Max Verstappen secured victory in the Singapore Grand Prix sprint race, capitalizing on a first-lap error by Mercedes’ George Russell. The Dutch driver took the checkered flag ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, marking his second Formula 1 win in seven days and his first ever sprint triumph in Singapore.
Russell had taken the lead off the starting grid, handing Mercedes a strong opportunity to revive their fading title hopes. However, on the final corner of the opening lap in tricky, half-dry, half-wet conditions, the British driver lost control. His car spun across the track, hitting the inside wall before bouncing back toward the outside. Russell managed to continue but exited the race, leaving Verstappen to inherit the lead.
“I just misjudged it, got more power than I was expecting from the battery, got a little wider than I expected and touched the white line,” Russell said of the incident. “Rule number one in the wet is don’t touch the white line. Very silly mistake.”
Hamilton, who started from sixth on the grid, delivered a strong performance to finish second, while his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc took third. The race was further complicated by a three0-minute delay due to a tropical downpour and a subsequent safety car period following Russell’s crash.
Chaos ensued in the closing stages when McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collided while battling for position. Norris attempted a pass at Turn Five on the final lap, but contact caused both cars to spin. Piastri hit the barriers and retired, while Norris dropped to eighth place. The stewards have announced they will investigate the incident.
The retirement of Russell and the penalty for Piastri extended Kimi Antonelli’s championship lead to 89 points. The top eight finishers were Verstappen, Hamilton, Leclerc, Antonelli, Liam Lawson, Oliver Bearman, Nico Hulkenberg, and Norris.
Qualifying for the main Grand Prix, originally scheduled for 14:00 BST, has also been delayed, though no new start time has been confirmed.
Another Verstappen sprint win? Hamilton holding second is still impressive though. That Norris collision was messy.
Russell really needs to remember rule number one: never trust that white line. Painful to watch.