Sergio Perez won a rain-affected Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday leaving his Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen to attend no less than one other week to retain his Formula One world championship.
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The Mexican took the chequered flag 7.5 seconds forward of the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, however may very well be stripped of the victory by stewards who had been investigating a doable security automotive infringement.
Carlos Sainz was third to make it a double podium for Ferrari within the night time race that began greater than an hour late due to a storm.
It was the primary grand prix to be held underneath lights on the Marina Bay Street Circuit since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Verstappen had a mathematical probability to clinch a second world title, however wanted to win and produce other outcomes go his means. He completed seventh after a rollercoaster race.
The Dutchman was all the time going to battle after beginning eighth on the grid and his job was made trickier by an early night deluge that delayed the beginning until 21:05 native time.
When the sphere ultimately tore away from the grid in a bathe of spray, Verstappen virtually stalled and dropped again from eighth to thirteenth.
The 25-year-old lower by means of the sphere earlier than flat-spotting his tyres making an attempt to move Lando Norris for fourth after a security automotive restart.
“I was up with Lando and as soon as I braked, the front wheels jumped in the air and I went straight on,” mentioned Verstappen who was compelled to pit for contemporary rubber and dropped to final place.
“It’s not what I’m here for. Not with a car like that. It was incredibly messy.”
It means his world championship lead over Leclerc has been lower to 104 factors forward of subsequent week’s Japanese Grand Prix. Sergio Perez is 2 factors behind Leclerc.
Sergio Perez took the lead earlier than Turn 1
Verstappen will have to be 112 factors forward on the finish of subsequent Sunday’s race in Suzuka to retain his title and may achieve this if he wins and Leclerc fails to complete second.
Leclerc began on pole however Perez slipped previous earlier than the primary flip and drove an ideal race to carry off the Monegasque for his second GP win of the season.
“It was certainly my best performance,” Sergio Perez mentioned.
“I controlled the race. The last three laps were so intense. When I got out of the car, I felt it. I gave everything today.”
Leclerc began on pole however had a sluggish getaway on intermediate tyres within the slippery situations permitting Perez to achieve the primary nook within the lead.
“I pushed all the way,” mentioned Leclerc.
“The bad start put us on the back foot and it was a really difficult race after that.”
Sainz began fourth and managed to pressure his well beyond Lewis Hamilton on flip one, however he felt he might by no means threaten the entrance two and crossed the road 7.7 seconds behind Leclerc.
“It was very tough out there,” Sainz mentioned.
“I by no means actually received right into a rhythm within the moist after which couldn’t problem the highest two guys.
“I had to settle for P3, but the good thing is I didn’t do any mistakes and could bring the car home and be quick towards the end of the race.”
The McLaren pair of Norris and Daniel Ricciardo had been fourth and fifth, Lance Stroll sixth within the Aston Martin forward of Verstappen.
Good weekend ended badly – Lewis Hamilton
Sebastian Vettel, the winner in Singapore the final time the race was run in 2019, was eighth, with Hamilton and the AlphaTauri of Pierre Gasly rounding out the highest 10.
Hamilton had been within the battle for pole however had a torrid time, complaining early about his tyres and later slithering right into a barrier necessitating a brand new nostril earlier than coming dwelling ninth.
“I think we started off with a really decent weekend, it was really unfortunate at the end,” mentioned Hamilton.
“I was trying, obviously difficult to overtake, that lock up into turn seven, ugh, when those things happen your heart sinks a little bit.”
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
