Verstappen Dominates at Marina Bay
Max Verstappen secured his first Singapore Grand Prix victory on Sunday, leading every lap from pole position at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. The Red Bull driver took a full 33 points from the weekend, following his sprint race win, and claimed the win on his 250th grand prix start. It was his second victory in as many weeks, confirming his renewed form since Red Bull's upgrades in Baku.[S1][S2][S3][S4]
The 62-lap race began with Charles Leclerc pressuring Verstappen into Turn 1, but the Dutchman held the lead. A virtual safety car appeared on Lap 8 after Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto stopped with a gearbox issue at the pit lane exit. Verstappen continued to build a gap through the first stint, while Lewis Hamilton pitted first on Lap 19 and Leclerc suffered a slower stop on Lap 25.[S4]
A second virtual safety car on Lap 39, caused by Lance Stroll stopping with clutch issues, allowed Leclerc to take fresh soft tyres. Hamilton stayed out on old softs, and Leclerc regained second place on Lap 46. Hamilton then lost positions to Lando Norris, Antonelli and Oscar Piastri, eventually finishing sixth. Leclerc closed on Verstappen late but could not challenge for the win.[S2][S4]
Antonelli Closes In on the Championship
Kimi Antonelli finished third, extending his championship lead over Mercedes team-mate George Russell to 102 points with five or six rounds remaining. The Italian can now be crowned F1 drivers' champion at the next round, the United States Grand Prix in Austin, in two weeks. Russell, who started from the back after an engine penalty, recovered to finish ninth.[S1][S2][S3]
Antonelli struggled with track limits and brake issues during the race, complaining of fluid around his feet and a long pedal, but still secured the final podium spot. His advantage over Russell means the title is now a mathematical possibility at the Circuit of the Americas. The McLarens of Norris and Piastri were described as average, with Norris passing Hamilton late and Piastri taking fifth on the final lap.[S1][S2][S3][S4]
Ferrari's Strategy and the Midfield Battle
Ferrari shored up its hold on second place in the constructors' standings with Leclerc second and Hamilton sixth. However, the team's decision to pit only Leclerc during the mid-race safety car left Hamilton on old soft tyres, costing him positions. Hamilton had pleaded with his team to see out a one-stop strategy, but ultimately slid from a potential podium to sixth.[S1][S2][S3][S4]
Audi's Nico Hulkenberg held off Russell to finish eighth, while team-mate Bortoleto retired early with a gearbox issue. The race was widely criticised as a procession with little overtaking, despite two virtual safety car periods. Verstappen had warned after qualifying that the street circuit is not conducive to good racing, and his prediction proved accurate.[S2][S3][S4]
