McLaren feared Norris F1 podium was gone when Mercedes made medium switch

Norris had been running third in the lead train of cars during the second stint of the Marina Bay race, as polesitter Carlos Sainz controlled the pace at the front to bunch the field up.

But Norris found himself promoted to second when George Russell ahead of him, and Lewis Hamilton behind him, were switched to medium tyres under virtual safety car on lap 44.

With the medium compound proving to be the optimum tyre, and both Mercedes suddenly…