2017 Singapore Grand Prix

Lore & Background

The race was won by Mercedes's Lewis Hamilton who took the lead on the first lap following a significant collision between Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen and Kimi Räikkönen. Daniel Ricciardo finished second with Valtteri Bottas taking third. This result increased Hamilton's lead in the Drivers' Championship to 28 points and increased Mercedes's lead in the Constructors' standings to 102 points.

In Their Own Story

The humid Singapore night pressed down on Marina Bay as the engines screamed into life. Red lights blazed, then vanished. Hamilton dove for the inside line, but Vettel’s front wing clipped the Mercedes’ flank with a sickening crunch of metal against carbon fiber. The Ferrari spun violently—a crimson blur careening directly into his teammate Räikkönen—while smoke and shredded rubber choked the air. In seconds, two title contenders were grounded in a heap of twisted alloy. From the cockpit, Max Verstappen saw only chaos unfolding ahead. He braced, held his line with steely precision, and surged through the fractured gap as the field imploded behind him.

Reader's Guide

Rainfall prior to the race start meant that the race would be the first night-time Grand Prix staged under wet conditions in Formula One history. Despite this, the race was started under normal racing conditions without the safety car as per 2017 rule changes. At the start, Räikkönen had an excellent start compared to his teammate Vettel and Verstappen of Red Bull. Verstappen ended up sandwiched between Vettel and Räikkönen with nowhere to go. Verstappen's tyres touched Räikkönen's car, which went out of control and he hit left sidepod of his teammate Vettel's car, causing significant damage to both. His car then slid forward into turn 1, where it hit Verstappen's car yet again, causing the Red Bull car to collide with Fernando Alonso's car. This resulted in the immediate retirement of both Räikkönen and Verstappen. Vettel was initially able to continue despite noticeable damage, followed by Hamilton, who had a good start with Ricciardo behind. However, Vettel soon spun due to the damage and subsequently retired. Alonso retired on lap 9. The collisions on the opening lap brought out a safety car that led the field until lap 4. This marked the first occasion in Formula One history when both Ferraris were eliminated on the opening lap. At the restart Lewis Hamilton continued to lead, followed by Daniel Ricciardo in second and Nico Hülkenberg in third. Hamilton then was able to pull away and establish a comfortable lead over Ricciardo. There were two further safety car periods over the course of the race. One on lap 11, after Daniil Kvyat crashed at turn 7, and one on lap 38 after Marcus Ericsson spun. Bottas managed to get up to third and Carlos Sainz to fourth after the first safety car period as those on full wets ahead of them pitted for inters, the tyres Bottas and Sainz were already on. Hamilton was again able to get away well at both restarts. Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hülkenberg – from 4th position after passing Sainz in the second safety car period – would both retire later in the race with mechanical issues. Hamilton won the race from Ricciardo, and Valtteri Bottas took the final podium place, while Sainz achieved his then career-best finish of 4th place. Jolyon Palmer came home in 6th place for his first points finish of the season, on the same weekend it was announced he would be replaced by Sainz at the end of the season. The drivers did not complet

Did You Know?

• The race was the first night-time Grand Prix staged under wet conditions in Formula One history.
• Both Ferraris were eliminated on the opening lap for the first time in Formula One history.
• Jolyon Palmer scored his first points of the season in 6th place on the same weekend it was announced he would be replaced by Sainz at the end of the season.
• Carlos Sainz achieved his then career-best finish of 4th place.