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Singapore Grand Prix: Sebatian Vettel wins but Lewis Hamilton breaks down

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Vettel wins in Singapore but it's Marina Bay hell for Hamilton after break down

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UPDATED:

14:50 GMT, 23 September 2012

Sebastian Vettel shone in Formula One's night race for the second successive season, but for Lewis Hamilton the lights may have gone out on his championship chances.

Vettel capitalised on Hamilton's retirement with a gearbox problem on lap 23 when comfortably leading the Singapore Grand Prix to take the chequered flag.

This latest win for the reigning world champion ends Vettel's longest winless run of nine races since joining Red Bull in 2009.

Retirement: Lewis Hamilton is forced to quit the race after his car malfunctioned

Retirement: Lewis Hamilton is forced to quit the race after his car malfunctioned

Break down: Hamilton appears upset after abandoning the race

Break down: Hamilton appears upset after abandoning the race

Upset Hamilton

As team principal Christian Horner
pointed out to Vettel after crossing the line: 'Well done, you're back
in the championship again.'

The 24-year-old now trails Ferrari's
Fernando Alonso by 29 points, the Spaniard claiming the 81st podium of
his career – only Michael Schumacher and Alain Prost have more – by
finishing third behind McLaren's Jenson Button.

Podium people: Sebastian Vettel (centre), Jenson Button (left) and Fernando Alonso (right)

Podium people: Sebastian Vettel (centre), Jenson Button (left) and Fernando Alonso (right)

Wet look: Button showers Vettel with champagne

Wet look: Button showers Vettel with champagne

For Hamilton, his recent rollercoaster run now leaves him 52 points behind Alonso, and with his last five races reading – retired, first, retired, first, retired.

Just when Hamilton garners belief he has a chance of the title, he finds his hopes cruelly snatched away.

In Germany, Hamilton retired 11 laps from home with puncture damage, albeit after an unhappy start when he was forced into an early pit stop after running over debris from a lap-one incident.

On song: Vettel was in good form

On song: Vettel was in good form

Away they go: Hamilton started in pole position

Away they go: Hamilton started in pole position

TOP TEN

1. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2. Jenson Button (McLaren)
3. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
4. Paul Di Resta (Force India)
5. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
6. Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
7. Romain Grosjean (Lotus)
8. Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
9. Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso)
10. Mark Webber (Red Bull)

A superb victory in Hungary followed
before the summer break, after which his Belgian Grand Prix ended at the
first corner as he was one of four cars involved in a major pile-up.

The 27-year-old bounced back a
fortnight ago with his win in Italy, and back-to-back triumphs appeared
on the cards when he grabbed his 24th career pole on Saturday.

The threat at the start for Hamilton
was from Williams' Pastor Maldonado alongside him on the front row of
the grid given the Venezuelan's penchant for poor judgment and errors
this season which has resulted in many penalties.

But when the five red lights
disappeared Hamilton's getaway was as sweet as he could have dreamed of,
instead leaving Maldonado to deal with Vettel and Button.

From the perspective of both men they
quickly managed to blast their way past Maldonado through the opening
corners, dropping the 27-year-old to fourth ahead of Alonso who was
unable to follow suit.

Leading comfortably from Vettel,
however, Hamilton's gearbox gave way on lap 23, the Briton grinding to a
halt down an escape road.

Keeing up: Alonso still has a 29 point lead

Keeing up: Alonso still has a 29 point lead

There was a clear shake of the head from Hamilton and a moment when he put his head in his hands.

That promoted Vettel into the lead
ahead of Button and Maldonado, but the latter was also forced into
retirement during the first of the two safety car sessions that followed
in quick succession.

Narain Karthikeyan sparked the
opener, maintaining Singapore's 100% record for safety cars over its
five-year run, sliding his HRT into a wall on entry into Anderson Bridge
from which there was no recovery.

The safety car pitted after running
for five laps, but not for a moment of drama as Button nearly ran into
the back of Vettel at one point shortly before the restart.

Crunch: Michael Schumacher crashes into Jean-Eric Vergne

Crunch: Michael Schumacher crashes into Jean-Eric Vergne

Smash: Schumacher's race is over

However, it was not long before
safety car driver Bernd Maylander was back on track as for the second
successive year at this track, Schumacher ran into the back of a rival.

On this occasion the seven-time
champion was late on to the brakes of his Mercedes, hurtling into the
rear of Jean-Eric Vergne's Toro Rosso.

After clambering from their cars Schumacher and Vergne embraced one another rather than engaging in any finger pointing.

Although both cars had slid down an
escape road, there was enough debris on track to force the safety car
quickly back into play.

Strong race: Button performed well to finish second

Strong race: Button performed well to finish second

But once it disappeared, for the
leaders the rest of the race was fairly routine, with Vettel finishing
8.9secs clear of Button, with Alonso grinding out another podium.

Behind the trio, Force India's Paul
Di Resta grabbed a career-high fourth, followed by Mercedes' Nico
Rosberg and Kimi Raikkonen in his Lotus, the Finn now 45 points adrift
in the title race.

Team-mate Romain Grosjean was seventh,
followed by Ferrari's Felipe Massa, Daniel Ricciardo in his Toro Rosso
and Red Bull's Mark Webber, surely out of the title running now as he is
61 points down.

Scenic: Many look forward to the Singapore race for its interesting views

Scenic: Many look forward to the Singapore race for its interesting views

Following his 23rd career win, an ecstatic Vettel said: 'This is one of the toughest races all year, two hours, the circuit is a killer and the race seems to go on forever.

'Obviously we benefited from Lewis' retirement, the pace was there, so I'm incredibly happy and proud.

'I'd like to dedicate it to a very special man, Sid Watkins (former race doctor and FIA medical delegate who recently passed away), a big thank you to him.'

Star power: Katy Perry was present and correct

Star power: Katy Perry was present and correct

Button said: 'That was a pretty tough two hours for us. It's a good second place. We all want to win, but you can't win them all.

'For us as a team another failure is not great for us.'

Alonso, who continues to hang on to the lead as his rivals trip over themselves, said: 'This is one of the best tracks to drive, it was a fun race again.'

This way: Grid girls line up before the start

This way: Grid girls line up before the start

Ready to go: Vettel at the start of the race

Ready to go: Vettel at the start of the race

David Weir interview

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Weir humbled after Paralympic heroics which have changed his life forever

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UPDATED:

13:01 GMT, 16 September 2012

Having tried in vain, among the hysteria which followed his Paralympic triumphs, to make sense of things, it was eventually a moment of calm which spoke loudest to David Weir.

'I came back from doing a TV thing, late on Wednesday night, and my little boy, Morgan, who's one, had a cold and couldn’t sleep. So I sat on the sofa with him, just the two of us, and had a cuddle and a bit of a chat about what I'd been doing.'

He smiles at the memory – father and son, away from the noise and euphoria, sharing a unique moment. Then he looks down at the four gold medals around his neck, as if to confirm it really happened.

Gold standard: Weir has been on a rollercoaster ride of emotion since the summer

Gold standard: Weir has been on a rollercoaster ride of emotion since the summer

'When you’re in the village it's like being in a bubble, so when I came out and saw what was going on, I was stunned. I half expected someone to nudge me and say 'wake up, you're dreaming, you've got to go and race”.'

Weir's greatness, as with many of the summer’s heroes, is matched only by his ordinariness. At the victory parade he was struck by shyness when about to ask Jessica Ennis if she would pose for a picture with him When he did, she admitted she too had been plucking up the courage to ask the same of him.

Pondering the last fortnight, Weir also admits to being stunned at what he found, as he explored the further limits of his potential.

'Honestly I thought it was impossible to get four gold medals. But I did, and I did it in the best town in the world, in front of the greatest crowd at the greatest Paralympics ever.'

He intersperses grins with shakes of the head. It may yet take more than a late night with his infant son to properly make sense of it all. The impact of last Monday, when a million people crammed London’s streets to greet their heroes, is still clear.

'People like Chris Hoy and Ben Ainslie said I was an inspiration. That’s the sort of thing I’ll never forget.'

And through it all, he refuses to lose sight of the bigger picture.

Hero: weir bagged four golds during a memorable Paralympic summer

Hero: weir bagged four golds during a memorable Paralympic summer

Hero: weir bagged four golds during a memorable Paralympic summer

'For the first time, Paralympic sport has been properly viewed as equal. Not just “didn’t they try hard”, but the world watching what we did for the sake of the sport.

'People have said my 1500m was the best race they’d ever seen, Olympic or Paralympic. The best sporting moment they’ve ever experienced. When you see and hear that, you so start to think ‘What have we done here’ We’ve changed something really, really big.”

That fourth gold arrived, fittingly for a man whose first success was London’s mini-marathon, on the capital’s streets.

For the first few miles of the marathon Weir 'thought I was going to die' but his major challengers lacked either the pace or belief to make a move which he admits, could have broken him.

'I just clung on and didn’t let them know how much I was suffering.'

Their indecision proved fatal as Weir, hardened by endless hours training alongside cyclists on the hills of Richmond Park, threw down the gauntlet, four miles from the finish.

'I just thought “Right, let's get at it and give it a real go from here. Let’s see who fancies this”. Once I did that, the whole pack just split up, blew apart.'

Four of the best: Weir made himself a household name during the Paralympics

Four of the best: Weir made himself a household name during the Paralympics

Four of the best: Weir made himself a household name during the Paralympics

Even the absence of a banner at the finishing line – 'LOCOG told the organisers they didn’t have a tape and they weren’t going to provide one for Health and Safety reasons!' – couldn’t stop his surge to Paralympic immortality.

'I just kept going until I was sure it was the end. If I didn’t smile, it’s because I didn’t know I’d finished.'

With it safely won, his attentions now turn to a holiday, the arrival of his third child, and some time with the people who matter to him the most.

'I’m so happy to be back around my family again. They're the people you really celebrate with – the ones who know how much you put into it.'

He glances at his medals again, their golden clinking a constant reminder of his triumphs. Only a few might fully understand what David Weir put in, but an entire nation continues to celebrate what he brought back.

Paddy Kenny joins Leeds from QPR

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Warnock reunited with Kenny for fourth time as Leeds sign QPR keeper

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UPDATED:

13:46 GMT, 11 July 2012

Moving on: Paddy Kenny will leave QPR for Leeds

Moving on: Paddy Kenny will leave QPR for Leeds

Paddy Kenny has linked up with Neil Warnock for a fourth time on Wednesday after completing his 400,000 move to Elland Road.

The QPR keeper has been strongly linked with Leeds since Robert Green arrived at Loftus Road from West Ham and was installed by manager Mark Hughes as QPR’s first-choice keeper.

Warnock has now finally got his man after the two clubs agreed a fee for Kenny and the 34-year old Halifax-born keeper accepted personal terms on a three-year deal for a return to West Yorkshire.

Kenny was named Rangers' player of
the year as they secured promotion back to the Barclays Premier League
in 2010/11, and missed just five matches last season.

'I've loved every single minute of my time at QPR,' Kenny told the Premier League club's official website.

'It's been an incredible two years.
Winning promotion to the Premier League here is an experience I will
never forget as was the rollercoaster ride of avoiding relegation last
season.

Together again: Neil Warnock will work with the former Sheffield United No 1 for a third time

Together again: Neil Warnock will work with the former Sheffield United No 1 for a fourth time

'Hopefully I'll be back at Loftus Road as a Premier League player with Leeds United in the very near future.'

Warnock and Kenny were together at Bury, Sheffield United, as well as QPR, and are about to be reunited again for a tilt at taking Leeds back into the Barclays Premier League after a lengthy absence.

Lewis Hamilton feeling the pressure ahead of European Grand Prix

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Championship leader Hamilton feeling the pressure ahead of European Grand Prix

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UPDATED:

16:30 GMT, 20 June 2012

Lewis Hamilton admits the pressure is now firmly on in the wake of his recent victory in Canada.

Hamilton finally took the chequered flag this season 10 days ago in Montreal, extending a new Formula One record for different winners to seven from the opening seven grands prix.

The 27-year-old's 18th triumph of his F1 career also allowed him to regain the lead of the drivers' championship, albeit just two points ahead of Fernando Alonso and three to Sebastian Vettel.

Seventh heaven: Hamilton won last time out in Canada

Seventh heaven: Hamilton won last time out in Canada

But with 13 races remaining, Hamilton is aware it means little at this stage of the campaign, particularly given the rollercoaster ride to date as the title picture has changed after each race.

McLaren star Hamilton said: 'My win in Montreal was obviously an extremely satisfying moment for me, but it does very little to alter things in the world championship.

'While it's always pleasing to be leading the championship, I'm only two points ahead of Fernando.

'That's nothing, particularly when there are a handful of really strong drivers all separated by a couple of points, so there's still everything to play for.'

Champagne moment: The McLaren star says F1 is impossible to predict this season

Champagne moment: The McLaren star says F1 is impossible to predict this season

Phil Duncan F1 blog

As one of only two drivers to claim points from every race this year – Ferrari's Alonso the other – Hamilton knows the importance of keeping the tally ticking over.

'The intensity of this year's championship means there's so little breathing space,' added Hamilton.

'We may have won in Canada, but there's an enormous amount of pressure to keep racking up good results at every grand prix.

'I think consistency, rather than individual strong results, will be the key to winning this world championship, so we need to back it up in Valencia with another strong result.'

But such are the vagaries of the season it makes it impossible to forecast who will be strong in this weekend's European Grand Prix as F1 makes its second visit to Spain in a few weeks.

Making a splash: Hamilton leads the championship from Alonso

Making a splash: Hamilton leads the championship from Alonso

Hamilton said: 'People are always asking me to predict what will happen at the next race. I always tell them it's really difficult to make an accurate prediction.

'But I'll be heading to Valencia feeling super-motivated to get another strong result and maintain my momentum before we head into Silverstone and the British Grand Prix.'

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh believes the smallest amount of time gained could make the biggest difference come the conclusion to the tightest of battles at present.

'Victory in Montreal was extremely satisfying,' said Whitmarsh.

'While you're only as good as your last result in F1, it's done nothing to quell our determination ahead of the European Grand Prix.

'Given the delta between ourselves, Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull Racing is so narrow, we'll again be pushing hard on both our operational and technical fronts to ensure we stay at the front.

'As always, we aim to bring at least an additional one-tenth (of a second) laptime benefit to each race, and we're pushing hard to ensure we can over-deliver on that on as regular a basis as possible.

'It may sound like a negligible increment, but it could prove to be the difference between winning and losing the world championship.'

On that basis, Whitmarsh has echoed Hamilton's words when it comes to consistency.

He added: 'It's certainly feasible this year's title could be won by a driver who scores only two or three grand prix wins, but who reinforces those victories with the most consistently solid approach.

'So whereas in previous years there was an emphasis on the “big” results, this year it seems minor points placings could provide a decisive edge in the title battle.'

Harry Redknapp calls for bold signings

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Redknapp calls for bold signings as Spurs aim to challenge at the top

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UPDATED:

13:18 GMT, 7 May 2012

Harry Redknapp has urged Tottenham to be 'bold' in the transfer market this summer if they are to ensure they finish in the Barclays Premier League top four next season.

Spurs looked certain to qualify for next season's Champions League until February but are now in a shootout with Arsenal, Newcastle and Chelsea for third and fourth place going into the final week of the campaign.

Redknapp told BBC Radio Five Live: 'We're a good side. If we're bold in the summer, we can build a team again that can be right there again next year.

Bold ambition: Redknapp wants Spurs to be brave in the transfer market

Bold ambition: Redknapp wants Spurs to be brave in the transfer market

'The league is changing and a top-four position is very difficult to achieve.'

Tottenham are a point behind third-placed Arsenal going into Sunday's final game of the season against Fulham.

Only a top-three finish will guarantee Champions League football, with fourth coming into play providing Chelsea do not win this month's final against Bayern Munich.

It is a nail-biting end to what has been a rollercoaster season for Spurs and Redknapp, who was cleared of tax evasion in February and made favourite for the England job before it went last week to Roy Hodgson.

He said: 'I'll be glad when next week is over. It's been a long old season.

'I just want to get in the Champions League and have a break and get away for a few days.

High hopes: Redknapp is looking to secure Champions League football

High hopes: Redknapp is looking to secure Champions League football

'It has been a hard year for me personally. What I went through with the court case was the most difficult thing I've ever faced in my life.

'It definitely takes a strain on you. I do tend to get on with things but there's no doubt it has an effect.'

Redknapp reiterated he bore no grudges over the Football Association's decision to overlook him for the England job.

'It was no hassle to me at all,' he said.

'It never really bothered me. When I heard that Roy had got the job on Sunday night, I went out.

'I didn't go out feeling, “Oh my God”. I woke up the next morning and I was quite relieved in a way that I didn't have a decision to make.'

Chelsea players party in nightclub after beating Napoli

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Let's party! Chelsea stars hit the town after epic Champions League victory

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UPDATED:

09:33 GMT, 15 March 2012

Chelsea's comeback kings celebrated their Champions League triumph with a late-night party in London.

Stars such as Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba hit the town after their 4-1 extra-time win over Napoli booked their place in Friday's draw for the quarter-finals.

Didier Drogba

Didier Drogba

Late night: Didier Drogba (left) and Ashley Cole were among the players who headed to Aura

The Blues heroes headed to Aura nightclub in Mayfair to mark what could be a turning point in their rollercoaster season.

Part-owned by QPR chief Tony Fernandes, the exclusive club is described as 'a haven of rich heritage and grandeur'.

Juan Mata

Florent Malouda

Going through: Juan Mata (left) and Florent Malouda decided to join the fun after victory over Napoli

Juan Mata, David Luiz, Michael Essien, Florent Malouda, Jose Bosingwa and match-winner Branislav Ivanovic were also out, although there was no sign of Chelsea veterans John Terry and Frank Lampard.

After the departure of manager Andre Villas-Boas, it appears the players have pulled together closer in a bid to save their campaign.

And judging by the smiles on the players faces, they are happy with the way the club is now going.

David Luiz

Michael Essien

Party time: David Luiz (left) and Michael Essien were out in Mayfair after the Stamford Bridge win

PS… Didn't fancy it, Andriy

Former Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko was at the match with owner Roman Abramovich but it looked like he called it a night after grabbing a lift home with Ivanovic.

BRANISLAV IVANOVIC WITH ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO