Verstappen finally conquers Marina Bay

Ten attempts, a decade of near-misses and one infamous 2023 weekend where Red Bull simply could not get the car to work. On Sunday night Max Verstappen finally won the Singapore Grand Prix, and he made it look routine. Pole, the sprint, the race and Driver of the Day: a clean sweep at the one track that had always beaten him.

Leclerc's launch, Verstappen's race

Charles Leclerc made the better start from second on the grid, but Verstappen narrowly held on to the lead into Turn 1. From there it was a familiar picture. Leclerc stayed within striking distance for ten laps, then started losing half a second a lap, and by the first round of stops the Red Bull was out of reach.

Red Bull ran Verstappen long on his first set, bringing him in on lap 32 without losing the lead. He crossed the line 7.335 seconds clear of Leclerc after 62 laps in the heat and haze. Two wins in a row for a team that had not won all year before Sepang. Whatever Red Bull found for the Asian double-header, the rest of the field has two weeks to work it out before Austin.

Our verdictThis was the most complete weekend Verstappen has had in 2026. Red Bull have their front-runner back, and the title fight is over too early for it to matter. The question for 2027 just got more interesting.

Hamilton's gamble costs Ferrari a double podium

Ferrari should have had both cars on the podium. Lewis Hamilton started on the medium tyre while those around him ran softs, made his first stop early on lap 18 and was running third when Lance Stroll's stricken Aston Martin brought out the second virtual safety car. The pit wall called him in. He stayed out.

Leclerc and Kimi Antonelli both took fresh softs under the cheap stop and the race turned on that decision. Leclerc was past his team-mate within five laps, and Lando Norris, Antonelli and Oscar Piastri followed. Hamilton dropped to sixth, and team principal Fred Vasseur said afterwards that the car would have finished second or third.

To his credit, Hamilton did not hide. "Sorry boys, I let you down today with that strategy," he told his engineer. "My call, and I lost us valuable points. I'll try and make up for it in the next one."

Antonelli: no brakes, still on the podium

The most remarkable drive of the night may have come from third place. Antonelli reported "something leaking between my feet" on lap 32, and seven laps later the radio lit up: "I have no [expletive] brakes! I just went straight! The pedal was so long!" He nursed the Mercedes home 24.6 seconds behind the winner anyway.

Those 15 points take him to 340, a lead of 102 over George Russell with six rounds and 150 points left. The maths for Austin is simple enough. If Antonelli wins at the Circuit of the Americas, Russell finishes tenth or lower and Hamilton finishes outside the top five, the 20-year-old is world champion with five races to spare.

The result

Retired: Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi, gearbox, lap 7), Franco Colapinto (Alpine, driveline, lap 29), Lance Stroll (Aston Martin, clutch). Alex Albon stopped late on but was classified 18th. Sources: Autosport race report, RaceFans classification.

Russell's long night

Russell started 19th after his latest power unit penalty and never found a way through. He timed his stop for the virtual safety car, only for it to end as he entered the pit lane, and he rejoined behind Lawson, Hülkenberg and Pierre Gasly. Gasly was the only one he passed. Ninth place and two points keep him second in the standings, but that is now as much a statement of who is chasing Antonelli as it is a title challenge.

Further down

Piastri's evening was compromised by a slow puncture that forced a second stop on lap 41, though he still beat Hamilton to fifth. Lawson brought the Racing Bulls car home seventh, and Hülkenberg gave Audi a valuable four points in eighth on the same night Bortoleto's gearbox gave up on the main straight. Oliver Bearman drove with real aggression, including a bold move on Carlos Sainz, and deserved more than 12th.

Our driver ratings

Bold call scorecardBefore the race we said Verstappen would win Singapore and Russell would recover to the points. Both came off. Next stop Austin, and our call: Antonelli wins the race but has to wait for the title, because Hamilton gets back into the top five.

Sources: Autosport race report; RaceFans classification, championship points and Hamilton radio coverage; RaceFans analysis of Antonelli's title scenario; Motorsport.com and Formula1.com. Facts as reported on 11 October 2026; opinions are ours. See all headlines on the wire →