Verstappen Wins Singapore as Leclerc Takes Second and Antonelli Extends Title Lead

Max Verstappen controlled the race at Marina Bay, while a costly strategy gamble left Lewis Hamilton sixth and Kimi Antonelli strengthened his championship advantage.

Results status: The FIA race classification remains provisional at the time of publication.

Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix by 7.335 seconds over Charles Leclerc, with Kimi Antonelli completing the podium after a late fight involving Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris.

Verstappen’s first Singapore Grand Prix victory completed his weekend sweep, but Sunday’s broader story centered on contrasting tire strategies, Hamilton’s fading grip and another valuable result for the championship leader.

Verstappen keeps Leclerc’s challenge under control

Leclerc made the stronger getaway from the front row, forcing Verstappen to defend the inside into Turn 1. The Red Bull retained the lead, with Hamilton third on medium tires while the other leading drivers started on softs.

Leclerc stayed close through the opening phase, but Verstappen gradually created breathing room. Red Bull extended his first stint until Lap 33, when he switched to mediums and emerged still leading.

That gave Verstappen track position while Ferrari and Mercedes considered second stops. Leclerc used fresher soft tires to close the gap late on, but never brought the Red Bull within serious striking distance before the finish.

The race featured two Virtual Safety Car periods rather than a full Safety Car deployment. The first followed Gabriel Bortoleto’s early stoppage near the pit exit. The second, after Lance Stroll stopped, created the decisive strategic opportunity.

Hamilton’s gamble ends in sixth

Hamilton struggled to find sufficient pace on his starting mediums and switched to softs early. His initial pace improved, but he subsequently found himself behind Leclerc after his teammate’s first stop.

When Stroll’s retirement triggered the second VSC, Leclerc and Antonelli stopped again. Hamilton stayed out, temporarily moving into second but committing to a long final stint on his existing soft tires.

The decision proved costly. Leclerc reclaimed second on fresher rubber, while Hamilton’s deteriorating grip exposed him to the cars behind.

Antonelli gained ground as Hamilton and Norris ran wide during their Turn 1 battle, then took third. Norris subsequently passed Hamilton for fourth, and Oscar Piastri completed the Ferrari driver’s slide to sixth on the final lap.

Hamilton accepted responsibility afterward, telling the team: “My call, and I lost us valuable points.”

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur also said the instruction had been to pit both cars, with Hamilton choosing to remain out. That distinction matters: the unsuccessful gamble was not simply a stop Ferrari refused to make.

The stewards took no further action over Hamilton’s Turn 1 incident with Norris.

Antonelli stretches his title advantage

Antonelli’s podium brought his championship total to 340 points, extending his lead over George Russell to 102. Hamilton remains third on 229, eight ahead of Verstappen.

With six Grands Prix remaining, Antonelli heads to Austin with his first opportunity to clinch the title, depending on his result and those of his remaining challengers.

Russell recovered from P19, following his power-unit penalty, to ninth. Isack Hadjar turned a pit-lane start into tenth and the final point after a weekend disrupted by mechanical problems.

Liam Lawson finished seventh for Racing Bulls, while Nico Hülkenberg secured eighth for Audi, holding off Russell in the closing stages.

Piastri recovered to fifth despite needing an additional stop for a slow puncture.

Bortoleto retired with an apparent gearbox problem, Colapinto with a reported driveline issue and Stroll with a clutch issue. Alex Albon also retired late but remained classified 18th.

Verstappen took the victory. Antonelli left Singapore with an even stronger grip on the championship.