Sebastian Vettel finally achieved the victory he has needed for some time at the Singapore Grand Prix – but it came about with a healthy dose of luck and a big chunk of controversy.
The Ferrari driver’s last win was in the Belgian Grand Prix on 26 September 2018; and since then his driving has been more notable for its regular errors than the speed and easy elegance that marked his four world titles with Red Bull.
Vettel’s position as Ferrari number one has been threatened – if not already usurped – by his 21-year-old team-mate Charles Leclerc, and the German has faced questions about his future in the sport.
Coming to Singapore, where he has had such success in the past, offered a chance for redemption and catharsis. He got it, but not perhaps in the way he would have wanted.