Vettel wins for the first time in 2019

Sebastian Vettel who has four world titles and 53 wins, won the Singapore Grand Prix a year after his win in Belgain Grand Prix on 26 September 2018. Sebastian Vettel beats team-mate Charles Leclerc.

Ferrari’s idea in pitting Vettel was to hopefully get him ahead of Hamilton and at the same time to ensure the German could emerge in clear air in a gap ahead of Nico Hulkenberg’s Renault, which was going quickly on fresh tyres after an early incident and behind Lance Stoll’s racing point. They stopped Leclerc a lap later, expecting him to emerge still in lead, only to see Vettel in front. The undercut bought Vettel 3.5 seconds when normally it would be more like one or two. Ferrari’s strategy was successful, as it turned a one-three into a one-two.

Mercedes staring second and fifth finished fourth and fifth as Hamilton’s tyres did not last long enough to keep him out as long as they wanted.

Ferrari’s one-two came very much against expectations, as they introduced a major aerodynamic upgrade for this race, and it certainly worked.

Results

 

Pos         Driver                             Car                                          Time               Pts

1          S Vettel                           Ferrari     ♯5                              1.58:33.667  25

2         C Leclerc                        Ferrari     ♯16                             +2.641s        18

3          M Versatappen          Red Bull     ♯33                           +3.821s         15

4          L Hamilton                 Mercedes    ♯44                          +4.608s        12

5         V Bottas                        Mercedes ♯77                              +6.119s         10

6        A Albon                          Red Bull ♯23                                +11.663s        8 

7        L Norris                         McLaren ♯4                                 +14.769s        6

8       P Gasly                           Toro Rosso♯10                            +15.547s         4

9      N Hulkenberg               Renault  ♯27                                  +16.718s        2

10    A Giovinazzi                 Alfa Romeo♯99                            +27.855s         1