MARINA BAY – Max Verstappen breaks the Singapore taboo and claims his first-ever career victory at the Marina Bay Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver, four-time world champion, delivered a flawless performance to double down on his Saturday Sprint race success, crowning a dominant weekend by crossing the finish line seven seconds clear of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
The race was decided in the very opening stages. Verstappen’s only moment of potential danger came at the green light, but the Dutchman braked aggressively, defending the inside line and shutting the door on Leclerc’s attack. From that point on, the Red Bull driver took control of the race, imposing an uncatchable pace for all rivals and building a comfortable gap until the checkered flag.
Not even an unexpected technical issue could derail his dominance: midway through the race, a radio system failure disrupted communications between the pit wall and car #1. Race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase was forced to resort to a system of coded messages to convey necessary instructions for the second half of the race. It was an inconvenience handled with his usual composure by the Dutch champion, who secured his 73rd Formula 1 victory.
Under the Singapore lights, Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s star shone brightly as well. The young Mercedes talent completed the podium in third place, further extending his championship lead over team-mate George Russell, who nonetheless mounted a solid recovery from 19th on the grid to finish ninth. This sets the stage for a historic milestone for Antonelli: the Italian driver will have his first match point to clinch the world title at the upcoming United States Grand Prix in Austin.
It was a more complicated race for the chasing pack. McLaren placed Lando Norris in fourth and Oscar Piastri in fifth, the latter pulling off a decisive last-lap overtake on Lewis Hamilton. It turned out to be a frustrating Sunday for the seven-time world champion: Mercedes’ strategic decision not to pit him during the Virtual Safety Car, leaving him out on worn-out soft tires, proved to be a flawed tactical choice that saw him drop from third to sixth place at the finish.