Max Verstappen Secures His First Singapore Grand Prix Victory as Kimi Antonelli Could Clinch the Championship in the Next Race

Max Verstappen has claimed his second consecutive victory. The Dutch driver closed a near-perfect weekend with his first triumph in Singapore. Verstappen took pole in both sessions and won both races, dominating in both dry and wet conditions. An impressive display that, however, arrives a little late.

Because Kimi Antonelli could be world champion as early as the next race, in Austin. The Italian managed to snatch a third place in Singapore that seemed utterly unlikely, earning him his first championship opportunity. He will have his first match point in the upcoming race. It seems tough, but what happened this Sunday echoes what has occurred this season.

The Absurd Ferrari Strategy Leaves Hamilton Podiumless in Singapore

Verstappen sparks fear. The four-time world champion won again in Singapore, and it feels like he is already on the path to victory. He was less than two tenths away from the win in Baku, took pole and victory in Sepang, and now has dominated all four competitive sessions in Singapore. The only pity is that he arrives too late for the title fight.

Verstappen steered the race with ease. The only moment of risk came at the start when Charles Leclerc launched better and sought the inside, but Verstappen boxed him in well enough to force him to back off. From there, the race became a military march for Verstappen.

And Leclerc tried everything possible. Even taking advantage of a virtual safety car to make an extra pit stop. But even with fresh soft tires he could not close the gap significantly. Leclerc settles for second. The drama lies on the other side of Ferrari.

Because Lewis Hamilton had the podium secured, Ferrari’s strategy ruined it. They sent him to stop too early to shake off the medium, but the soft wore out. He could have utilized the virtual safety car to adjust, but they didn’t and Hamilton dropped from third to sixth.

Once again, the one who benefits from the chaos is Kimi Antonelli. The World Championship leader grabbed a podium that seemed impossible, taking advantage of the Hamilton–Norris battles to pass both. Antonelli could be world champion as early as the next race: he needs to win in Austin, have George Russell finish ninth or worse, and Hamilton not be in the top four.

And indeed George Russell could barely climb back in Singapore. The Mercedes driver managed only ninth place, stuck in traffic and hampered by a strategy attempting to profit from the final virtual safety car but unable to fully capitalize. Isack Hadjar climbed to tenth with Red Bull.

A modest performance from McLaren, with Norris fourth and Piastri fifth, aided by a strategy that could have been better. What stands out is Liam Lawson’s strong drive, seventh for Racing Bulls, and also the excellent showing from Nico Hülkenberg, who adds more points to Audi by finishing eighth.

As for the Spaniards, another day to forget. Carlos Sainz produced an excellent start that propelled him to tenth, but he was soon passed and dropped to fourteenth. Fernando Alonso ended sixteenth, with a strategy designed to stretch as long as possible his first stop after emerging from the pits.

Singapore Grand Prix 2026 Race Results

Formula 1 World Championship Standings

1st. Kimi ANTONELLI (Mercedes-ITA), 340 points

2nd. George RUSSELL (Mercedes-GBR), 238 points

3rd. Lewis HAMILTON (Ferrari-GBR), 229 points

4th. Max VERSTAPPEN (Red Bull-HOL), 221 points

5th. Charles LECLERC (Ferrari-MON), 215 points

Images | McLaren, Red Bull