Vettel WINS the Singapore Grand Prix in a Ferrari 1-2

Sebastian Vettel wins the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix in a Ferrari one-two with Leclerc finishing second. Lewis Hamilton only finished fourth.

Despite expectations that Ferrari would struggle to repeat their last two Grand Prix wins at Singapore, qualifying saw Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc take pole and give himself an almost guaranteed win on a track that hugely favours pole sitters.

In fact, Leclerc managed to finish second, but second to team mate Sebastian Vettel who managed to take the lead after an early pit stop, much to Leclerc’s consternation.

Ferrari’s strategy to pit Vettel early proved to be a masterstroke (or luck) deigned to get him out in front of Hulkenberg, and was contrary to the leaders at the time – Leclerc and Hamilton – managing pace to preserve their tyres for later pit stop.

Ferrari then pitted Leclerc a lap later, but he came out behind Vettel, with both drivers then making their way through slower traffic – Vettel more effectively than Leclerc.

Ferrari were still prone to Hamilton gaining an advantage by pitting later and having fresher tyres as the race concluded, but three safety cars put paid to that and the Ferraris made it home in front.

But Mercedes late stop left Hamilton behind Verstappen and, at the end, it was Verstappen who finished third with Hamilton and Bottas following and Albon in sixth.

The best of the rest saw Norris drive his McLaren in to seventh, Gasly in the Toro Rosso in eighth, Grosjean in the Haas in ninth and Giovinazzi in the Alfa in the last points place.