The 2025 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix delivered another thrilling night race, full of tension, strategy, and drama under the bright lights of Marina Bay. The track was still damp from earlier rain at the start, but it dried quickly, setting the stage for a fierce battle. Max Verstappen started on used soft tyres, aiming to attack George Russell, who opted for new mediums. Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and Carlos Sainz began from the pit lane after post-qualifying penalties.
At lights out, Verstappen immediately went on the offensive against George Russell, while Lando Norris made slight contact with Oscar Piastri, damaging his front wing. Charles Leclerc gained two positions, overtaking Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli, while a minor collision between Isack Hadjar and Oliver Bearman required no further investigation.
In the opening laps, Oscar Piastri complained about his teammate’s aggressive behavior, but the stewards ruled “no further action.” Russell quickly set the pace out front, while Verstappen struggled to manage tyre degradation on his used softs. Fernando Alonso built a small gap to aim for a “free” pit stop, while Leclerc resolved a braking issue at the rear of his Ferrari. The pit lane action began on lap 14: Gabriel Bortoleto changed his front wing, and Yuki Tsunoda narrowly avoided a loose Sauber tyre in the pit lane. Norris brushed the wall soon after but continued without serious damage.
From lap 15 onward, the strategic battle intensified. Norris and Verstappen shadowed each other closely, with Red Bull calling Verstappen in on lap 20 to fit hard tyres. The stop wasn’t perfect, lasting just over three seconds, but the Dutchman rejoined ahead of Alonso. Charles Leclerc also switched to hards and started closing in on Nico Hülkenberg. Both Hamilton and Russell pitted shortly after, the latter executing a lightning-fast stop. Norris, after a brief moment of confusion over the radio, rejoined ahead of Max Verstappen. Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri lost more than ten seconds in a slow stop, dropping down the order.
At mid-distance, Max Verstappen reduced the gap to Russell to under three seconds but risked everything with a lock-up that nearly sent him into the wall. Fernando Alonso enjoyed a spirited battle with Isack Hadjar, eventually coming out on top. As strategies stabilized, the race entered a tactical phase: Max Verstappen managed tyre wear and balance issues, while Norris pushed hard to close the gap once more.
In the final 20 laps, Max Verstappen’s problems worsened as he reported rear-end instability and gearbox issues. Norris closed in to within two seconds, while Russell began lapping traffic. Debris from broken front wings scattered across the track, but no safety car was deployed. Hamilton, now on fresh softs, became the fastest man on track, while Norris continued to pressure Verstappen in an intense duel for second place.
The fight between Verstappen and Norris lit up the closing stages. Verstappen defended brilliantly, using lapped traffic to his advantage to hold position. Norris attempted a bold overtake on lap 53 but came perilously close to the wall, allowing Piastri to close in on the pair. Further back, Kimi Antonelli overtook Charles Leclerc, who was struggling with brake temperatures, and Hamilton passed his teammate soon after to attack the young Italian. Up front, Russell calmly controlled the pace to claim a commanding and well-deserved victory in one of the toughest and most physically demanding races of the season.
The race ended with high drama. Carlos Sainz completed an impressive recovery drive from the very back of the grid, while Lewis Hamilton suffered brake overheating and eventually gave up a position to Charles Leclerc. The two Ferrari drivers finished sixth and seventh, rounding off a difficult weekend for the Scuderia.
The points scored at Marina Bay officially crowned McLaren as Constructors’ champions for the tenth time in their history. The battle for the Drivers’ Championship, however, remains wide open, with Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen all still firmly in contention.
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