- Hamilton Slips to Sixth as Verstappen Dominates Under Singapore Lights
Max Verstappen secured his first Singapore Grand Prix victory with a controlled drive from pole position as Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli moved within mathematical reach of winning his first Formula One world championship.
The Red Bull driver resisted an early challenge from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc before managing the race from the front at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
Leclerc finished second, while Antonelli claimed third place to extend his championship advantage over Mercedes teammate George Russell to 102 points.
The result completed a dominant weekend for Verstappen, who also won the sprint race and secured pole position. It was his second consecutive Grand Prix victory following his triumph at the preceding race and the 73rd win of his Formula One career.
The victory was particularly significant because Singapore had remained one of the few circuits on the calendar where the multiple world champion had not previously won.
“It’s taken a while, but I think this race was very good,” Verstappen said. “We had pace when we needed to have it on the soft tyre, even though I think the medium tyre for everyone was more of a struggle.
“But it worked out, so of course very happy to win here. The last two races have been really positive for us and it’s just great to see.”
Leclerc made the faster start and threatened to draw alongside Verstappen as the two approached the first corner. The Red Bull driver moved across to defend his position and retained the lead.
Once clear at the front, Verstappen controlled the pace despite experiencing radio-communication difficulties that forced Red Bull to use coded messages.
The team’s pit strategy kept him ahead of Leclerc, while effective tyre management allowed the Dutchman to build a comfortable advantage during the latter stages.
Behind the leading pair, Antonelli strengthened his hold on the drivers’ championship with his 14th podium of the season.
The Italian now holds a 102-point advantage over Russell and could secure the title at the next round in Austin. One possible route would require Antonelli to win while Russell finishes lower than eighth.
“Can I? Really?” Antonelli responded after being informed that the championship could be settled at the next race.
“Well, let’s not worry about that. Let’s try to do the best weekend as possible and finish the job.”
Russell faced a recovery drive after starting near the back of the grid because of an engine-related penalty. He finished ninth, behind Liam Lawson and Nico Hülkenberg.
The result further weakened Russell’s title prospects while leaving Antonelli firmly in control of the championship with six races remaining.
Lewis Hamilton started third for Ferrari but fell to sixth after struggling with his tyres during the closing stages.
The seven-time world champion initially remained in contention for the podium, but Ferrari’s strategy and declining tyre performance left him vulnerable late in the race.
Antonelli, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri passed Hamilton, with the two McLaren drivers finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
The result represented a missed opportunity for Ferrari to place both cars on the podium, particularly after Hamilton qualified on the second row.
Lawson finished seventh, ahead of Hülkenberg, Russell and Isack Hadjar, who completed the points-scoring positions.
A Virtual Safety Car triggered by Lance Stroll’s retirement influenced the strategic contest by giving some drivers a reduced-cost opportunity to make an additional pit stop.
Verstappen nevertheless remained in control, converting pole into victory and completing a weekend in which Red Bull appeared significantly more competitive than during the earlier stages of the season.
His resurgence may have arrived too late to revive his championship challenge, but consecutive victories indicate that Red Bull has recovered some of the performance that had been missing.
For Antonelli, however, the central calculation is increasingly simple. Another strong weekend in Austin could turn an impressive championship lead into the Italian’s first Formula One world title.
