Verstappen wins first Singapore Grand Prix as Antonelli finishes in Drivers’ Championship

Max Verstappen put in a commanding performance to secure his first win at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, turning pole position into his second successive win of the season after an impressive weekend that also featured a sprint triumph.

The Red Bull driver controlled the handling at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, holding off an early challenge from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who finished second. The podium was completed by Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, who strengthened his position in the championship battle and moved closer to his first world title.

Verstappen, who won last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, arrived in Singapore determined to end his wait for a circuit win as he spoke of unfinished business ahead of the race.

“It took a while but I think this race was very good. We had the pace when we needed it on the soft tyre, although I think the medium tire was more of a struggle for everyone,” Verstappen said.

“But it worked out, so of course I’m very happy to win here… The last two races have been really positive for us and it’s just great to see.

Antonelli extended his championship advantage over Mercedes team-mate George Russell to 102 points, putting him in a position to mathematically secure the title at the next round in Austin.

The Italian appeared surprised when informed of the possibility after securing his 14th podium of the season.

“Can I? Really?” Antonelli said.

“Well, let’s not worry about it. Let’s try to make the best of the weekend and get the job done.”

Ferrari endured a tough evening despite Leclerc’s second place. Lewis Hamilton, who started third on the grid, dropped to sixth after suffering tire performance problems in the closing stages. McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri overtook the seven-time world champion late in the race.

Russell, who started from the back of the field due to an engine penalty, recovered to finish ninth behind Liam Lawson and Nico Hulkenberg. The top 10 was completed by Isack Hadjar, who also started at the back.

VERSTAPPEN HOLDS TIGHT

Leclerc ran faster than Verstappen at the start and threatened to pull alongside the polesitter heading into the first corner. However, the Red Bull driver moved to the other side to cover the inside lane, preventing the Ferrari from overtaking and retaining the lead.

Verstappen gradually built up an advantage on the soft tires and Red Bull asked him to manage their degradation while Ferrari looked for an opportunity to undercut the leaders through their pit strategy.

Meanwhile, Hamilton began to lose ground on the middle compound. Ferrari brought him on for soft tires before Leclerc made his own stop on lap 25, with the team scrambling to ensure the Monacan got ahead of his team-mate.

Hamilton expressed his frustration over team radio and urged Ferrari to let him through so he could make better use of his pace.

“Gotta use this speed, dude,” he said.

Leclerc subsequently responded by setting the fastest lap while Verstappen remained in control at the front. When the Dutchman finally pitted on lap 33, his substantial advantage ensured he returned to the track and still led the race.

A virtual safety car period following Lance Stroll’s retirement with clutch problems prompted a series of pit stops. Russell was among those caught out by the timing as the virtual safety car ended earlier than expected, leaving him in 10th place.

HAMILTON FADE LATE

A change in strategy helped Leclerc push into second place after he overtook Hamilton on lap 46. However, the Ferrari driver was almost 15 seconds behind Verstappen, who suffered radio communication problems for the second time during the weekend.

The problem forced his race engineer to resort to coded instructions, asking Verstappen to respond with a sound or be silent when presented with strategic options.

Behind the leading pair, Hamilton’s grip on a potential podium began to weaken as his tires deteriorated and the chasing drivers closed in.

Norris tried to overtake the Ferrari on lap 54, but Hamilton went wide and the McLaren driver ended up on the dirt side of the track. The incident allowed Antonelli to move forward and advance through the field.

Antonelli subsequently overtook Hamilton for third, while Norris finally found his way into the top four at Turn 10.

Hamilton’s tough race ended in another loss on the final lap when Piastri overtook him, giving McLaren fifth place and the Ferrari driver dropping to sixth.

Verstappen at the front remained unchallenged in the closing stages to claim a long-awaited victory in Singapore, while Antonelli’s final podium further strengthened his grip on the championship as the season approaches its final rounds.

– The end