Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel took another giant step towards a successful defence of his drivers' title as he won the Singapore Grand Prix this afternoon.

The German, who started on pole, could have wrapped up the world championship today but was denied on the night after Jenson Button in a McLaren came home second and Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber took third.

Vettel was never challenged, even after a safety car period, but Button closed to within two seconds of Vettel in the closing stages of the race.

The 24-year-old Vettel will be hoping to seal the drivers' championship when the season moves next to the Japanese Grand Prix on October 7-9.

His victory under the lights at Singapore's Marina Bay street circuit was his 19th career victory and ninth win of a hugely successful season.

Vettel tops the standings with 309 points, well ahead of Button and Fernando Alonso, who came home in fourth.

Lewis Hamilton was fifth despite a drive-through penalty when he was blamed for a crash with Ferrari's Felipe Massa. Massa finished ninth.

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