George Russell Triumphs at Singapore Grand Prix as McLaren Secures Constructors’ Championship
In a dazzling display of skill and strategy under the lights of the Marina Bay street circuit, George Russell clinched victory at the Singapore Grand Prix, marking his second win of the season for Mercedes. The race also saw McLaren celebrating as they secured their second consecutive Constructors’ Championship.
Russell Dominates from Pole
Starting from pole position, Russell delivered a flawless performance, finishing 5.4 seconds ahead of reigning world champion Max Verstappen. “It feels amazing,” Russell exclaimed after the race. “We don’t really know where this performance came from, but I’m really happy. I was nervous at the beginning when I saw Max on the soft tyres, but that first stint was great for us.”
Russell’s strong start allowed him to maintain his lead, setting the pace for the race while Verstappen and the McLarens battled for second place.
McLaren’s Double Trouble
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, driving for McLaren, found themselves in a tight contest for podium positions. While Norris finished third, Piastri’s fourth-place finish was enough to secure the Constructors’ title for McLaren. The two teammates had a contentious moment at the start when Norris clipped Verstappen’s Red Bull while attempting to overtake Piastri, leading to some damage to his car.
“It was a tough race,” Norris said. “Max didn’t make any mistakes. I gave it my all today and got close. I’m happy with today. We won as a team, the constructors’ once again.”
Piastri, however, expressed frustration over the incident, feeling that Norris had barged him out of the way on the opening corner. “It’s racing,” Norris defended. “I put it on the inside, had a small correction, but nothing more than that. It was good racing.” The stewards deemed the incident acceptable, but tensions remained high in the McLaren camp.
Verstappen Fights for Points
Verstappen, who had hoped for a third consecutive win, found himself struggling to keep pace with Russell. “I think second was the maximum result today,” he admitted. “The whole race was quite difficult, more difficult than I hoped for, for a lot of different reasons.”
As the race unfolded, Verstappen was the first of the front-runners to pit, aiming to maintain his position against Norris’s strategy. Despite his efforts, he finished firmly in second, with Norris breathing down his neck towards the end.
Mixed Fortunes for Others
Kimi Antonelli finished fifth for Mercedes, while Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton took sixth and eighth, respectively. Hamilton’s race was marred by a five-second penalty for repeatedly leaving the track due to braking issues, which dropped him from a higher position.
Haas driver Oliver Bearman finished ninth, and Carlos Sainz, starting from the back of the grid, managed to secure the final points in tenth place after the disqualification of the Williams cars from qualifying.
