F1 Singapore GP news: Lando Norris breaks pole jinx; Daniel Ricciardo bids farewell
McLaren driver Lando Norris left his title rival Max Verstappen in the dust as he won from pole position by a margin of 21 seconds at the Marina Bay Street Circuit on Sunday.
Off the track, Red Bull driver Verstappen has been involved in an ongoing battle with the FIA after he was punished by them for swearing in a press conference on Thursday.
Verstappen’s former team-mate, Daniel Ricciardo, brought a smile to his face when he snatched an extra point away from British star Norris by setting the fastest lap in what could be his last race in Formula 1.
After an extremely humid Singapore Grand Prix, Sports News Blitz’s F1 writer Harry Whitfield takes a look at some of the biggest talking points from the race weekend.
Lando Norris finally leads opening lap from pole
After five attempts, Norris finally held onto his lead after the opening lap when starting from pole position in his red-hot McLaren.
After holding off any challenge from three-time world champion Verstappen, he increased his gap lap by lap, and despite two nervy collisions with the barriers, he comfortably held onto the victory.
It was only the second time Norris had won after starting from P1, the first being his dominant display at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort.
It was a curse that was haunting the British driver, but now he can forget all about it and focus on hunting down Verstappen in the drivers’ standings.
The 24-year-old’s third win of the season reduced the gap in the championship to 52 points, with six grand prixs left.
However, the result means the Dutchman can finish second behind the McLaren driver in all of the remaining races and still win the championship.
READ MORE: F1 analysis: Why McLaren star Oscar Piastri is the future of Formula 1
Max Verstappen continues to oppose the FIA
Staying on Verstappen, he used an expletive when describing his car’s performance in Baku, but the FIA determined that he was under no pressure to use any expletives and therefore ordered the 26-year-old to ‘accomplish some work of public interest’ because of his actions.
In response to the sanction, Verstappen refused to elaborate or give any detailed answers in press conferences after the incident.
He even suggested answering questions from the media outside of the FIA press conference room.
Norris and Lewis Hamilton shared Verstappen’s frustrations as the Mercedes driver said he wouldn’t accept the punishment if it was he who had sworn in the news conference.
The protesting continued in the post-race press conference where the current world champion suggested that this censorship from the FIA could force him to quit the sport early.
"These kinds of things definitely decide my future as well, when you can’t be yourself or you have to deal with these kinds of silly things," he said.
Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 exit imminent before US Grand Prix
Heading into the Singapore GP, rumours suggested that it was Ricciardo’s last chance to prove he deserves a seat in F1.
This is why, after finishing in P18, it feels like his fate has already been sealed as the Australian was in tears in the media pen after the race.
The 35-year-old was applauded with a guard of honour from guests at RB as he returned to the team’s hospitality building.
Although there is no official confirmation, Ricciardo admitted after the race that it could be the last time he races in F1, as he continued to reflect on the last 13 years.
However, the eight-time grand prix winner went out in style as the team allowed him to pit before the end of the race for a set of soft tyres and set the fastest lap of the race.
The fans, who felt it was the last time they’ll ever see him race in F1, voted him as the Driver Of The Day as they showed their final appreciation for Ricciardo.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: F1 news: Three of the most memorable Singapore Grand Prix races
