Race Notes - Hamilton wins Singapore GP

Lewis Hamilton won the Singapore Grand Prix today in dominating fashion in his McLaren-Mercedes. Timo Glock in his Toyota was second, 9.6 seconds behind, followed by Fernando Alonso in his Renault in third place, 16.6 seconds back.

Early challenges by Nico Rosberg and then Sebastian Vettel disappeared both drivers had to serve drive-through penalties during the race.

Vettel (20.2s) in the Red Bull-Renault recovered to finish in fourth place, followed by championship leader Jenson Button (30.0s) in the Brawn-Mercedes in fifth, his team mate Rubens Barrichello (31.8s) in sixth, Heikki Kovalainen (36.1s) in the second McLaren-Mercedes in seventh and Robert Kubica (55.0s) in the Sauber BMW finished in the final points paying position.

Jenson Button has extended his lead in the championship over his team mate Barrichello to 15 points, while Vettel is 25 points back with three races to go. In the Constructors' battle Brawn now leads Red Bull by 42.5 points.

Before the start, Barrichello was given a five spot penalty for a prior gearbox change from fifth on the grid. Nick Heidfeld was to start from seventh but was penalised and sent to the back of the grid after his car was found to be under-weight after qualifying. The team decided to change his engine and gearbox for the race, and he will start from the pitlane.

Most drivers are expected to make two stops, and Vettel is the lightest on fuel of the top ten runners. Most drivers starting on the harder tyre.

At the start polesitter Hamilton takes the lead while Rosberg gets a better start and passes Vettel for second. Alonso challenges for third but falls back and is passed by Webber and then Glock. Kubica passes Kovalainen for eighth.

On lap 4 Romain Grosjean, who was having brake problems before the start, comes slowly into the pits and retires.

On lap 5 McLaren informs Hamilton on the radio that there is a problem with his KERS system and that he should disable it.

At lap 5 Hamilton leads Rosberg (1.5s), followed by Vettel (3.0s), Mark Webber (6.4s), Glock (9.1s), Alonso (12.1s), Barrichello (13.6s), Kubica (15.1s), Kovalainen (17.7s) and Button (19.6s) in tenth place.

On lap 6 Webber is told to let Alonso past because he earlier passed Alonso by going off track at turn 7. He also has to let Glock by, as Alonso is behind the German and drops from fourth to sixth.

On lap 10 Giancarlo Fisichella is told on the radio that Adrian Sutil has an overheating engine in front of him.

On lap 12 Kimi Raikkonen passes Sebastien Buemi for 12th place, while there are reports that Hamilton has turned his KERS system back on.

On lap 14 Vitantonio Liuzzi pressures Fisichella for 16th place, while a piece of Glock's car comes loose and ends up in the middle of the track, bringing out a local yellow.

At lap 15 Hamilton leads Rosberg by 3.1 seconds, followed by Vettel (5.2s), Glock (17.6s), Alonso (23.3s), Webber (25.3s), Barrichello (27.1s), Kubica (32.0s), Kovalainen (34.5s) and Button (35.7s) in tenth place.

On lap 18 Vettel is the first to stop from third place, staying on the harder tyre. At the same time a marshal runs out on the track and removes the debris. On the next lap Rosberg and Webber pit from second and seventh. Rosberg appearing to cross the blend line on the pit exit, and battles with Barrichello, the Brazilian getting ahead.

On lap 20 Glock and Barrichello both pit. The leader Hamilton pits the next lap rejoining still in the lead. Kubica pits as well from seventh.

The officials say the Rosberg will need to serve a drive-through penalty.

On lap 21 Sutil spins while attacking Jaime Alguersuari and tries to keep his foot in it and loops around and collects Heidfeld, who is out on the spot. The Safety Car is deployed with much debris on the track. Alonso, Kovalainen, Button and Kazuki Nakajima make their first stops.

Alguesauri and Janro Trull pit - Alguersauri leaves before the pitstop is done and knocks over some of his mechanics, but everyone seems okay and he rejoins the race.

Behind the Safety Car, Hamilton leads Rosberg (due to serve a drive-through penalty), followed by Vettel, Glock, Alonso, Barrichello, Kovalainen, Button, Webber and Kubica in tenth place - all drivers having made their first pitstop.

On lap 25 Sutil returns to the pits and retires.

At the end of lap 25 the Safety Car pulls in and the race resumes. Alonso battling Glock for fourth with Barrichello right behind.

On lap 27 Rosberg pits from second place to serve his drive-through penalty and rejoins in 14th.

At lap 30 Hamilton leads a closing Vettel by 0.9 seconds, followed by Glock (5.5s), Alonso (8.0s), Barrichello (11.6s), Kovalainen (13.2s), Button (14.1s), Webber (15.2s), Kubica (16.2s) and Nakajima (17.3s) in tenth place.

On lap 32 Rosberg challenges Trulli for 13th place.

On lap 35 Rosberg pits from 14th, and scrapes the wall after rejoining, but continues.

On lap 38 Rosberg passes Alguersuari for 16th place.

On lap 40 Vettel makes his final stop from second place - he rejoins in seventh place. Vettel runs over a curb and some bits of his underbody break away.

At lap 40 Hamilton leads Glock by 8.0 seconds, followed by Alonso (14.1s), Barrichello (19.3s), Kovalainen (22.7s), Button (23.9s), Vettel (26.9s), Webber (29.6s), Kubica (32.2s) and Nakajima (33.4s) in tenth palce.

Vettel is handed a drive-through penalty by the officials for speeding in the pitlane.

On lap 43 Kubica makes his final pitstop.

On lap 44 Vettel serves his drive-through penalty from seventh and rejoins in ninth - his team telling him to push as he still has a chance to finish fourth after all the stops.

On lap 45 Webber makes his final stop. Glock pitting from second on the next lap, rejoining in sixth place.

On lap 46 Webber spins off into the barriers with an apparent brake failure - Hamilton, Barrichello, Kovalaine, Nakajima, Fisichella and Luizzi all pit - the track stays green, and Alonso takes over the lead but still needs to make his final stop.

At lap 48 Alonso leads Hamilton by 4.9 seconds, followed by Button (10.3s), Glock (14.0s), Vettel (27.4s), Raikkonen (31.1s), Barrichello (35.6s), Kovalainen (31.1s), Trulli (41.6s) and Kubica (42.8s) in tenth place.

On lap 48 Alguersuari amd Buemi both retire in the pits at the same time - Toro Rosso's day is done.

On lap 51 Alonso pits from the lead and rejoins in fourth. Hamilton is back out front. Button pits from third and rejoins in fifth ahead of his team mate Barrichello in seventh.

On lap 52 Trulli pits, followed the next lap by Raikkonen from sixth place. Vettel running wide at turn 1, but continues.

On lap 53 Alonso sets the fastest lap of the race.

At lap 55 Hamilton continues to lead Glock by 7.1 seconds, followed by Alonso (14.6s), Vettel (21.8s), Button (23.1s), Barrichello (33.1s), Kovalainen (38.5s), Kubica (48.3s), Nakajima (49.3s) and Raikkonen (50.1s) in tenth place.

The order remained the same to the finish.