In a thrilling display of skill and perseverance, Lando Norris clinched victory at the Singapore Grand Prix, marking a significant milestone in his racing career. Starting from pole position, a feat he had not previously succeeded at in eight attempts, Norris held his lead into Turn 1 and maintained it by the end of the first lap.
Despite facing moments of uncertainty, particularly on Lap 45 when he had a close shave with the wall at Turn 10, Norris showcased his resilience by securing a final winning margin of 20.945 seconds. This victory further showcased his growth and potential as a formidable competitor in the world of Formula 1.
This win, however, still leaves Norris trailing 52 points behind Max Verstappen with six races and two sprint events remaining in the season. Nonetheless, it adds a significant achievement to his career, reflecting his consistency and capability on the track.
Oscar Piastri, who started in sixth position, also delivered an impressive performance by finishing third, demonstrating the depth of talent within the McLaren team. On the other hand, Daniel Ricciardo faced a challenging race, starting from a lower position and finishing 18th. Despite his placement, Ricciardo set the fastest lap on the race’s final circuit. However, he did not earn a bonus point as he did not finish in the top ten, a situation that inadvertently prevented Norris and McLaren from gaining a crucial bonus championship point.
Ricciardo's Strategies and Reflections
Ricciardo's late pit stop perhaps marked the final act of his Formula 1 career, a poignant moment underscored by the team's effort to allow him to savor it. Team principal Laurent Mekies explained, “Given this may have been Daniel's last race, we wanted to give him the chance to savor it and go out with the fastest lap.”
Reflecting on his career, Ricciardo expressed a sense of fulfillment despite not achieving the title of world champion. “I'm proud of the career. I tried to become world champion, I tried to become the best at something in the world,” he said. He elaborated on this sentiment, acknowledging the tough nature of the sport, “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.”
The race also highlighted underlying tensions within the Red Bull team, with suggestions that Ricciardo's departure might be part of a broader power struggle. Speculations have risen over his potential replacement with Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson. Christian Horner, commenting on the drivers’ performances, noted, “Well, 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.”
McLaren's Zak Brown commented on Ricciardo's strategic pit stop, pointing out potential issues in the sport. “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,” he said. Brown added, “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.”
As the Singapore Grand Prix came to a close, the acknowledgment of Ricciardo's possible last race was palpable among fans. Ricciardo himself noted the significance of being voted Driver of the Day, “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.”
Max Verstappen also offered kind words for Ricciardo, highlighting their positive relationship and Ricciardo's character, “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.”
The Singapore Grand Prix thus culminated with notable milestones and heartfelt farewells, setting the stage for the remaining races of the season, filled with both promise and reflection.