Yahoo Autos Sergio Perez keeps Singapore GP win despite penalty for safety car violation
Pérez wins dramatic race ahead of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz
Hamilton crashes into barriers but continues to ninth with six retirements in total
Verstappen drops back to last but fights back twice to finish seventh
What a crazy few days. Red Bull arrived in Singapore hoping to wrap up a second successive drivers’ title for Max Verstappen. Not only did they not achieve that objective, with Verstappen only able to finish seventh in a rain-affected, incident-filled race eventually won by his teammate Sergio Perez, they head to Japan this weekend sweating ever-so-slightly over his first.
After a long, torturous auditing process, the FIA, Formula One’s governing body, is on Wednesday due to hand out ‘certificates of compliance’ to those teams who passed the budget cap of $145million introduced last year.
The rumour that ripped through the Singapore paddock last weekend like the monsoon rain that delayed Sunday’s race start by over an hour, was that Red Bull were one of two teams to have breached the cap. Christian Horner remained defiant. Red Bull’s team principal tried to switch the focus to Perez’s win, which was finally confirmed at 2am local time, nearly three hours after the race had ended, due to a stewards’ investigation. And he repeated his threat to Mercedes, first made on Saturday, that they should retract any suggestion that his team had breached the cap or else face the consequences. “Absolutely,” Horner insisted when asked whether legal action remained a possibility. “We will consider all of our options. It was totally unacceptable to make a completely unfounded allegation. What is the source of this information?”
The truth is, though, it is going to be a nervous few days. If Red Bull are deemed to be in breach the narrative heading to Japan is very swiftly going to move on from what Verstappen needs to do to claim his second world title, to whether his first is now on the line. No one - not even Mercedes in their wildest dreams - seriously expects him to be stripped of it. But stranger things have happened. Who knows what an independent panel might decide? Particularly if the breach is material and/or there are any aggravating factors.
One thing is certain: it was a decidedly average birthday weekend for Verstappen. The Dutchman turned 25 on Friday and entered the weekend hoping for the sixth successive victory that might have yielded the title with five rounds to go. Instead, he saw his qualifying on Saturday ruined by a fuelling error which left him starting seventh, then his race ruined by a poor start which dropped him to 11th. Verstappen fought back but then locked up trying to pass McLaren’s Lando Norris, flat-spotting his tyre in the process. “It was just a very frustrating weekend,” he concluded. “We have five races left and a big lead, but I want to have good weekends every time. This one was really terrible. It started with Saturday’s big f--- up. I take zero delight in today. I will have other birthday weekends.”
Verstappen was not the only driver to suffer a frustrating weekend. Mercedes were hoping to compete for a first win of the season in Singapore but ended up having a shocker. Lewis Hamilton, starting third, had a poor start then pranged his car, smashing up his front wing. As he tried to fight back towards the finish he overcooked a corner attempting to overtake Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel for eighth, allowing Verstappen in turn to pass him. Hamilton ended up finishing ninth, describing it as “a pretty rubbish day”. “It all went out the fricking window when I locked up so my apologies to the team,” he added.
That was nothing. George Russell, who began the race from the pitlane, ended up being lapped twice after a gamble on an early switch to slick tyres backfired because the track was still too wet from the downpour.
Russell compounded that error by colliding with Mick Schumacher, suffering a puncture which dropped him to the back. He finished out of the points in 14th.
It was a crazy race all told. Initially pushed back by over an hour due to a torrential downpour, it involved no fewer than five safety cars - a combination of real ones and virtual ones - and was eventually timed out after three hours.
In the heat and humidity, Perez proved the coolest customer. The Mexican took the lead from Ferrari’s pole-sitter Charles Leclerc right at the start, and managed to keep calm through the mayhem.
With just a few minutes remaining, second-placed Leclerc, still within a couple of seconds of Perez, was told by Ferrari to try to stay within five seconds of the Mexican in case he should cop a five-second penalty for two counts of dropping too far behind the safety car. As it happens, that is exactly what Perez got, stewards eventually awarding him a five-second penalty and a reprimand at 1am. But since Perez had managed to carve out a 7.5sec lead by the finish, his victory was safe. Horner declared it the “best performance” of Perez’s career and his driver was inclined to agree. McLaren also had a superb day, Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo playing a canny game in amongst all the safety cars to finish fourth and fifth respectively.
So the title race rolls on to Suzuka this weekend where Verstappen will need to gain eight points on Leclerc and nine on Perez to clinch his second title. The big question, though, is whether his first will be back in play by then.
Singapore Grand Prix, as it happened
05:11 PM
We are still waiting to hear back from Sergio Perez's meeting with the stewards
He was only due to appear there 10 minutes ago, though, and you would expect it wouldn't be a quick in and out. These things often take a long time, though...
I will leave it there for now, though, but we will keep you posted on any potential race-changing penalty.
Thanks for joining me and stay tuned for more from us in the next day or two.
05:03 PM
In a very difficult season, this was a great result for Daniel Ricciardo
His best finish of the season and only his fifth top 10.
04:58 PM
Here's what Perez had to say after the race
It was my best performance, I controlled the race. The last few laps were so intense. I didn't feel it that much in the car but when i got out I felt it.... I gave everything for the win today. I have no idea what went on, they just told me that I was under investigation and to increase the gap and that is what we did. I think it's nicer for Max to get it [the title] in Japan.
04:56 PM
Hamilton reacts to a difficult day
Difficult to overtake, that lock up in turn seven. When those things happen your heart sinks a little bit. I tried to get past Seb [Vettel] but it was wet on the inside. Wasn't the greatest day but I am looking forward to tomorrow. My apologies to the team, but we live and we learn. I will recover.
04:48 PM
Verstappen speaks to Sky Sports
It's better than eighth but it's not what I'm here for. What we showed in practice, it's just incredibly messy.
04:46 PM
More from Horner
This team is a phenomenal team, it's the best team in the pit lane. We're incredibly proud of everything that's being achieved. This year could well be our best year in Formula One. Five to go and everything to play for [it would mean a lot] to bring these two championships home.
As a team it's just a fantastic performance. The Red Bull spirit and performance... we are a maverick team, we push the boundaries... but we're a team of racers.
04:42 PM
Christian Horner speaks to Sky Sports F1 on Perez's win
He settled himself into the race, he looked after those intermediate tyres. He was just always in control, super cool. He just couldn't shake off Charles. They were throwing everything at it. Checo - one wobble from Charles gave him that second break... super proud of him today. That's world-class. That's right up there. That's for sure his best victory and under massive pressure. Just super, super proud of him. He's done a wonderful job.
He describes it as a "tough" weekend for Verstappen.
04:33 PM
Perez will see the stewards at 4.55pm BST
For that SC infringement of not keeping within 10 car-lengths. Vettel did similar earlier in the year at the Canadian Grand Prix but was not punished, so mitigating factors can be taken into account. It is not black and white.
04:29 PM
Updated constructor standings
Six wins in a row for Red Bull now. It was a good chance for Ferrari today. Could Leclerc have done it had he kept the lead at the start? Probably. The top two were incredibly evenly matched in pace all day and miles ahead of anyone else.
04:26 PM
Updated driver standings - Top 10
Leclerc closes the gap to just 102 points, but Sergio Perez is only two points behind him now in the battle for second. Can probably discount Russell in that fight now?
04:23 PM
Carlos Sainz reacts to a distant but creditable third
I never really got into a rhythm in the wet and then I couldn't challenge with the top two guys. I had to settle for P3 and the good thing was I didn't do any mistakes. Good result for the team in the constructors' championship. It's crazy how long it takes here to dry. We keep doing laps and you keep looking at the track and the dry line doesn't appear in some places.
04:17 PM
Perez ended up finishing 7.595s ahead of Leclerc
So if he does get a five-second penalty for the SC infringement then he's fine. If it's 10 seconds then he's not.
Ferrari think he might get two five-second penalties for dropping more than 10 car lengths behind the SC.
George Russell gets the fastest lap, but doesn't get the bonus point because he finished 14th and last on the road.
04:14 PM
Singapore Grand Prix - Classification
PER
LEC
SAI
NOR
RIC
STR
VER
VET
HAM
GAS
BOT
MAG
MSC
RUS
OUT: TSU, OCO, ALB, ALO, LAT, ZHO
Verstappen did get Vettel on the last lap for seventh, making up one place on his starting position.
04:13 PM
SERGIO PEREZ WINS THE SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX
His fourth race win and an impeccable one, really. Just missed out on pole position and barely put a foot wrong in Sakhir. Street circuit master. Wins for Red Bull in Singapore, Monaco and Baku (in 2021).
"THIS IS HOW WE DO IT!" 💪
Sergio Perez produces what could be his best ever drive in Formula 1 and just listen to how happy he is! 😀 pic.twitter.com/e6LFxSm2pK— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) October 2, 2022
Max Verstappen has to wait to confirm his championship. A problematic weekend for him overall.
04:10 PM
FINAL LAP - Perez leads Leclerc by 6.4s
Smashed it, really. A couple of lock ups but this has been a very long afternoon that has required an extreme amount of concentration and poise.
Perez laps Russell for a second time...
04:09 PM
1 min to go - Hamilton drops behind Verstappen!
He was trying a move on Vettel but locked up, ran wide and let Verstappen through. Couldn't really slow it down on the damp line, there.
Vettel now leads Verstappen behind in eighth with Hamilton ninth.
04:08 PM
2 mins to go - Perez stretches his lead to 4.3s
Of course, who don't really know what the SC infringement is yet and the penalty - if any - may be more than five seconds. And he may not even get a penalty... it's a bit rubbish that it will be decided and announced after the race, podium celebrations and interviews etc. But there you go, that's F1.
04:06 PM
3 mins remain - Top 10
PER
LEC
SAI
NOR
RIC
STR
VET
HAM
VET
GAS
Good day for McLaren in their fight with Alpine (who have had two DNFs). Decent day for Aston Martin, too.
04:06 PM
5 mins remain - Perez leads Leclerc by 3.4s
It could get tasty between Verstappen and Hamilton shortly. Hamilton has now caught Vettel ahead of him. This is where the action is on track at the very end.
Perez might get that five-second buffer at this rate...
04:04 PM
7 mins remain - Verstappen right on the back of Hamilton... for eighth
Vettel is only 1.5s further up the road. Will probably be a struggle for Perez to reach the five-second buffer he might need. Leclerc has been told what Perez is up to, so they are both lapping quickly.
Russell came into the pits a couple of laps ago to switch to soft tyres. He can't get the fastest lap point unless he's in the top 10 so that's a bit odd. Not sure stopping Ferrari or Red Bull getting it really matters...
04:02 PM
8 mins remain - Perez with another fastest lap
Leclerc has had a few small moments in recent laps. The gap is three seconds.
04:00 PM
11 mins remain - Perez extends his lead to 2.5s
Horner says he doesn't understand why Perez has been called in front of the stewards. Verstappen now closing up on Hamilton for eighth. Verstappen on soft tyres, Hamilton on older mediums.
Perez has been told by his race engineer that he is under investigation for a SC infringement. They probably want him to build a potentially penalty-busting gap, probably. He sets the new fastest lap of the race to go three seconds ahead of Leclerc.
03:57 PM
13 mins remain - Verstappen gets Bottas for 10th
And then Gasly in short order for 9th. Needless to say he will not be winning the championship today if things stay as they are.
Meanwhile, and incredibly unsatisfactorily, Sergio Perez's SC potential infringement will be investigated after the race.
03:56 PM
14 mins remain - Top 10 and gaps
PER
LEC +1.7
SAI +12.1
NOR +14.8
RIC +33.2
STR +38.8
VET +41.5
HAM +42.5
GAS +47.6
BOT +48.8
Verstappen is within a second of Bottas for the final point of the race...
03:55 PM
15 mins remain - Perez leads Leclerc by 1.4s
Perez sets the fastest lap of the day which gives him a bit more breathing room.
"Schumacher defending like it's the race of his life, crikey..." is what Russell says on the radio. I don't blame him, his F1 future depends on it.
No word on that SC infringement from Perez.
03:53 PM
17 mins remain - Perez leads Leclerc by 1.5s
A few mistakes from Leclerc and he loses the best part of a second. That could cost him but there is still plenty of time left.
03:51 PM
20 mins remain - Perez locks up again!
The gap is just 0.3s as they cross the line to start lap 48. The gap to Sainz is now 10 seconds. Norris is 1.6s behind the Spaniard and Daniel Ricciardo 15 behind his team-mate. The two Aston Martins follow behind with Hamilton in eighth.
03:49 PM
21 mins remain - It's a big lock up from Perez into turn 14
Leclerc can't take advantage there, but he might be able to later...
Here's the top 10:
PER
LEC
SAI
NOR
RIC
STR
VET
HAM
GAS
BOT
The gap under a second almost at all points. Leclerc can't really get close enough to try a move, though.
The battle for the lead is hotting up 🔥
Leclerc is less than half-a-second behind Perez#SingaporeGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/utUK5L8HVt— Formula 1 (@F1) October 2, 2022
03:47 PM
22 mins remain - Leclerc closer than ever at turn seven...
No further investigation necessary for the Russell/Schumacher incident.
Perez clinging on for dear life here.
03:46 PM
24 mins remain - It's a drivability issue for Perez
The Mexican leads Leclerc by just 0.5s. DRS isn't a guaranteed overtake on this track as it is on some others.
Verstappen sets the fastest lap, but he's down in 12th, 44 seconds off leader Perez.
Leclerc locks up into turn 14 and loses a bit of time on exit.
03:43 PM
26 mins remain - Leclerc the fastest man on the track
Perez has a problem, he says. And DRS has been enabled.
Perez and Leclerc again by far the two fastest men on the track.
Can Perez hang on? I don't think so...
03:41 PM
28 mins remain - Leclerc harrying Perez for the lead
Mick Schumacher has come into the pits with a problem and comes back out... probably another puncture after that Russell incident.
03:40 PM
30 mins remain - Top 10 and gaps
PER
LEC +0.751
SAI +5.308
NOR +7.208
RIC +9.343
STR +13.533
VET +15.845
HAM +16.908
GAS +19.571
BOT +23.850
03:39 PM
32 mins remain - Perez noted for a SC infringement
Verstappen will be coming out right at the back of the pack...
What's this now? Russell is going slowly and has a right rear puncture. This is a race of high attrition and it has come to life recently after a slow start...
No idea what happened to Russell yet. It was a collision at turn one with Schumacher. Strange to see a puncture like that, it appeared to be tyre on tyre. Russell was up the inside.
03:37 PM
RACE RESTARTS!
Everyone on the medium slicks apart from Ricciardo and Bottas, who are on the soft slicks.
Max Verstappen is flying at the start! But he locks up massively deep into turn seven and goes straight on. He spin turns and rejoins in eighth... ahead of Hamilton. His tyres will surely be flat spotted. Yes.
LAP 40/61
Huge lock up from Verstappen!
He runs wide but gets going again but has to pit for new tyres #SingaporeGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/cuf7fxFXTH— Formula 1 (@F1) October 2, 2022
"I need to pit," he says. He was trying a move on Ricciardo. He had the move done pretty much, going up the inside, but just couldn't stop the car into the corner.
03:35 PM
Watch: Tsunoda's race-ending incident
What a hectic Singapore Grand Prix! 😮
It's race over for Yuki Tsunoda he goes into the barrier and we've got a full safety car! 🟡 pic.twitter.com/MAZmvV0NXA— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) October 2, 2022
The SC period is ending... the pack has bunched up as far as Vettel, really. Hamilton and a few others will probably end up joining that by the time the race restarts.
Just under 35 mins of racing to go, presuming there are no other major incidents.
Verstappen is worried about a tear off in the rear right brake duct. He asks his team to check the temperature.
03:33 PM
37 mins remain - Perez leads leclerc, Sainz and Norris
Christian Horner on Sky Sports says DRS should be activated.
03:32 PM
Lap 38 of 61 - Safety Car still out
The pack is closing up. Currently it goes back as far as Verstappen, with Ricciardo and Stroll about to join the end of the snake. The barriers are currently being repaired.
There are 24 laps left including this one but we will not get them all in. There are only 38 minutes left to run, which would be the two-hour race period.
03:29 PM
Watch: Hamilton goes into the barriers
Lewis Hamilton goes straight on and into the barriers! 😧
He's back on the track and slots in between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen! pic.twitter.com/WMwOUYy0nG— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) October 2, 2022
03:28 PM
Lap 37 of 61 - Perez did retain the lead and with seven seconds in his pocket
So that worked out well for the Mexican. McLaren bring Lando Norris in and surely Ricciardo will follow. Norris comes out in fourth but behind Sainz. Norris on slick mediums, Ricciardo on slick soft tyres.
Here's the top 10 under the SC:
PER
LEC
SAI
NOR
VER
RIC
STR
VET
HAM
GAS
03:25 PM
Lap 36 of 61 - Tsunoda in the barriers at turn 10!
He's gone in quite deep there...
Should they red flag this? They might need to repair the barrier here.
It's a full SC which works out very well for those who haven't stopped yet. I think. That's Norris and Ricciardo.
03:24 PM
Lap 35 of 61 - Perez now leads Sainz
I wonder how well this is going to work out for Leclerc...
It was a slow stop because he went beyond his marks.
Medium tyres out for Perez in the Red Bull garage. Can he rejoin in the lead? Sainz also comes in. Perez should be able to hang onto the lead now.
Norris stays out... in comes Verstappen.
03:22 PM
Lap 34 of 61 - AlphaTauri put Gasly onto the slicks
Russell is now setting the fastest sector times. Hamilton's front-wing end plate is very loose and is sparking on the ground. Verstappen isn't happy with it.
Hamilton just locked up, went straight on and couldn't get down the escape road in time and went into the barriers.
The time is definitely right for slicks now. I don't know why another backmarker didn't try this sooner...
Russell sets the fastest lap of the race.
Leclerc comes in but it's a slow stop.
LAP 35/61
A flurry of pit lane activity...
Leclerc pits - it's not the quickest stop
Hamilton changes his front wing
Meanwhile out on track, George Russell (still on slicks) is setting fastest laps! #SingaporeGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/S8JL0paaQa— Formula 1 (@F1) October 2, 2022
03:20 PM
HAMILTON IN THE WALL!
He goes straight on at turn seven! He's probably damaged his front wing quite badly...?
He reverses back onto the track and rejoins between Norris and Verstappen! His front wing doesn't look too bad... considering, but he will surely need to change it.
03:18 PM
Lap 33 of 61 - Perez leads Leclerc by 2.9s
Leclerc took 1.2s out of him the last time around... interesting. We have just reached half distance... this has been a loooong race already. Needs a bit of something to spice it up, for certain.
Verstappen gets onto the back of Norris in the final sector. It's still very wet off-line. Russell's last lap was only 2.2s off Perez's time.
If I was Tsunoda or Bottas I would be coming in for slicks in the next couple of laps.
03:16 PM
Lap 32 of 61 - Russell is still out there on the mediums
He has now been lapped. Not really working out for him this weekend, is it? The switch to the mediums was far too early.
03:15 PM
Lap 31 of 61 - Top 10 and gaps as VSC ends
PER
LEC +4.5
SAI +20.3
HAM +21.8
NOR +34.5
VER +34.9
GAS +44.2
VET +45.7
STR +51.3
RIC +58.8
03:14 PM
Lap 30 of 61 - The order under the VSC hasn't changed
Hamilton on the radio: "He just brake tested me."
Not sure about that. Hamilton was on the inside.
VSC ending... Verstappen loses time under the VSC, trying to anticipate the period ending but he is in danger of going over his delta time so has to back out and locks up.
"It was very dangerous," Verstappen says.
03:11 PM
Lap 29 of 61 - Albon came into the pits...
...but had to retire.
LAP 27/61
Williams try to get Albon back on track but there's too much damage.
After a heroic return to the track following appendicitis (+ complications) two weeks ago, Albon is out of the race #SingaporeGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/4an0iMWHy6— Formula 1 (@F1) October 2, 2022
VSC still ongoing but will be ending soon, I think. Hamilton is on Sainz's rear wing. Sainz struggling at the moment under racing conditions.
03:10 PM
Lap 28 of 61 - Ocon has now pulled to the side of the road
That brings out yellow flags. It's at turn 13. There's a lot of smoke but is that because he's stopped or is it the cause of the issue?Yeah, looks like it's coming out of the engine cover.
He is slowly, very slowly, trying to reverse. He confirms it's a failure so I assume he is trying to get it back towards the barriers and to make it easier for the marshals to move it from harm's way.
It's another VSC... and out come the mechanics in the pit lane. Perez and Leclerc both go through. Ferrari mechanics have some intermediate tyres on. I don't think that is the right call at this time. I don't think we're too far off slicks but it's not quite now. Sainz also goes around.
03:06 PM
Lap 27 of 61 - Perez leads Leclerc by 4.3s
The VSC has ended as they remove Albon's front wing from the barriers. Verstappen sets about harrying Norris for fifth.
Here's the top 10:
PER
LEC
SAI
HAM
NOR
VER
GAS
VET
STR
RIC
03:04 PM
Lap 26 of 61 - Albon in the wall!
He's gone into the barriers, nose-first, dislodging his barriers. He reverses out but his front wing stays there. Will this be another VSC as they need to get that front wing back.... Or full SC?
VSC deployed.
Slick tyre watchers: Russell's first sector was within a second of Perez's.
03:02 PM
Lap 25 of 61 - Russell's sector times looking a bit better now
Much better in sector one, only 1.3s the gap in S1 and two seconds in S2. I wonder if Vettel or Stroll might try something in the next two or three laps. They are both in the points, so maybe not. Schumacher, Magnussen, Albon to go to the softs?
03:00 PM
Lap 24 of 61 - Verstappen with the new fastest lap
Leclerc takes about 0.8s out of Perez that time around as the tyres come up to temperature.
Russell, on the mediums, is around 2.5s slower than the leaders in sector one and four seconds in sector two.
Perez then takes the FL point off his team-mate, provisionally.
02:58 PM
Lap 23 of 61 - VSC ends
Russell on the radio: "No grip," he says. He could well be coming back in to change to intermediates.
Perez leads Leclerc by 2.9s. Sainz leads Hamilton by just 0.8s.
Verstappen in sixth and now free of Alonso, who is out, sets the fastest first sector of the race.
Russell stays out. Let's see how much time he is going to lose... or not?
02:55 PM
Lap 22 of 61 - VSC period
In comes Russell... will he go onto slicks? Let's see. He wasn't making any progress. It is slicks. Mediums...
Okay, let's keep an eye on this. He nearly loses the rear end and goes into the barriers on the exit of the pits.... but keeps it going. Verstappen is told of this and calls him brave.
02:54 PM
Lap 21 of 61 - Third race distance reached
Unfortunately it has not been a remotely eventful race.
Fernando Alonso has stopped somewhere off the track... it's an engine issue, he says. That could well be another full Safety Car. Or at least a VSC.
LAP 22/61
Oh no! 💔
In his 350th race Fernando Alonso reports engine issues and is out of the race 😖
⚠️ VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR ⚠️#SingaporeGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/6X2tfcgUDp— Formula 1 (@F1) October 2, 2022
It is a VSC.
Pit stops will be taken here, for certain. Will anyone dive onto the slicks? It would be bold.
