Max Verstappen Takes Advantage of George Russell’s Crash to Win the Rain-Soaked, Chaotic Sprint of the Year

Max Verstappen has won one of the wildest Sprint races remembered in Formula 1. Rain played its hand in Singapore in a capricious way: soaking half of the circuit while leaving the other half dry. The result was a chaotic race with intermediate tyres that kept tearing up and caused up to nine retirements.

The most dramatic was George Russell, who was leading the race until he crashed on the finish straight, bidding farewell to any remaining title hopes. Especially after the last-lap crash between the two McLarens, which opened the door for Kimi Antonelli to pick up many points on another gray day.

Norris se llevó por delante a su compañero Piastri en la última vuelta

Max Verstappen ha conseguido su primera victoria en Singapur, aunque solo sea en una Sprint. El piloto holandés se ha impuesto en Marina Bay pese a perder la primera plaza en la salida contra un George Russell que duró poco. El de Mercedes se estrelló en plena recta de meta al final de la primera vuelta de carrera.

Russell passed Verstappen at the start, but his accident triggered the Safety Car and practically sealed the title. Especially after Kimi Antonelli managed to climb to fourth place, taking advantage of the incidents that occurred ahead. Antonelli now has an 89-point lead in the standings.

And indeed in the final lap Lando Norris collided with Oscar Piastri. The two McLarens crashed into each other while pressing Charles Leclerc for the podium. A touch that allowed Antonelli to gain two positions. Norris could rejoin the track and finish eighth, but will face an investigation.

The second place goes to Lewis Hamilton, the only one who at times pressed Verstappen. The British Ferrari driver made a great start to sit right behind his arch-enemy and pressured him during the opening laps, but eventually had to settle for second place. Ferrari completed a double podium, with Leclerc third.

Another who benefited from the chaos is Liam Lawson, who finished fifth and continues to push his team toward its best constructors’ result in its history, a fifth-place finish. Sixth for Oliver Bearman and seventh for Nico Hülkenberg’s Audi, though he will face an investigation for pushing Pierre Gasly off the track.

Small disappointment for Fernando Alonso, who lacked pace in the rain and finished eleventh, affected by some issues with his Honda engine in the early laps. Carlos Sainz finished just behind, twelfth. Isack Hadjar, Franco Colapinto, Sergio Pérez, Lance Stroll, Gabriel Bortoleto, Valtteri Bottas and Alexander Albon complete the list of retirements.

Sprint results Formula 1 GP Singapore 2026

Formula 1 Standings – World Championship

1st. Kimi ANTONELLI (Mercedes-ITA), 325 points

2nd. George RUSSELL (Mercedes-GBR), 236 points

3rd. Lewis HAMILTON (Ferrari-GBR), 221 points

4th. Charles LECLERC (Ferrari-MON), 197 points

5th. Max VERSTAPPEN (Red Bull-HOL), 196 points

Images | Aston Martin, Red Bull