Resurgent Verstappen holds off Leclerc to seal dominant Singapore GP win in F1 | Formula 1 2026

Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix with a commanding pole-to-flag race to claim his first victory at the Marina Bay Circuit in his 250th race.

He comfortably beat Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari into second place, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli is third. Reigning world champion Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished fourth and fifth for McLaren and Lewis Hamilton sixth for Ferrari. Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate George Russell took ninth place, having started 19th on the grid.

Antonelli now leads Russell by 102 points, meaning he can mathematically win the title in the next round in Austin if he takes the win and Russell finishes lower than eighth.

In what looked like a pedestrian affair under the Singapore spotlight, Verstappen dominated from pole, in complete control despite his radio communications with the team failing. Behind him, Antonelli kept his cool to claim a podium place while Hamilton admitted his strategic decision played a key role in his fall to sixth.

Verstappen’s first victory in Singapore and Red Bull’s first here since 2022 was another demonstration of the car’s current performance. The Dutchman was untouchable all weekend at the Marina Bay circuit. He took pole and victory in the sprint race, then pole and victory in the grand prix, the 73rd of his career.

Red Bull’s recent improvements have transformed what was a difficult race to handle, even for Verstappen, into a completely different car, comfortably above Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren at the last two meetings. The championship is surely beyond Verstappen after their early season struggles, but he and the team will be hugely supported in bringing performance to the car that they can take into next year’s model.

The Dutchman just held onto his lead against a charging Leclerc through the opening corners, with Hamilton and Antonelli retaining their places in third and fourth. The Ferrari looked very fast with Leclerc climbing all over Verstappen in the opening laps.

Verstappen opened a three-second lead on lap 17 but Hamilton was not quick on the medium tires and he was stopped on lap 18 for the soft tires but with more than 40 laps to go. Ferrari adopted a strategy contrary to the rest of the field and Hamilton immediately went very fast in his new boots, setting a series of fastest laps.

Antonelli pitted on lap 23 and emerged behind Hamilton whose fast laps had paid off. Leclerc stopped a lap later, also taking the medium compound. Hamilton was right on him coming out of the pit lane but was unable to overtake, with the British driver pointedly telling the team he had lost two seconds on a lap behind Leclerc after Ferrari opted not to change drivers.

Verstappen and Norris both pitted on lap 32, with the Dutchman retaining the lead, on fresh tires and in full control at the front, while Norris gained a place on Antonelli.

A virtual safety car was called on lap 39 when Lance Stroll stopped on track and Ferrari took the opportunity to confront Leclerc, but Hamilton chose not to intervene, a decision which did not bear fruit.

Hamilton tried to take out his tires to reach the checkered flag, but with his pace dropping he was close to being caught by Norris and Antonelli. Norris went after him, but in trying to pass him he was left vulnerable to Antonelli, who dived to take the place, then passed Hamilton for third.

Norris followed him for a lap later and as Hamilton’s tires fell, Piastri also took the place, providing at least an entertaining but lengthy finish in Verstappen’s slipstream as he took the flag with ease.