Sergio Perez won a timed Singapore Grand Prix from Charles Leclercm but the win is provisional after a Formula 1 Safety Car infringement. The race was delayed by one hour due to a heavy rain shower at Marina Bay, with all drivers taking to the start on the green-walled Intermediate tyres. Perez took the chequered flag 6.1 seconds clear but faces a trip to the stewards for a possible restart infringement. At the start, Perez shot into the lead from second on the grid after a better launch than poleman Leclerc - as Carlos Sainz nudged past Lewis Hamilton for third place. In a race with multiple Safety Cars, only 14 drivers finished as Sainz completed the podium after a Hamilton error.
Latifi triggers Safety Cars
A lap incident between Nicholas Latifi and Zhou Guanyu at Turn 5 deployed the Safety Car, but not driver took the opportunity to pit for slicks as the track was not ready. After this restart, Perez and Leclerc readily built their lead over the pack as Sainz could not keep pace with Hamilton close behind. Verstappen - who hit anti-stall and fell to 12th at the start - quickly made progress, but was halted when coming up behind Fernando Alonso's Alpine for seventh place. Making his 350th start, Alonso proved stubborn, but an Alpine engine failure allowed Verstappen through on Lap 21 - with the #1 a pit-stop behind the race leader. Under this VSC, George Russell, who started from the pit lane switched to slicks, but was too early with nobody else once again tempted. Two-more quick-fire VSC followed for Alex Albon and Esteban Ocon, as Perez enjoyed a 4.5s lead over Leclerc at half-distance. On Lap 33, Hamilton hit the barrier at Turn 7 having locked up and damaged his front wing while chasing Sainz. He rejoined just ahead of Verstappen, as Pierre Gasly triggered the switch to slicks on Lap 34. Leclerc made this change to Mediums on Lap 35, but a slow stop meant Perez was still ahead when the Red Bull boxed next time around. However, during this period, Yuki Tsunoda hit the Turn 10 wall after locking up on his out-lap which deployed the Safety Car for a third time.
Verstappen error destroys race
It was under this restart that Perez was adjudged to have committed a Safety Car infringement, with a trip to the stewards required post-race. On the restart, under what was now a timed race, Verstappen tried to overtake Lando Norris - who benefited like McLaren teammate Daniel Ricciardo by pitting under the Tsunoda Safety Car. However the Red Bull driver locked up both front tyres and was forced to pit immediately for fresh Soft tyres. Up front, Perez and Leclerc cleared off with the Ferrari, with DRS now enabled, chasing the leader. He forced a couple of lock-ups from Perez, but was unable to find a way past, as Perez took the chequered flag eight seconds clear of Leclerc, with Sainz making it a Ferrari 2-3. Norris and Ricciardo were fourth and fifth on a good day for McLaren in their battle with Alpine for fourth, as Lance Stroll took sixth. Verstappen engaged in a late battle with fellow World Champions Sebastian Vettel and Hamilton - getting past both on his way to seventh. Pierre Gasly was the final points scorer in 10th for AlphaTauri.
Six non-finishers
Valtteri Bottas was 11th, ahead of the Haas duo of Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher. The final finisher, a lap down was, Russell who suffered a late puncture after contact with Schumacher. The retirements were Tsunoda, Ocon, Albon, Alonso, Latifi, and Zhou.
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