Nico Rosberg hung on for the narrowest Formula One victory for six years to win the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, celebrating his 200th career start in ideal style as he reclaimed the championship lead from his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton.
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Hamilton will start third on the grid, also behind Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, and with the Marina Bay Street Circuit proving to be notoriously hard for overtaking, the Briton’s two-point lead may not survive today’s race.
Meanwhile Hamilton, who leads Rosberg by just two points in the world championship standings, twice locked up his ultrasoft tyres in clouds of smoke at turn seven and skidded down the escape road.
The Scuderia Ferrari drive was pleased with his initial run in Q3, and was fourth fastest at that time, but was unable to deliver a better time in his second run that saw him fall behind his nemesis in 2016, Max Verstappen.
“It’s a lot different to when I was here previous year but I’m still in the fight and I’m going to give it everything I’ve got”.
Ricciardo had the gap down to 11.8s by lap 53 and the maths was working for the Australian, who was as desperate to avenge his Monaco defeat as Rosberg was to celebrate his landmark 200th Grand Prix with a 21st victory.
“I was pushing on that out lap to see if we could undercut him, and fortunately we did”.
Hamilton, who won here from pole position in 2014, never got going this weekend and struggled once again in the final practice session held in the evening.
But Mercedes said there may have been a problem with the auto causing his difficulties – their information said it was producing less downforce than Rosberg’s and they were to analyse the situation further overnight ahead of the race.
The safety auto came out nearly immediately due to a spectacular accident in the middle of the pack just after the start. “We feel it’s a good thing but let’s see if it makes a difference tomorrow”.
There were no more safety cars, throughout a 61-lap race that has yet to be completed without one, but the different tyre strategies of the leading cars made for a tactical and exciting race on a circuit that offers very few overtaking opportunities. If we get a good start and if we get track position, we can control the race. “The aim was to be on the front row and it is nice to be in front of one of the Mercedes”.
“Already in the first lap, going into Turn one, something happened”, Vettel explained. “I don’t think we’re in a bad position but I’ll find out tomorrow for the first time”. “I get the impression that Lewis has come here and is a little out of sorts”. I think we’ve got all options open, which is good, because not all the teams have that.
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Mexican Sergio Perez was eighth for Force India with Russian Daniil Kvyat ninth for Toro Rosso.
