McLaren’s Lando Norris survived a “dangerous” move from Max Verstappen, as well as the extreme heat of Singapore, to take fourth place on Sunday.
The Briton started the race fourth after an impressive qualifying performance, and he held off the Alpine of Fernando Alonso, as well as the AlphaTauri of Pierre Gasly, on the opening lap.
Norris stayed where he was for much of the evening, and got ahead of Sir Lewis Hamilton when the Mercedes driver crashed at Turn Seven, putting pay to his chances of a podium.
Just before that, during a Virtual Safety Car, the 22-year-old was under pressure from Max Verstappen, who was recovering from eighth on the grid.
READ: Daniel Ricciardo not surprised McLaren favoured Lando Norris with upgrade
The reigning champion tried to anticipate the restart, but he went too early, so his move down the inside into Turn Seven, which almost resulted in contact, had to be aborted.
After a Safety Car restart, Verstappen tried again into the same corner, but locked up both front tyres, forcing him down the order.
The Briton immediately got on the radio and lashed out at the Red Bull driver, saying: “That was very dangerous.”
Norris would then hang onto the back of Carlos Sainz for several laps, before falling away again, and he led his team-mate, Daniel Ricciardo, across the line for fourth and fifth.
The haul of 22 points is the best McLaren have managed all season, but it was put to Norris that he had not enjoyed an easy time of it.
“Not at all,” he told Sky Sports.
“This was by far the hardest race probably of my career, I mean I would say in Formula 1, probably the hardest.
“Maybe not because I had to hold off too many people, but just the level of concentration you need from lap one to the very end is incredible.
“So, especially when you start to get a little bit tired, which everyone does… stop laughing!” he exclaimed as Natalie Pinkham took some cheeky connotations from what the McLaren driver was saying.
READ: ‘I am now Master Chief’: Lando Norris shows off video game inspired helmet
“It was very wet out there as well, so yeah, great day for us.”
Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon both retired from the race due to reliability issues, so McLaren have now taken fourth in the Constructors’ Standings by four points.
Alpine had come into the weekend 18 points in front, so the fight for midfield supremacy took another twist on Sunday afternoon.