Lando Norris dominated the Singapore Grand Prix to take a further chunk out of Max Verstappen’s advantage in the championship.
Verstappen, who finished a distant second in his Red Bull, is now 52 points ahead of the Briton with a maximum of 180 available over the remaining six races.
But Norris was deprived of an extra point by Daniel Ricciardo, after Red Bull’s junior team RB fitted soft tyres with a lap to go so the Australian could take the fastest lap from the Briton on the final tour.
Norris’ McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri finished third from fifth on the grid, passing both Mercedes drivers on track after a later pit stop.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc looked like he might do the same as he fought back from his ninth place on the grid, but after passing Lewis Hamilton, George Russell held off the Ferrari when it caught him in the closing laps to take fourth, from Leclerc and Hamilton.
Ricciardo’s fastest lap not only helped out Verstappen in the championship, but may have been a last hurrah for the popular eight-time winner.
There is speculation that Ricciardo might be dropped in favour of Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson before the next race, the United States Grand Prix, in Austin, Texas, from 18-20 October.
