2014 Singapore F1 GP: Hamilton Takes Championship Lead With Dramatic Win

Lewis Hamilton sailed into the lead of the driver's world championship as the Briton capitalised on the failure of Nico Rosberg to finish the race. 

In a marathon two hour time limited race, strategies were thrown out the window by an ill-timed safety car that dragged on for six laps.

Daniel Ricciardo finished third, dragging his Red Bull through the race with multiple technical problems keeping him from the fight for second.

PRACTICE AND QUALIFYING

Sebastian Vettel's continuing bad luck struck again in Singapore with an oil pressure problem robbing him of one of his five "free" engines. While his team didn't have to fit a sixth engine for the race, it won't be far away.

Ferrari were the surprise package around the street circuit in practice with Alonso and Raikkonen both figuring strongly. 

Red Bull took a while to get going but Ricciardo led Vettel in practice and qualifying to end P3 for the start.

The threat of an on-form Raikkonen faded along with his software which prevented the Finn from completing his final run for pole. He ended up seventh while Alonso managed fifth. 

Hamilton just beat a frustrated Rosberg to pole by just seven thousdanths of a second, despite locking up into turn one.

Romain Grosjean's valiant attempt to make it into Q3 failed and he let his team know how terrible he thinks his Renault power unit is. The FIA haven't yet got around to banning this type of radio transmission.

 

RACE

Rosberg's qualifying frustration got even worse before the race as he reported a problem with his gearbox on his way out to the grid.

He returned to his garage for some rapid repairs, including two steering wheel change, and was able to take his place on the number one spot.

The team weren't confident the problem was fixed and they were right - he was unable to get his car moving.

We were treated to the strange sight of him winding his steering wheel from lock-to-lock as the field streamed by. He was pushed into pitlane.

Poor Kamui Kobayashi didn't get much further in his Caterham, his car expiring at turn eight on the parade lap.

The grid formed minus Roberg and Kobayashi. Vettel and Alonso got great starts, both getting past Ricciardo. While Vettel monstered Ricciardo,