Singapore GP

Hamilton sings a winning tune in Singapore

McLaren-Mercedes World Champion Lewis Hamilton dominated the second SingTel Singapore Grand Prix to score his 11th. career win. The 24-year old started from pole position, his third in last four races, and held off challenges from Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel for his second win of the season.

Timo Glock was surprised to equal his career best finish in second place, the Toyota driver was 9.6s behind the race winner after starting from third row.

Fernando Alonso, sans sponsor ING, Mutua Madrilena and “Bic” was an impressive third for Renault, and also recorded the fastest lap of the race at 1:48.240. Winner here last year – courtesy of the infamous Crashgate conspiracy – the Spanish driver dedicated his podium finish to long time mentor and manager Flavio Briatore, who is now barred from Formula 1.

German wunderkind Sebastian Vettel was hoping to keep his championship hopes alive but a drive-thru penalty for speeding in the pit lane means he is now 25 points behind the championship leader after finishing fourth in the night race.

Jenson Button, who championship hopes were being unzipped by teammate Barrichello, finally managed to finish ahead of the Brazilian in fifth place, extending his lead to 15 points.

Finn Heikki Kovalained collected two additional points for McLaren-Mercedes by finishing seventh while Robert Kubica soldiered on for the final point in eighth place for BMW.

Williams driver Nico Rosberg ran strong and close second to Hamilton in the early stages, but screwed up an almost certain podium finish by crossing the line exiting the pit lane, inviting and serving a drive thru penalty.

Somewhere Nelson Piquet Jnr. and Luca Badoer are smiling and feeling not so bad thanks to lackluster performances again from their replacements, Grosjean and Fisichella respectively.

The 61-lap 2009 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix was round 14 of 17. Next race is at Suzuka in Japan on October 4th.

— Nasir Hameed