Singapore Grand Prix report, times, F1 standings, betting news and more as Lewis Hamilton extends his lead in the Drivers' Championship

Singapore Grand Prix: The Podium

1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)

Scroll down for full classification

In Brief

Lewis Hamilton claimed an unexpected and potentially decisive victory in the Singapore GP to increase his championship lead to 28 points after Sebastian Vettel spectacularly crashed out.

Polesitter Vettel was involved in a dramatic start-line accident involving Max Verstappen and Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen which eliminated all three drivers on a wet and treacherous circuit.

The incident, which Verstappen has squarely blamed on Vettel, is being investigated by stewards after the race. However, Ferrari have blamed Verstappen for the incident.

From fifth on the grid, Hamilton was in the lead by the fourth corner after Vettel spun into the barriers having already sustained serious damage to his Ferrari.

In wet and then drying conditions, Hamilton expertly led from the front despite three Safety Cars and beat Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo in a time-limited race.

Hamilton's 60th F1 win increases his championship lead over Vettel to in excess of one race victory with six rounds to go.

Betting Reaction

Lewis Hamilton is into 1/6 to win his fourth world title after a dramatic Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday.

The British driver went into the contest claiming he needed a miracle to win as he started fifth on the grid in treacherous conditions, but he was ahead by the fourth corner after the drama at the start.

With Sebastian Vettel at the heart of the drama he obviously failed to register a point, meaning he’s 28 behind Hamilton now. The German is a 7/2 chance to bounce back from Sunday’s blow and claim the title.

It’s any price you like the rest as this two-horse race edged towards being a one-man show in South-East Asia on a wet ,but wonderful, Sunday for the Briton.

Sky Bet also cut Hamilton to 9/1 from 14s for the Beeb’s Sports Personality Of The Year Award with his fourth world title looking more and more likely.

Singapore Grand Prix: Full Race Report

Lewis Hamilton's hopes of winning this year's Formula One championship were dealt a seismic boost in Singapore after he benefited from rival Sebastian Vettel's first-lap crash with Max Verstappen and Kimi Raikkonen to storm to victory.

Hamilton, who started only fifth and had claimed that he needed a miracle to win, led every lap of a chaotic race which saw the safety car deployed on three occasions.

The British driver crossed the line 4.5 seconds clear of Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo, with Valtteri Bottas completing the podium, to move 28 points clear of Vettel with just six races remaining.

The race under the floodlights of the Marina Bay circuit had been billed as a must-win for Vettel given that the twisty, slow-speed track suited his Ferrari car.

But after getting the job done here in qualifying on Saturday night, he was then involved in what is likely to be the defining smash of the year.

On a damp track following a deluge of rain just 15 minutes before the start, Vettel moved to his left to cover off Verstappen, and a fast-starting Raikkonen.

Raikkonen, tight against the pit wall, surged ahead of Verstappen, but at 120mph his right rear tyre made contact with Verstappen's front left, and he was sent out of control before thudding into the side of his Ferrari team-mate.

As Raikkonen and Verstappen came to a sudden halt at turn one - colliding with an unfortunate Fernando Alonso in the process - Vettel managed to keep his Ferrari on the straight and narrow. But on the exit of turn three, and with significant damage to his car, the German lost control and crashed into the concrete wall.

Hamilton surged past Vettel and took the lead of the race. The safety car was issued to deal with the stricken Ferrari and Red Bull cars, and it returned again, when Daniil Kvyat crashed out on lap 11, and then again on lap 38 after Marcus Ericsson spun on the Anderson Bridge.

But Hamilton kept his cool to not only remain in charge of the championship - a scenario which appeared almost impossible here on Saturday night - but extended his lead to more than a single victory.

Vettel attempted to put a brave face on the fist-lap mayhem - an incident which will now be investigated by the stewards - but he will know that his chances of stopping Hamilton march on to the title have taken a significant hit.

"I had an average start, moved slightly to the left and was trying to fend off Max," Vettel explained. "Then the next thing there was a bump on the side and I saw Kimi's car, so I don't know what happened.

"There's nothing we can do now. It doesn't change much. We're not in the race now and can't show the pace that we had. I'm sure there will be more opportunities."

In contrast, Verstappen moved to lay the blame at Vettel's door. "If you are fighting for the world championship you shouldn't take those risks squeezing someone that much," he said. "You can see what happens. Lewis is leading the race and the three of us are out."

For Hamilton, he will not care who was at fault as fireworks greeted his third successive victory. "Guys, what can I say?" he said over the team radio. "What a turnaround. Thanks for believing in me."

Carlos Sainz crossed the line in fourth for Toro Rosso ahead of Force India's Sergio Perez, while British driver Jolyon Palmer finished a career-high sixth to claim his first points finish of the season.

"Yesterday we struggled and we had no idea what would happen," Hamilton said. "We are very fortunate with the Ferraris at the beginning but I could not be happier. I am really grateful.

"God blessed me today, for sure. I capitalised on the incident. Who would have known that will happen? Really unfortunate for the Ferraris but a great result for the team.

"When we got to turn three I had Sebastian in front and I thought I was going to have a real race here. I am just glad we brought it home."

Hamilton revealed that memories of Ayrton Senna helped him to victory.

Hamilton's idol crashed out from the lead of the 1988 Monaco Grand Prix. So furious was the emotional Brazilian that he abandoned his McLaren at the scene of the accident and headed straight for his apartment without speaking to a single member of his team. It was not a scenario Hamilton wished to emulate.

"Every now and then Senna pops into my mind," added Hamilton. "It was the Monaco Grand Prix where he was in the lead and he hit the wall.

"That always comes back to me, and it reminds me not to do that. I have had experiences like that of course, but it is almost like he talks to me and says 'stay focused and keep it together'."

Speaking about the early action, second-placed Ricciardo added: "I just watched the chaos unfold in front of me. It looked like three was going into one. I don't know whose fault it was, but it was just too close."

Singapore Grand Prix: Final Classification

Final Positions after Race (58 Laps):

1. Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 2hrs 03mins 23.543secs
2. Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Red Bull 2:03:28.050
3. Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 2:03:32.343
4. Carlos Sainz (Spa) Scuderia Toro Rosso 2:03:46.365
5. Sergio Perez (Mex) Force India 2:03:48.902
6. Jolyon Palmer (Gbr) Renault 2:03:50.802
7. Stoffel Vandoorne (Bel) McLaren 2:03:53.931
8. Lance Stroll (Can) Williams 2:04:05.239
9. Romain Grosjean (Fra) Haas F1 2:04:06.825
10. Esteban Ocon (Fra) Force India 2:04:08.338
11. Felipe Massa (Bra) Williams 2:04:10.079
12. Pascal Wehrlein (Ger) Sauber-Ferrari at 2 Laps

Not Classified:

• Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 50 Laps completed,
• Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Renault 48 Laps completed
• Marcus Ericsson (Swe) Sauber-Ferrari 35 Laps completed
• Daniil Kvyat (Rus) Scuderia Toro Rosso 10 Laps completed
• Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren 8 Laps completed
• Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 0 Laps completed
• Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 0 Laps completed
• Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 0 Laps completed

Fastest Lap: Lewis Hamilton 1min 45.008secs on Lap 55

Latest Formula One Standings

Drivers' Championship:

1. Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 263pts
2. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 235
3. Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 212
4. Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Red Bull 162
5. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 138
6. Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 68
7. Sergio Perez (Mex) Force India 68
8. Esteban Ocon (Fra) Force India 56
9. Carlos Sainz (Spa) Scuderia Toro Rosso 48
10. Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Renault 34
11. Felipe Massa (Bra) Williams 31
12. Lance Stroll (Can) Williams 28
13. Romain Grosjean (Fra) Haas F1 26
14. Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 11
15. Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren 10
16. Jolyon Palmer (Gbr) Renault 8
17. Stoffel Vandoorne (Bel) McLaren 7
18. Pascal Wehrlein (Ger) Sauber-Ferrari 5
19. Daniil Kvyat (Rus) Scuderia Toro Rosso 4
20. Marcus Ericsson (Swe) Sauber-Ferrari 0
21. Antonio Giovinazzi (Ita) Haas F1 0
22. Paul di Resta (Gbr) Williams 0
23. Jenson Button (Gbr) McLaren 0

Manufacturers:

1. Mercedes GP 475pts
2. Ferrari 373
3. Red Bull 230
4. Force India 124
5. Williams 59
6. Scuderia Toro Rosso 52
7. Renault 42
8. Haas F1 37
9. McLaren 17
10. Sauber-Ferrari 5