Verstappen Wins Singapore GP, Leading All 62 Laps
Max Verstappen won Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix from pole, leading all 62 laps. The Red Bull driver took his first Singapore win and the 73rd of his career in his 250th Grand Prix start. Charles Leclerc was second and championship leader Kimi Antonelli third, which gives Antonelli his first chance to clinch the title at the US GP in Austin.
Top 10 in the race
| Pos | Driver (team) | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Verstappen (Red Bull) | 1:42:00.785 |
| 2 | Leclerc (Ferrari) | +7.335s |
| 3 | Antonelli (Mercedes) | +24.573s |
| 4 | Lando Norris (McLaren) | +40.506s |
| 5 | Oscar Piastri (McLaren) | +49.644s |
| 6 | Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) | +53.188s |
| 7 | Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) | +1:21.666 |
| 8 | Nico Hülkenberg (Audi) | +1:23.386 |
| 9 | George Russell (Mercedes) | +1:24.677 |
| 10 | Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) | +1:30.862 |
How the race unfolded
According to Motorsport.com, Leclerc had the better launch but Verstappen held him off into Turn 1, and the top six kept their grid order. Around lap 7, Gabriel Bortoleto stopped with a gearbox problem and brought out a virtual safety car; nobody pitted. Formula1.com reported that his car caught fire and marshals put it out.
Verstappen started on softs and made a single stop to mediums around lap 33. The second VSC came around lap 39 when Lance Stroll stopped with a clutch problem, and Leclerc and Antonelli used it to switch back to softs on a two-stop plan. Leclerc closed in, but the gap was 8.3s on lap 55 and ended at 7.335s. Verstappen had radio problems and had to communicate by pit board, but it did not affect his lead.
Hamilton's strategy and Russell's recovery
Hamilton started on mediums, switched to softs around lap 18-19 and never stopped again. Motorsport.com said he struggled on a 44-lap soft stint and was passed by Norris and Antonelli, finishing sixth; Formula1.com suggested the choice was his own. Sky Sports reported that Hamilton apologised for the strategy.
Russell started 19th after a power unit penalty and finished ninth. Motorsport.com said he was the last driver to change tyres and pitted under the second VSC, but it ended soon after and he rejoined behind Lawson and Hülkenberg. Hadjar took the final point from a pit-lane start. Stroll (clutch), Franco Colapinto (driveline) and Bortoleto (gearbox) retired, while Alex Albon stopped on lap 59 but was classified.
Championship picture
According to GPFans, the drivers' standings read Antonelli 340, Russell 238, Hamilton 229, Verstappen 221 and Leclerc 215, putting Antonelli 102 points clear of Russell. In the constructors' table, Mercedes lead on 578 from Ferrari on 444, McLaren on 339, Red Bull on 332 and Racing Bulls on 100.
Motorsport.com said Antonelli's podium moved him closer to the title, with Austin the first chance to clinch. He reported a brake problem and an earlier leak concern on the radio, and received a black-and-white flag for track limits, though no penalty was reported.
Sources
- Formula1.com – Verstappen seals commanding Singapore Grand Prix victory from Leclerc and Antonelli
- Motorsport.com – F1 Singapore GP: Max Verstappen dominates for Marina Bay double
- GPFans – F1 Results Today: Singapore Grand Prix 2026 times and positions
- Sky Sports – Singapore GP: Max Verstappen wins event for first time in F1 career