F1: Ten Glorious Years of Singapore Grand Prix

#5 2013: A Fernando Alonso Masterclass

The ride back to pits

Yes, Fernando Alonso finished the race second; but the lingering memories from the weekend were of the Spaniard’s brilliant drive from P7 to finish P2, and he giving a ride back to the pits for Red Bull’s Mark Webber, which was duly reprimanded later for obvious reasons.

In a weekend, where Red Bull christened RB9 once again proved its mettle on high downforce tracks, there was no one to stop the marauding Red Bull of Sebastian Vettel.

Challengers fizzled out as early as lap 1, when Nico Rosberg starting from second on the grid, edged ahead on turn one but to run wide in turn two to give the lead back to Vettel who built a 5.6 seconds lead in the first three laps.

From thereon, Vettel controlled the race masterly until the chequered flag. Safety car period because of the crash of Daniel Ricciardo’s Toro Rosso did not bother the German that he could still finish the race 32 seconds ahead of the second placed car. This was the German’s third victory in a row at this bumpy street circuit.

The last few laps were electrifying as close battles unfolded between the drivers who opted to stay out (likes of Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton) during a mid-race safety-car but made their final pit stops later and those who stopped during safety car period (likes of Fernando Alonso).

Nico's chance

Romain Grosjean, who impressed during the free practice and qualifying had to retire with engine air pressure when he was sniffing at a possible podium place. Consolation for Lotus was his teammate Kimi who finished third, after making his way up gradually from 13th place on the grid.

Behind Vettel, Alonso, and Kimi Raikkonen, the top ten include Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton, Felipe Massa, Jenson Button, Sergio Perez, and Adrian Sutil.