Hamilton singing in Singapore rain as Vettel crashes out
LEWIS HAMILTON’S hopes of winning this year’s Formula One championship were dealt a seismic boost in Singapore after he benefited from rival Sebastian Vettel’s first-lap crash with Max Verstappen and Kimi Raikkonen to storm to victory. Hamilton, who started only fifth and had claimed that he needed a miracle to win, led every lap of a chaotic race which saw the safety car deployed on three occasions. The British driver crossed the line 4.5 seconds clear of Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, with Valtteri Bottas completing the podium, to move 28 points clear of Vettel with just six races remaining. The race under the floodlights of the Marina Bay circuit had been billed as a must-win for Vettel given that the twisty, slow-speed track suited his Ferrari car. But after getting the job done here in qualifying on Saturday night, he was then involved in what is likely to be the defining smash of the year. Following a deluge of rain 15 minutes before the start, Vettel moved to his left to cover off Verstappen, and a fast-starting Raikkonen. Raikkonen, tight against the pit wall, surged ahead of Verstappen, but at 120mph his right rear tyre made contact with Verstappen’s front left, and he was sent out of control before thudding into the side of his Ferrari team-mate. As Raikkonen and Verstappen came to a sudden halt at turn one – colliding with an unfortunate Fernando Alonso in the process – Vettel managed to keep his Ferrari on the straight and narrow. But on the exit of turn three, and with significant damage to his car, the German lost control and crashed into the wall. Hamilton surged past Vettel and took the lead of the race. The safety car was issued to deal with the stricken Ferrari and Red Bull cars, and it returned again, when Daniil Kvyat crashed out on lap 11, and then again on lap 38 after Marcus Ericsson spun on the Anderson Bridge. But Hamilton kept his cool to not only remain in charge of the championship but extended his lead to more than a single victory. Vettel will know that his chances of stopping Hamilton march on to the title have taken a significant hit. Hamilton, naturally, was in ebullient form after the race. ‘Guys, what can I say?’ he said over the team radio. ‘What a turnaround. Thanks for believing in me.’