Nor was he the only world champion found wanting on the streets of Marina Bay. Lewis Hamilton was among a swathe of drivers caught out as these gladiators at the pinnacle of motor racing lumbered in ungainly style into the barriers under an unforgiving, floodlit glare.
Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez won the race with a commanding victory over Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc that served as a salutary reminder of how the track in treacherous, wet conditions could be tamed, in a race featuring a series of incidents prompting five interruptions by the safety and virtual safety car. It was Pérez’s fourth win and the best of his career, in that he mastered the slippery surface and fought off a race-long challenge from Leclerc. His victory hung in the balance for more than two hours afterwards for a safety-car infringement but the five-second penalty imposed did not deny him the place.
Yet what had caught the eye was behind him as many careered about the circuit with considerably less grace. Not least Verstappen, who put in what was comfortably the worst race of his season, a rollercoaster of charging up and falling back that ended with him managing only seventh.
The scale of just how far off his recent form he had been was evident as he sat slumped on the ground afterwards, apparently dumbfounded by a shocking day.
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin October 03, 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin October 03, 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Bentancur to get long ban over alleged racist remark
Tottenham are resigned to Rodrigo Bentancur being given a lengthy ban of at least six matches by the Football Association for making an allegedly racist remark about Son Heung-min.
Kane faces Carsley axe Shock as captain set to be left out for crunch Greece match
Harry Kane is set to be a shock omission from Lee Carsley's England team for tonight's must-win Nations League match against Greece in Athens.
Infantino to avoid scrutiny with virtual 2026 draw
Gianni Infantino will avoid any scrutiny of the controversial decision to give the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia next month after Fifa opted to stage the qualifying draw for the 2026 tournament as a virtual event.
Gordon heeds England's call as no-shows hinder Carsley
While a depleted side face tricky tests against Greece and Ireland, there will be big opportunities for some
Lawrence caps quick Chelsea comeback after Agnew's early strike
Chelsea's aspiration of claiming this season's Women's Champions League was hardly in danger as Murphy Agnew handed Celtic a shock lead.
Paul's big-money fight is a circus but the YouTuber is no clown
Despite the absurd persona, his business savvy and support of female fighters must be acknowledged
Tyson offers reminder of boxing's glory days before weary return
Former Baddest Man on the Planet is reflective but determined in open workout as he gears up for inglorious fight with YouTuber, reports
Lineker leaves second BBC presenting role
Gary Lineker has stepped down from his role as presenter of Sports Personality of the Year (Spoty), the BBC has confirmed.
Coe pulls no punches with his IOC pitch
Sebastian Coe has promised to introduce an \"uncompromising and clearcut\" policy to protect women's sport and to look into awarding prize money to all Olympic medallists if he is elected International Olympic Committee (IOC) president.
Slade vows 'not to shut up shop' against Springboks
England are looking to banish their autumn frustrations at South Africa's expense this Saturday and have vowed \"not to shut up shop\" against the reigning world champions.