Singapore Grand Prix Review

Winner

Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix.

Full classification

What happened

For the first time in his decorated career, Max Verstappen conquered the Marina Bay Street Circuit, delivering a lights-to-flag masterclass at the Singapore Grand Prix. The victory marked his 73rd career win and broke a long-standing personal drought at a track that has historically eluded him. He finished a comfortable seven seconds ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli securing a strategic third place to round out the podium.

While Verstappen controlled the race from the front, even a strong start from Leclerc wasn't enough to challenge the Red Bull's commanding pace. The real story of the race unfolded behind them, in a war of attrition and strategy that saw four drivers fail to finish and the midfield thrown into disarray. Uncharacteristically for the Singapore GP, which has a 100% safety car deployment record in its history, the race was managed with only two brief Virtual Safety Car periods, leaving strategies largely in the hands of the teams.

The retirements began early, with Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto pulling over on lap 8 with a failed gearbox that promptly caught fire, triggering the first VSC. Later, Aston Martin's Lance Stroll was forced to retire with a clutch issue on lap 39, bringing out the second VSC. The reasons for Franco Colapinto's and Alexander Albon's retirements were less immediately dramatic; the Alpine driver's race ended prematurely, while Albon was forced to retire in the pits on the final lap due to persistent brake issues that plagued his entire evening.

A Race of Two Strategies

The VSC for Stroll's retirement proved to be a pivotal moment. It allowed several drivers, including Charles Leclerc and Kimi Antonelli, a "cheap" pit stop for fresh soft tyres, giving them a significant pace advantage in the closing stages. This strategic gamble paid off handsomely for Antonelli, who used his fresher rubber to hunt down and pass both Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton after capitalizing on their battle. Norris, who finished fourth, was left to rue the VSC timing, which negated the tyre advantage he and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri (who finished fifth) had been building.

George Russell, meanwhile, put on a remarkable recovery drive. After starting from the back of the grid due to a power unit penalty, he fought his way up to a respectable ninth-place finish, securing valuable points for Mercedes. His teammate Antonelli's podium, meanwhile, has significant championship implications. The young Italian now has a mathematical chance to clinch the 2026 World Championship at the next round in Austin.

Further down the order, Isack Hadjar also delivered a noteworthy performance, climbing from a pit lane start to claim the final point in 10th for Red Bull. It was a drive that, while overshadowed by his teammate's dominant win, showcased resilience on one of the calendar's most demanding circuits.

For fans considering a trip to the Singapore Grand Prix, the race is a reminder that even when a single driver seems untouchable, the unique challenges of Marina Bay—the heat, the relentless corners, and the ever-present threat of incidents—guarantee a spectacle. The strategic gambles forced by VSC periods, as seen with Antonelli's charge to the podium, often provide the most memorable action, visible from nearly any grandstand along the glittering city circuit.

While Verstappen has finally broken his Singapore "curse," the weekend leaves questions for the rest of the grid. Can Mercedes and Antonelli convert their championship lead into a title in Austin, or will the momentum swing back? And as teams debrief a race decided as much by strategy as by outright pace, the focus will now shift to how these lessons can be applied in the final stretch of the season.

2026 Singapore Grand Prix Final Classification:

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
3. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
4. Lando Norris (McLaren)
5. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
7. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
8. Nico Hülkenberg (Audi)
9. George Russell (Mercedes)
10. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
11. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
12. Oliver Bearman (Haas)
13. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
14. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
15. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
16. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
17. Sergio Pérez (Cadillac)
18. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)

Did Not Finish: Alexander Albon (Williams), Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), Franco Colapinto (Alpine), Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi).