenberg spinning into the pitwall and triggering the safety car.
Haas’ Esteban Gutiérrez finished 11th for the fifth time this season, meaning his quest for points continues, ahead of Felipe Massa (Williams) and Felipe Nasr (Sauber).
Sainz Jr. was shown the black/orange flag for damage after his contact and took 14th.He was followed by Renault’s Jolyon Palmer, Manor’s Pascal Wehrlein and Marcus Ericsson. Esteban Ocon (Manor) was the final finisher in 18th.
Romain Grosjean failed to make the start amid technical trouble at Haas. While McLaren’s Jenson Button and Williams’ Valtteri Bottas clashed early on before retiring with separate issues.
PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATION: ROS wins to go back on top of the driver standings #SingaporeGP ?? #F1NightRace ? pic.twitter.com/sEMwaNJ5fU
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 18, 2016
