Max Verstappen claimed victory at a rain-disrupted Singapore Grand Prix Sprint, capitalizing on a dramatic first-lap crash by George Russell. Red Bull’s Dutch driver took pole position, but Mercedes’ Russell surged ahead off the line before losing control of his car at the end of the opening circuit and slamming into the barriers.
The incident concluded a difficult week for Russell, who already retired from last weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix with a power unit failure. The technical issue requires him to start Sunday’s feature race from the back of the grid following the installation of a new power unit component.
With the race delayed by 30 minutes due to heavy rainfall, Verstappen managed the conditions effectively to secure the win. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli adopted a conservative approach in the Sprint, avoiding risks but benefiting from the chaos involving Russell and a late-race collision between McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri on the final lap.
The result extends Russell’s deficit to the championship standings, leaving him 89 points behind Antonelli as the Formula 1 circus prepares for the main event. Qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix is scheduled for later Saturday at 2:30pm UK time, with the race set to begin at 1pm on Sunday, both broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.
Does anyone else find it odd that Russell lost control on lap one again? The car setup must be a nightmare for Mercedes right now.
Antonelli is playing the long game beautifully. Consistency in these wet conditions is key, and he’s taking it all seriously.
Russell’s week just keeps getting worse. That crash was heartbreaking after his engine woes in Malaysia. F1 is brutal sometimes.