NORRIS' WIN SHOWS TITLE CREDENTIALS

Briton in control from start to finish, cuts Verstappen's lead in drivers' c'ship to 52pts

- Deepanraj Ganesan

In the heat of the cauldron that is the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Lando Norris displayed his credentials to be a future world champion by registering a dominant win on Sept 22 at the Formula One Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, where McLaren reigned supreme for the first time since 2009.

The papaya orange-clad McLaren driver punched the air in delight as he emerged from his car after a comfortable victory over world champion and championship leader Max Verstappen in a 62-lap drama-free race - which included the lack of a safety car for the first time in Singapore.

As fireworks lit up the Marina Bay skyline, Norris took the chequered flag in 1hr 40min 52.571sec, finishing a whopping 20.945 seconds ahead of Verstappen and 41.823sec ahead of McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.

Mercedes' George Russell held off Ferrari's Charles Leclerc for fourth while Lewis Hamilton, who has enjoyed success here previously, finished sixth. Ferrari's Carlos Sainz recovered from his qualifying crash to take seventh while Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso finished eighth. Haas' Nico Hulkenberg was ninth while Red Bull's Sergio Perez completed the top 10.