Norris Triumphs at the Singapore Grand Prix
Lando Norris clinched a historic victory at the Singapore Grand Prix, ending his long quest for a win from pole position. This race marked the ninth time Norris had started from pole, but it was his first time successfully converting that advantage into a victory.
The race began with Norris taking an early lead into Turn 1, a position he maintained impressively throughout the first lap and beyond. By the time he crossed the finish line, Norris had established a commanding winning margin of 20.945 seconds. Despite facing a moment of uncertainty on Lap 45 when he narrowly avoided the wall at Turn 10, Norris demonstrated remarkable composure and skill.
“Just chill out, bring this car home,” advised his race engineer Will Joseph, a message that seemed to resonate with Norris as he powered through to the end.
However, Norris remains 52 points behind Max Verstappen in the championship standings with only six races and two sprint events remaining in the season. The challenge remains formidable, but the victory in Singapore adds a significant chapter to Norris's career.
Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri delivered an outstanding performance. Having started in sixth position, Piastri managed to climb up to third, securing a spot on the podium and underscoring the team's strong showing.
In stark contrast, Daniel Ricciardo's race was a poignant story. Starting from a lower grid position, Ricciardo finished a disappointing 18th. Despite setting the fastest lap on the race's final circuit, he did not earn a bonus point as he did not finish in the top ten. Team principal Laurent Mekies reflected on the occasion, saying, “Given this may have been Daniel's last race, we wanted to give him the chance to savour it and go out with the fastest lap.”
Ricciardo's late pit stop might be the final act of his Formula 1 career, a career he looked back on with mixed emotions. “I'm proud of the career. I tried to become world champion, I tried to become the best at something in the world,” reflected Ricciardo. “I think it is a tall task that we ask from ourselves, some achieve it, some don't, in the end if I came up a little short I also can't be too hard on myself, happy with the effort I put in and for that there's no sadness or feeling of regret or what could have been.”
Ricciardo's exit appears to be part of a broader realignment within Red Bull. Speculation is rife that he may be replaced by reserve driver Liam Lawson after the Singapore race. Red Bull's team principal Christian Horner highlighted the team's approach toward evaluating driver performances. “We've now got a period of time where we'll evaluate all of the relevant performances of the drivers. It is a natural break in the season to reflect on that, and there's a bigger picture obviously, beyond Daniel. So he's just one part of the jigsaw,” Horner explained.
This situation has not gone unnoticed by McLaren CEO Zak Brown, who remarked on the potential competitive implications. “That's a nice A- /B-Team sporting thing that I didn't think was allowed ... but hey, that's not the first time we've seen it, probably won't be the last.” Brown continued, expressing a degree of frustration, “I'll certainly ask some questions. It's something I've spoken about in the past, and I think it illustrates that it does happen, because I think you wouldn't have made that pit stop to go for that. It's not going to get anyone a point, so I think it does illustrate the issue around that topic.”
Despite the setbacks, Ricciardo remained a popular figure among fans and his colleagues. In a touching gesture, he was voted Driver of the Day, a tribute that Ricciardo greatly appreciated. “I'll be honest, I don't think the Driver of the Day normally means much to us drivers. It's nice, but it's not something to brag about, but I think today ... the fans read the media and know this could be my last one so I think that's a really nice gesture from them and today it is appreciated.”
His teammate, Max Verstappen, also spoke warmly of Ricciardo, highlighting his character and the impact he has had in the sport. “He's a great guy, honestly. We always had a great relationship. We had a sporting rivalry in the team. He will be remembered as a great driver, as a great person also. He has a great character. I think it's very rare if someone hates him,” Verstappen noted.
As the Formula 1 season heads into its final leg, the Singapore Grand Prix will be remembered not just for Norris's triumph but also for the emotional farewell of one of the sport's beloved figures, Daniel Ricciardo.