Red Bull driver Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix on the Marina Bay Street Circuit, leading 61 of the 62 laps to secure his tenth start on the city-track and his first victory at the venue. Verstappen completed his 250th Formula 1 race with the 73rd victory of his career, marking his second grand prix win of the current season.
Marina Bay Street Circuit and race dominance
Verstappen maintained a steady lead throughout the night race, crossing the finish line ahead of Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, who finished roughly 15 seconds back. The reigning four-time world champion kept control at the front of the field despite an onboard radio malfunction that left his transmissions garbled during the latter stages of the race. The event ran without a single safety car deployment, breaking a streak that had seen the neutralisation vehicle appear in every Singapore Grand Prix held between 2008 and 2023.
Behind the leaders, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli delivered a strong performance to finish third on the podium. The 20-year-old Italian navigated handling concerns with his car to extend his lead in the championship standings. Antonelli holds 340 points, giving him a 102-point advantage over his teammate and primary title rival, George Russell, who finished ninth in Singapore after starting at the back of the grid following a power unit change.
Championship standings and the upcoming Austin weekend
Antonelli stands on the brink of clinching the title at the next round in Austin on October 25, where he could become the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history. Verstappen’s recent resurgence—including a win at the previous weekend in Malaysia and a sprint victory earlier in the Singapore weekend—has lifted him to 119 points behind the championship leader. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff acknowledged Red Bull’s sudden return to form during a broadcast interview, admitting that the reigning constructors’ champions were surprised by their rivals’ ability to reinvent their package mid-season.
The race featured fluctuating strategies across the grid. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton initiated the front-runners’ pit stop sequence on lap 19, switching from medium to soft tires. Hamilton later radioed an apology to his team regarding the strategy call that cost positions. Late in the race, virtual safety car procedures were triggered on lap 39 when Lance Stroll parked his Aston Martin.
As grip levels faded, Hamilton suffered severe tire wear in the closing laps, allowing Antonelli to overtake him on lap 55. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri also passed the struggling Mercedes driver before the checkered flag, locking in the final points-scoring order behind Verstappen, Leclerc, and Antonelli.
Singapore Grand Prix finishing order
| Position | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 3 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 5 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 8 | Nico Hülkenberg | Audi |
| 9 | George Russell | Mercedes |
Frequently asked questions about the Singapore Grand Prix
When can Kimi Antonelli secure the world championship? Antonelli has the opportunity to claim the drivers’ title at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, scheduled for October 25.
What was notable about the safety car deployment in Singapore? The race finished without a single safety car period, marking the first time since the event joined the Formula 1 calendar in 2008 that the safety car remained in the garage throughout the entire grand prix distance.
How many career victories does Max Verstappen have? Verstappen’s win at Marina Bay marked the 73rd grand prix victory of his Formula 1 career in his 250th race start.
