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VETTEL WINS FIRST RACE OF SEASON

Sebastian Vettel has won his first Grand Prix in over 12 months - Photo: LAT

By Bruce Williams

Sebastian Vettel has won his first Grand Prix in over 12 months - Photo: LAT

Sebastian Vettel has won his first Grand Prix in over 12 months – Photo: LAT

SEBASTIAN VETTEL won a fascinating Singapore Grand Prix to take his fifth victory at the venue and first win in over 12 months.

The German gave Ferrari its third straight race victory this season and the first 1-2 of 2019 as he was followed by his teammate Charles Leclerc across the line.

Vettel beat home Leclerc by 2.6s in a safety car interrupted Grand Prix, with Red Bull racing driver Max Verstappen rounding out the podium.

Neither Mercedes featured on the podium - Photo: Suttons

Neither Mercedes featured on the podium – Photo: Suttons

The Mercedes pair of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas finished in fourth and fifth with the second Red Bull Racing driver Alexander Albon rounding out the top six.

Vettel sat third during the duration of the first stint but was first of the leaders to stop in an attempt to overtake Hamilton, this aggressive strategy resulted in him overtaking his teammate also.

Mercedes and Hamilton realised they had lost the place to Vettel and stopped late in an attempt to catch and overtake the leaders in the finals laps on fresher tyres, however this did not come to fruition.

Lando Norris was the best of the rest - Photo: LAT

Lando Norris was the best of the rest – Photo: LAT

McLaren driver Lando Norris was the best of the rest in seventh, the young Briton holding off Toro Rosso driver Pierre Gasly in the closing laps.

Renault driver Nico Hulkenberg finished the race ninth ahead of Antonio Giovinazzi who led a Formula 1 race for the first time.

Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo, who was disqualified from qualifying for a technical infringement, made his way up through the field but suffered a puncture due to contact with Giovinazzi and came home 14th.

Romain Grosjean, Carlos Sainz and Lance Stroll finished ahead of the West Australian with former teammate Daniil Kvyat, Robert Kubica and Kevin Magnussen rounding out the 17 finishers.

The next race is the Russian Grand Prix which will take place next weekend.

Formula 1 – Singapore Grand Prix – Results

Pos Num Driver Car Laps Time/Retired
1 5 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 61 1:58:33.667
2 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 61 +2.641
3 33 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing Honda 61 +3.821
4 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 61 +4.608
5 77 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 61 +6.119
6 23 Alexander Albon Red Bull Racing Honda 61 +11.663
7 4 Lando Norris McLaren Renault 61 +14.769
8 10 Pierre Gasly Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda 61 +15.547
9 27 Nico Hulkenberg Renault 61 +16.718
10 99 Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari 61 +17.855
11 8 Romain Grosjean Haas Ferrari 61 +35.436
12 55 Carlos Sainz McLaren Renault 61 +35.974
13 18 Lance Stroll Racing Point BWT Mercedes 61 +36.419
14 3 Daniel Ricciardo Renault 61 +37.660
15 26 Daniil Kvyat Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda 61 +38.178
16 88 Robert Kubica Williams Mercedes 61 +47.024
17 20 Kevin Magnussen Haas Ferrari 61 +86.522
NC 7 Kimi Räikkönen Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari 49 DNF
NC 11 Sergio Perez Racing Point BWT Mercedes 42 DNF
NC 63 George Russell Williams Mercedes 34 DNF

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