Singapore Grand Prix 2012 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Sebastian Vettel launched his devastating championship charge with a dominant victory at the Singapore Grand Prix, controlling the grueling night race from pole position to beat Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso under the Marina Bay floodlights. The German driver's commanding performance marked the beginning of an unstoppable four-race winning streak that would transform the championship battle and announce Red Bull's emergence as the dominant force in the season's crucial closing phase.

Vettel's pole lap had been exceptional, extracting maximum performance from the Red Bull RB8 around Singapore's punishing street circuit. He converted that advantage into a perfect start, immediately establishing a gap over the chasing pack and never looking back. The Red Bull was in a class of its own under the lights, with Adrian Newey's aerodynamic masterpiece working perfectly around the Marina Bay circuit's combination of slow corners and short straights. Vettel managed the race with maturity and precision, controlling his pace to preserve his tires while maintaining enough speed to prevent any challenges, setting fastest lap to complete a dominant weekend.

Button drove brilliantly to finish second for McLaren, demonstrating excellent tire management over the grueling two-hour race distance. Alonso salvaged crucial third place for Ferrari, limiting the championship damage but watching helplessly as Vettel closed to within 29 points with six races remaining. The Spaniard's points lead was evaporating rapidly, and Ferrari knew they faced an uphill battle against Red Bull's superior machinery. The Singapore result marked a pivotal moment in the 2012 season - Vettel's victory signaled Red Bull's transformation from championship contender to dominant force, setting up a tense finale as the circus headed to Asia.