Race: Rosberg holds off Ricciardo for Singapore win

Safety Car, brake management and tyre strategy all played a part in Sunday’s Singapore GP, a race won by Nico Rosberg as he took the lead in the Drivers’ Championship.

Pole sitter Rosberg made a great start as he stormed into P1 on the ultrasoft tyres ahead of Daniel Ricciardo, on the supersofts, and Lewis Hamilton on the ultras.

They had to do it all over again two laps later as there was an early Safety Car for Nico Hulkenberg’s accident at the start.

Sandwiched by the two Toro Rossos, there was contact with Carlo Sainz that put Hulkenberg into the pit lane wall, and out of the race.

Back underway Rosberg set about building up an advantage over Ricciardo, while Hamilton was slowly dropped by the leading duo.

By lap 9 brakes came into play with Rosberg told “this is serious, we need brake management” while a lap later Hamilton heard “we really need to get on top of these front brakes.”

As the leaders’ tyre strategy played out Rosberg was ahead by 23.8s when Ricciardo pitted for the fourth and final time, swapping to the supersofts.

But with just 12 laps to go Mercedes opted not to cover the Red Bull racer’s strategy and kept Rosberg out on his soft tyres.

Lap after lap …

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