MAX VERSTAPPEN WON a wet and wild Singapore sprint race for Red Bull on Saturday after George Russell crashed his Mercedes when leading at the end of the opening lap.
Verstappen held off Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton to win by 2.5 seconds with Charles Leclerc third as the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri touched and spun on the final lap when fourth and fifth.
Norris and Piastri collide 💥
Here's the moment 👇
#F1Sprint #SingaporeGP https://t.co/jVetu3oSOs
Verstappen then roared to an all-important pole position ahead of Sunday’s grand prix to continue a dominant weekend at a Marina Bay Street Circuit that is notoriously difficult for overtaking.
He clocked a flying lap of 1min 31.373sec to head the Ferrari pair of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli fourth in the Mercedes.
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Earlier, a heavy shower 10 minutes before the scheduled sprint race start meant a delay of 30 minutes.
All cars began on intermediate tyres with some sectors of the Marina Bay Street Circuit much dryer than others as the field embarked on two formation laps behind the safety car.
The eventual standing start saw Russell on the front row alongside pole-sitter Verstappen, and it was the Englishman who got away better.
His lead was short-lived as he lost control after touching a treacherous white line on the final bend of the opening lap.
He slid sideways into the pit lane wall, bringing out a safety car.
Here's the moment George hit the barriers 🎥
#F1Sprint #SingaporeGP https://t.co/R8jview30F
It was another setback in a season of bad luck for Russell, who will start from the back of the grid in Sunday’s grand prix because of engine penalties.
“It was a miscalculation,” Russell admitted to Sky Sports.
“Came through the corner, had more battery deployment than I thought, pushed me a little bit wider than I hoped and went on to the white line. Silly mistake. Big consequences.”
It left Hamilton, who had a brilliant start from sixth on the grid, in second place having leapfrogged Ferrari team-mate Leclerc and the two McLarens.
The big beneficiary of Norris and Piastri’s “papaya spat” on the last lap was championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who inherited fourth place in his Mercedes having started seventh on the grid.
Fifth was RB’s Liam Lawson, sixth was the Haas of Oliver Bearman, seventh was Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg, and Norris got going again to limp home in eighth and round out the points scorers.
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Verstappen wins chaotic Singapore sprint; 'Silly mistake' sees Russell crash out
LAST UPDATE | 1 hr ago
MAX VERSTAPPEN WON a wet and wild Singapore sprint race for Red Bull on Saturday after George Russell crashed his Mercedes when leading at the end of the opening lap.
Verstappen held off Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton to win by 2.5 seconds with Charles Leclerc third as the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri touched and spun on the final lap when fourth and fifth.
Verstappen then roared to an all-important pole position ahead of Sunday’s grand prix to continue a dominant weekend at a Marina Bay Street Circuit that is notoriously difficult for overtaking.
He clocked a flying lap of 1min 31.373sec to head the Ferrari pair of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli fourth in the Mercedes.
Earlier, a heavy shower 10 minutes before the scheduled sprint race start meant a delay of 30 minutes.
All cars began on intermediate tyres with some sectors of the Marina Bay Street Circuit much dryer than others as the field embarked on two formation laps behind the safety car.
The eventual standing start saw Russell on the front row alongside pole-sitter Verstappen, and it was the Englishman who got away better.
His lead was short-lived as he lost control after touching a treacherous white line on the final bend of the opening lap.
He slid sideways into the pit lane wall, bringing out a safety car.
It was another setback in a season of bad luck for Russell, who will start from the back of the grid in Sunday’s grand prix because of engine penalties.
“It was a miscalculation,” Russell admitted to Sky Sports.
“Came through the corner, had more battery deployment than I thought, pushed me a little bit wider than I hoped and went on to the white line. Silly mistake. Big consequences.”
It left Hamilton, who had a brilliant start from sixth on the grid, in second place having leapfrogged Ferrari team-mate Leclerc and the two McLarens.
The big beneficiary of Norris and Piastri’s “papaya spat” on the last lap was championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who inherited fourth place in his Mercedes having started seventh on the grid.
Fifth was RB’s Liam Lawson, sixth was the Haas of Oliver Bearman, seventh was Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg, and Norris got going again to limp home in eighth and round out the points scorers.
– © AFP 2026
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