Verstappen wins Singapore GP for first time, extending Antonelli's title lead

Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix for the first time in his career on Sunday, leading Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli across the line at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. The victory came at the 10th time of asking for the Red Bull driver, who had previously failed to win in Singapore despite his dominant record elsewhere.

Leclerc made the better start from the front row, but Verstappen held him off at Turn 1 and was never seriously threatened again. By lap 11, Leclerc had begun lapping consistently half a second slower than the Dutchman, and the gap had stretched to four seconds by lap 18. Verstappen pitted on lap 23 and rejoined in the lead, eventually building a five-second cushion over Leclerc by lap 35.

Antonelli’s podium finish owed much to a costly strategic call by Ferrari for Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion pitted early on lap 18, switching from mediums to softs, but the move failed to deliver the expected pace advantage. A virtual safety car on lap 39 — triggered by Lance Stroll pulling over with a suspected clutch issue — allowed Leclerc and Antonelli to switch back to softs without losing significant time, while Hamilton unexpectedly stayed out on used rubber and ultimately lost ground to the Italian youngster.

Antonelli had earlier reported a suspected leak from inside the cockpit on lap 32, but Mercedes were unconcerned and he continued without issue. His third-place finish further extends his lead in the Drivers’ Championship, and he will now have his first opportunity to clinch the title at the next round in Austin.

Hamilton’s team-mate George Russell recovered from 19th on the grid to finish ninth, while McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri — who took a 4.2-second stop — finished fifth and sixth respectively, unable to make inroads on the leaders after running as high as fifth and sixth throughout.

An early virtual safety car was also triggered when Gabriel Bortoleto stopped on the start/finish straight with a suspected gearbox issue, though no frontrunner chose to pit at that stage as the stricken Audi potentially blocked the pitlane exit.