All the talk heading into Singapore revolved around whether Lewis Hamilton could equal Ayrton Senna's tally of 41 race victories, but in the end it was the man who'd moved level with the great Brazilian earlier in the season who stole all the headlines.
A faultless performance at Marina Bay gave Sebastian Vettel his fourth win in Singapore, his third victory of the season and, on his 152nd race start, his 42nd career triumph.
All of that means that Vettel now takes sole ownership of third place on the all-time wins list, with just Michael Schumacher (91) and Alain Prost (51) ahead of him.
Having taken pole on Saturday, Vettel led all 61 laps in the race, but was denied a fifth career ‘grand slam’ (win, pole, fastest lap, every lap led) when Daniel Ricciardo snatched fastest lap away from him on the 52nd lap. Were it not for the Australian’s intervention, the German would have moved level with Alberto Ascari and Michael Schumacher in the grand slam stakes.
Race winner Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari SF15-T crosses the line and takes the chequered flag at Formula One World Championship, Rd13, Singapore Grand Prix, Race, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, Sunday 20 September 2015.
Vettel now has 42 career wins - one more than Ayrton Senna
Behind Vettel it was a real race of 'seconds' in Singapore - Ricciardo and Kimi Raikkonen scored their second podium finishes of the season (and their second ever podiums in Singapore), while for just the second time this year neither Lewis Hamilton nor Nico Rosberg finished on the rostrum.
The Silver Arrows’ surprisingly off-colour performance - which included Lewis Hamilton’s first retirement of 2015 - also helped ensure that the podium didn't feature any Mercedes-powered runner - again, for just the second time this year.
And to continue the ‘seconds’ theme further still, Sergio Perez scored his second seventh-place finish of the year and Toro Rosso scored just their second double points finish of the season.
(L to R): Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Red Bull Racing, race winner Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari and Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari celebrate on the podium at Formula One World Championship, Rd13, Singapore Grand Prix, Race, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singap...
Ricciardo and Raikkonen both scored their second podium finishes of the season - and their second career podium finishes in Singapore
Speaking of doubles, Vettel and Raikkonen gave Ferrari their first double podium finish since the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix, some 46 races ago. Back at Barcelona Fernando Alonso was on the podium for the Scuderia, but right now he’s struggling even to make it to the chequered flag for McLaren.
The Spaniard’s retirement in Singapore was his sixth DNF of the season, and to put that in perspective, that’s as many as he experienced in five whole seasons (or 96 races) with Ferrari between 2010 and 2014.
The only solace for Alonso is that he’s no less lucky than team mate Jenson Button, who retired at Marina Bay - the fourth time both McLarens have failed to take the chequered flag - and also has six DNFs to his name this year.
With Hamilton’s retirement, Vettel was able to move to within 50 points - or two wins - of the Briton in the drivers’ standings. Talk of a title run might be premature, but it’s worth noting that the winner of the Singapore Grand Prix has gone on to win the championship in each of the last four seasons. A good omen for Ferrari perhaps?
