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Fernando Alonso staged a stunning recovery to secure a historic victory at an action-packed Singapore Grand Prix.
The two-time world champion started Formula One's first night race 15th on the grid after fuel feed problems brought an end to his qualifying campaign in the second session yesterday. But the Renault driver produced a superb performance to secure his first win of the year.
Williams' Nico Rosberg finished second while Lewis Hamilton took third for McLaren to increase his lead in the drivers' championship to seven points.
The victory was just reward for Alonso after dominating two of the three practice sessions prior to the race. And the 27-year-old was naturally delighted with the win. "It was fantastic," he said. "I can't believe it and I think I need a couple of days to realise we have won a race."
But the race was a disastrous one for Ferrari as Felipe Massa could only finish 13th having started the race on pole while Kimi Raikkonen suffered a crash late on. The Brazilian had started the race superbly, streaking ahead of Hamilton straight away, but his hopes of a podium finish came to a disappointing end on lap 18.
Massa entered the pit lane but was then shown the green light while the fuel hose was still attached. He injured a member of his crew as he moved away before mechanics struggled to remove the hose to allow him to rejoin the race.
Raikkonen, meanwhile, suffered heartbreak late on when he launched from the second kerb on turn ten and was unable to recover sufficiently before ploughing into the wall.
Toyota's Timo Glock finished fourth while Sebastian Vettel followed up his Italian Grand Prix victory with a fifth place in his Toro Rosso. BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld finished sixth, Red Bull's David Coulthard took seventh while Kazuki Nakajima of Williams finished eighth.
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Well Lewis - you only have to finish second now in every remaining race.... Let Massa win and drive sensibly!
Andrew, Cambridge,
Alonso + Ferrari = dream team
Blas Parejo, Montijo, Spain
Karma wins!
Hary, Sydney,
It is clear Bernie is only interested in money, Singapore may well be a fantastic city and the people may be very nice, they did work hard but lets face it the track is boring. One question had any of the crashed cars caught fire where were the fire marshalls? Thank goodness Moto G P was on the box.
Steve, Sheffield,
I'm both a Hamilton AND Alonso fan - they are the only two drivers worthy of the World Champion title.
I'm surprised that Massa was given a different penalty for the same offence he did at Valencia - how can the stewardship of F1 stand up to scrutiny?
Good to see Team Willy up there too.
Richard Williams, London, UK
Yet again a Ferrari is released straight into the path of another car in the pitlane, only this time they manage to spray fuel everywhere too. Those caught on low tanks with the safety car get stop-n-go, but Massa only gets a drive-thru... Brilliant recovery from Lewis, here comes the championship!
Alastair Johnson, Alicante, Spain
Bravo Fernando - a well deserved win. So unlucky in quali 2 on Saturday but today it all worked out just right.
I laughed out loud when Kimi stuffed it in the wall - does his car have a magnetic attraction to walls? And Ferrari really have to get rid of those refuelling pit stop lights.
Emmy MacLaren, Glasgow, Scotland
Well done done Fernando!!
Good luck smiles at night!!!!!!
xeron, cardiff,
It's pointless to say there are so many drivers the equal of Hamilton, as the sport is not just about driving.
You have to factor in ambition, convincing the right people at the right time that you can do the job, persistence, and the team chemistry. Maybe anyone could do it.. but they didn't!
iain, bedford, uk
Ferrari needs a winner driver. Felipe and Kimi not are really winners, they commit too many wrongs. Fernado is the man.
Coke, Cádiz, Spain
As usual, Hamilton plays safe...What a disappointment
EKCAL, Manchester, UK
Not even the FIA can fix this one up for Ferrari (I hope).
Karma for sure!
iain, whangarei, new zealand
the FIA and the stewards have to seriously look at Ferrai's lack of safety !!
peter maidment, cornillon, france
Hamilton win the championship, Ferrari drivers are very bad. Incredible that a team from this category have these pilots
Tony, S Agnes,
The biggest bore ever. Why have a race where it is almost impossible for anyone to pass? Street races,BORING!!!!
tony freeman, tampa, usa
A lottery. Massa dominated Q3 for pole; the race until the 1st Safety Car hold-up; Hamilton in 2nd but unable to hold him, but a great 2nd place. Massa was given the green light - end of story. Renault & Alonso got it right in those circumstances. No Thank You to this circuit - I want overtaking.
Keith Dixon, Calgary, Canada
John Oliver must have not watched the race, since Alonso overtook some cars before the appearance of the Safety Car, after which he was fifth, and not first.
Igor, Pamplona, Spain
Alonso was The Man yesterday. After topping the bill until his unfortunate NQ in Q2, Renault planned the best possible strategy. He surely deserved winning his 20th GP, no matter the SC collaboration, as in any case he has been driving consistently ahead of everybody else under the Singapore night.
Johnny, Madrid,
Retribution!!
Andrew, London,
Sadly the report does not mention that the key reason why Alonso was able to move from the position of 15th, where he had languished for sometime, was the consequences of the introduction of the chase car following an accident. Rosberg also benefited significantly.
But what a race and what a venue.
John Oliver, Saltspring Island, Canada
I disagree entirely the race commentators about the Singapore GP as a great visual spectacle. It may have been great if you were watching from the Press box, but on TV it was like watching a race through a dull grey tunnel of walls and road. With day races, you get the full ambience.
Ken Taylor, Banbury,
Alonso is back. Great win, absolutelly deserved. He has shown the brilliant driver he is.
Clarck D, Madrid,
Well done Alonso ,but even better for me well done Lewis. I think we all saw the true meaning what goes around comes around today. A 14 point cushion would have been preferable but fingers crossed anyway. Go make us britts proud son
Dane, Valencia, Spain
Imagine what this guy can do with his hands on a Ferrary's?
Bp, Miami, USA
Fernando wins the race,Lewis increases his lead in the Drivers Championship...I think that I can live with that...
Ita, Calabar, Nigeria
Alonso wins the race and Gorman had a case of the runs. Fantastic weekend all round.
Richard, Vitoria, Spain
Well done Alonso - a brilliant drive. What a cock-up Ferrari's pit-stop light system is - very dangerous. I noticed that the lollipop reappeared on the next pit-stop, and I hope that they stay with it. Some natural justice today with Ferrari scoring no points following the Spa appeal fiasco.
Simon Brock, Hong Kong,
Well done Alonso!!. Well done Lewis for keeping a cool head. Bad luck Ferrari, this is the second time in 3 races that their drivers have driven dangerously in the pit lane, but only the first time they have been 'punished'. Nothing to do with furore over the last GP, is it??.
pip, birmingham, uk
Where are Ferraris drivers? Where is Ferraris team? Alonso go to Ferrari, please.
Angel Lago Villar, Seville, spain
With both Ferraris failing to finish there has to be a case for giving a retrospective 25 second penalty to Hamilton, surely he was to blame.
Andy, Chester,
Any late decisions from the stewards yet?
Pete, Edinburgh,
Hamilton was very, very lucky to come out of what followed the first safety car incident. Ferrari's lack of pit stop professionalism cost both of their better drivers the podium ...and maybe the driver's and constructer's championship titles. Many of the young guys are at least the equal of LH.
Melaragni, London,