Disappointments

Fernando Alonso and Jensen Button where able to use the lower speed of the Marina Bay circuit to their McLaren-Honda’s advantage to whittle down the gap to the front. It all went for naught as they both falling to finish, this time due to gearbox failures. It was the team’s fourth double elimination this season, and for the first time in a single F1 season in 20 years.

Equally disappointing was the rumour gaining strength that Button may call an end to his 16-year career in Japan. One of F1’s most inspirational and genuinely good people, Button, it seems, has decided to take charge of his exit himself due to Honda’s power unit failures and the resultant income shortfall for the McLaren team.

Word of the race

Max Verstappen remains in this spotlight at Singapore for both his driving and his words. Verstappen’s Marina Bay passes were reminiscent of world champion grit. He seems to overtake in places where other drivers have forgotten that one could overtake. Allowed just an instant to make a move, Verstappen is always looking for his nose to be between his opponents and a corner’s apex. Unexpectedly, his youthful ferocity also extends to holding up under questionable tactics. Near the end, Toro Rosso’s race engineers ordered Verstappen to let teammate Sainz, and his fresher tires, past so he could try to overtake Sergio Perez.

Verstappen simply answered, “No”.

Post race inquiries to team boss Franz Tost about the incident led him to admit the team made a mistake…Verstappen was correct to hold his place.