Verstappen completes Singapore double as McLaren pair collide and Brown issues order

Verstappen wins rain-affected Sprint at Marina Bay

Max Verstappen won a dramatic, rain-affected Sprint at the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix, with the FIA reporting that the Red Bull driver crossed the line 2.591 seconds ahead of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, and Charles Leclerc completing the podium despite struggling with deteriorating intermediate tyres in the closing stages. ²

Heavy rain swept across the Marina Bay Street Circuit shortly before the scheduled start, leaving standing water at Turns 2 and 3 and forcing a 30-minute delay, according to the FIA's report. The field completed two formation laps before starting the 20-lap contest on intermediate tyres, with Race Control opting for a standing start, which Grandprix.com said cut the Sprint from 21 laps to 20. ²⁵

Formula1.com noted it was Singapore's first ever Sprint weekend, and that Verstappen grabbed Sprint pole from Russell, Leclerc and Piastri, subsequently avoiding a grid penalty after being investigated for a yellow-flag incident in Sprint Qualifying. Carlos Sainz started from the pit lane after Williams carried out suspension set-up changes on his car under parc ferme conditions. ³

Verstappen admitted his getaway was poor. 'The start was horrendous again,' he told F1, adding that after inheriting the lead 'we just wanted to keep it calm and under control'. Grandprix.com recorded that his margin grew to 4.750 seconds by the end of lap 15, with Hamilton setting the fastest lap on the final tour at 1:45.457 but unable to challenge. ⁵³

It was Verstappen's first victory at Marina Bay, Grandprix.com reported, although winning the Singapore Grand Prix remained unfinished business for Sunday. The BBC's Andrew Benson noted it was the Dutchman's second Formula 1 win in seven days, following his maiden victory of the season at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. ⁵⁸

Russell crashes from the lead in eight-car attrition

Mercedes' George Russell made a stronger getaway than polesitter Verstappen and seized the lead into Turn 1, the FIA reported, but his advantage lasted only until the end of the opening lap, when he lost control over the kerb exiting the final corner and crashed into the inside barrier. ²

Russell told F1, in comments carried by Grandprix.com, that he had 'a little more battery deployment than I thought', calling it 'silly mistake, big consequences'. The BBC quoted him saying: 'Rule number one in the wet is don't touch the white line. Very silly mistake.' ⁵⁸

The FIA reported that Lance Stroll and Sergio Pérez collided at Turn 16, eliminating both, while Red Bull's Isack Hadjar retired with an engine-braking problem and Alpine's Franco Colapinto stopped with a technical problem during the Safety Car period. Alexander Albon, Gabriel Bortoleto and Valtteri Bottas later retired following a three-car collision, bringing the total number of retirements to eight. ²

Grandprix.com reported that hearings were still pending at the time of its update, with stewards summoning Norris and Piastri, Pérez and Stroll, and the Albon-Bortoleto-Bottas trio, while the classification remained provisional; Hamilton's possible yellow-flag infringement was reviewed without further investigation. ⁵

McLaren team-mates collide on the final lap

With three laps remaining, Piastri and Norris had closed onto the struggling Leclerc's tail, the FIA reported. On the final lap, Norris attempted to pass Piastri at Turn 5, but the McLaren pair made contact and spun. Norris dropped to eighth, while Piastri failed to complete the final lap and was classified 14th, a lapped finisher. ²

The BBC reported that the stewards investigated the incident but took no action on the basis that both drivers had contributed to it, meaning McLaren kept the single point Norris scored in eighth. Grandprix.com noted that fourth and fifth had become a single point between them as a result of the crash. ⁸⁵

Norris defended the attempt, telling F1 'It was a big gap, I went for it, I have the right to do that', and explaining he had tried to back out as the space closed, according to Grandprix.com. Piastri offered a different view: 'I didn't see him at the apex.' The BBC's analysis was that Norris was initially far enough alongside to make a legitimate attempt, but was not far enough alongside at the apex to satisfy the driving standards rules. ⁵⁸

Australia's ABC News reported that Norris apologised over team radio – 'Sorry about that. Obviously, I didn't want that to happen' – and told Sky Sports he would review the incident after apologising to the team. It quoted Piastri downplaying the stakes: 'From where I sit, it's for fourth and fifth for a sprint race, so I'm not that bothered either way.' ⁴

The collision allowed Kimi Antonelli to secure fourth ahead of Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson, Bearman and Hülkenberg, the FIA reported, with Gasly and Esteban Ocon completing the top 10, followed by Alonso, Sainz and Lindblad. Only 13 drivers reached the finish, according to Grandprix.com, and ABC News noted the nine non-finishers set a record for a Formula 1 Sprint race. ²⁵⁴

Brown issues firm instruction after unnecessary result

Crash.net reported that McLaren Racing chief executive Zak Brown, speaking to Martin Brundle on the starting grid ahead of Sunday's Grand Prix, said of the Sprint clash: 'That was a "don't do that again." And we didn't say please. That's an order.' Asked whether he was really upset, Brown confirmed: 'Yeah. You can't have that.' He called it 'an unnecessary result for the team when a lot of pressure is on, and we're trying to catch Ferrari and Red Bull's not far behind.' ¹

'The stewards determined that no penalty was going to be handed out, and McLaren would keep the single point they collected,' Crash.net reported. The outlet also noted that team principal Andrea Stella told Sky Sports on Saturday evening the incident was 'not acceptable'. ¹

Crash.net reported that both McLaren cars finished the Grand Prix, with Norris fourth and Piastri fifth, allowing the team to hold onto third in the Constructors' standings despite Verstappen winning both races for Red Bull. Norris had qualified fifth for the main race and Piastri seventh, according to ABC News. ¹⁴

Verstappen completes the double, Antonelli takes podium

Formula1.com's race-day team reactions confirmed Verstappen converted pole into a Grand Prix win to add to his Sprint victory, while Hadjar – forced into a pit lane start after changing set-up under parc ferme conditions and taking on more power-unit components – fought back to 10th and the final point. ⁷

Ferrari's race was complicated by strategy. Formula1.com reported that Leclerc pitted again under a late Virtual Safety Car on fresh soft tyres, catching and passing Hamilton for second, while Hamilton stayed out on worn rubber and fell to sixth. Hamilton told the publication the call was his own: 'I take full responsibility for the decisions I made.' ⁷

Formula1.com's video report described Antonelli snuck past Norris for fourth on lap 54 and then powered past Lewis Hamilton the following lap to claim the final podium place, with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff telling the publication Antonelli 'had the pace to claim the final podium spot'. ⁶⁷

The Mercedes statements reported that Antonelli's result extended his championship lead to 102 points, meaning he could clinch the title at the next round, while Russell climbed from 19th on the grid to ninth after grid penalties. ⁷

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies told Formula1.com that pole and victory in both the Sprint and the Grand Prix was 'a tremendous result for the whole Team', adding that the pace 'was very impressive' and calling it a special moment as Verstappen finally added Singapore to his list of victories. ⁷

Sprint points reshuffle the standings

Grandprix.com reported that Antonelli's five points for fourth extended his championship lead over Russell to 89 points, with 325 against 236, while Hamilton remained third on 221 and Verstappen moved ahead of Norris into fifth, one point behind Leclerc. The same report noted that Ferrari's double podium earned 13 points and reduced its deficit to Mercedes in the Constructors' Championship to 143 points, with 418 against 561. ⁵