Lewis Hamilton storms into Formula One championship lead
Briton overtakes Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg in the drivers' standings after emphatic win in the Lion City
Lewis Hamilton stormed to an emphatic victory at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday night to wrest the championship lead from Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg after the German retired with steering wheel problems.
I was dreaming it last night ... I just want to say huge thanks to my team. I was so excited. I was looking for a clean weekend, and I had it
The Briton overcame a safety car period midway through the race, as well as the twin Red Bull challenge of Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo, to move three points clear of Rosberg with five races remaining.
"I was dreaming it last night ... I just want to say huge thanks to my team," Hamilton said at the podium.
"I was so excited. I was looking for a clean weekend, and I had it."
Fernando Alonso ended a good weekend for Ferrari with a solid fourth place finish on a hazy Singapore night with Brazilian Felipe Massa rounding out the top five in his Williams.
For Hamilton, the race could not have gone any better after he arrived in Singapore trailing Rosberg by 22 points and in desperate need of a strong finish to ensure he maintained his bid for a second world title after his 2008 triumph.