Red Bull's Sergio Perez has scored his second win of the season at the Singapore Grand Prix and title favourite Max Verstappen was forced to put his championship champagne on ice, after finishing seventh.
The Mexican crossed the line 7.5 seconds clear of the ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, after a slowburner, rain-delayed race, interrupted by two safety car and five virtual safety car periods.
Carlos Sainz in the other Ferrari was third, but Perez under investigation for a safety-car infringement, with stewards looking into the matter after the race.
Verstappen, 25, had started a furious eighth, after being forced to abort his fastest qualifying lap due to a lack of fuel, and went into the weekend with his first shot at wrapping up a second successive title.
He needed to leave Singapore with at least a 138-point margin over his closest challenger to get the job done, but the result puts him only 104 points clear of Leclerc and 106 ahead of Perez in the overall standings, with five races to go.
The Dutchman will get another shot at clinching the championship at next week's Japanese Grand Prix, but will need to leave the Suzuka track with a 112-point margin to wrap up the title there.
Reuters