Rosberg hangs on for Singapore win

Nico Rosberg has just about held off the determined challenge of Daniel Ricciardo to win an exciting Singapore GP.

The German managed to take the chequered flag just 0.488secs before the fast-finishing Ricciardo in a thrilling climax to the race and Rosberg has now leapfrogged his team-mate Lewis Hamilton to lead the Drivers' Standings.

Hamilton was forced to settle for third place with his three-stop strategy enabling him to pass Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen late on.

The British driver ended the race +8.038 off the pace and now trails Rosberg by eight points in the battle for the world title.

Ricciardo's Red Bull team followed suit and the Australian almost took full advantage as he closed on Rosberg in the final few laps but the latter was able to just about hang on for a vital win.

Indeed Ricciardo came out from his final pit-stop approximately half a minute behind Rosberg with just 16 laps yet but he quickly ate into the lead, knocking three seconds off a lap for a period.

However, the advantage of the new tyres soon diminished hugely and although Rosberg was pushed all the way, Ricciardo juts could not close the gap fully.

Hamilton finished his disappointing weekend in a car lacking grip which although it didn't prevent him from driving a composed race, it prevented him from challenging the first two and he will have to lick his wounds and come back strongly next time at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Raikkonen had been able to pass Hamilton but Mercedes' decision to bring their man in for a third set of tyres allowed him to snatch third place and limit his losses to Rosberg.

Sebastian Vettel recovered from having to start at the back of the grid due to a suspension failure in qualifying, came home in fifth place with Max Verstappen a long way behind the Red Bull driver in sixth.

Fernando Alonso started well to move into fifth position but he was gradually reeled in and had to settle for seventh spot with Force India's Sergio Perez claiming eighth.

Daniil Kyvat enjoyed a good result in taking ninth position with Kevin Magnusson's Renault completing the top 10.

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