Verstappen wins the Singapore Sprint as Russell crashes out and the McLarens collide
Hamilton finishes second and Leclerc third, Antonelli extends his lead to 89 points, and Piastri retires after last-lap contact with Norris
Max Verstappen won the Singapore Sprint on Saturday, a day after taking Sprint pole, with Lewis Hamilton second and Charles Leclerc third. On a damp Marina Bay circuit, nine of the 22 starters did not reach the flag, among them George Russell, who crashed out of the lead on the second lap, and Oscar Piastri, who retired after contact with his McLaren teammate Lando Norris on the final lap.
The final classification (FIA document 66) confirms the order from the live timing: Verstappen won in 39:48.162 over 20 laps, and Hamilton set the fastest lap on the final lap. The full result, and any decisions by the stewards, are on our Singapore Grand Prix 2026 results page.
Russell led for a lap, then hit the wall
Russell made the better start from second on the grid and took the lead from Verstappen. It lasted barely a lap: on lap 2 the Mercedes went into the wall and the safety car came out. Russell already faces a 40-place grid drop for Sunday’s Grand Prix after an engine change, so he now goes into the race without Sprint points and from the back of the grid.
Verstappen inherited the lead and nailed the restart, pulling clear of Hamilton straight away. The track was still too wet for slicks, so drivers who pitted under the safety car took fresh intermediates rather than gamble on dry tyres. For how a neutralisation shapes a race like this, see our Safety Car and VSC explainer.
Hamilton from sixth to second
Behind Verstappen, Hamilton climbed from sixth on the grid to second, finishing 2.591 seconds behind according to the live timing. Leclerc made it two Ferraris on the podium, ahead of championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who finished fourth from seventh on the grid. Liam Lawson was fifth for Racing Bulls.
Oliver Bearman gained seven places to finish sixth from 13th on the grid, and Nico Hulkenberg took seventh for Audi from 12th. Norris completed the points in eighth. Carlos Sainz started from the pit lane after a suspension change under parc fermé, according to the stewards, and finished 12th.
A McLaren collision on the last lap
The McLarens were running in the top six until the final lap. Norris tried to go up the inside of Piastri as Piastri turned into the corner, and the two made contact at Turn 5. Piastri retired on the spot, and Norris dropped to eighth. The stewards took no further action, ruling that “neither driver was wholly or predominantly to blame for the collision”.
Piastri was one of nine retirements. Lance Stroll did not complete a lap after Sergio Pérez locked up and hit him at Turn 16. The stewards held Pérez responsible, but applied no penalty because he was not classified. Russell, Isack Hadjar and Franco Colapinto were out within the first two laps, Gabriel Bortoleto and Valtteri Bottas retired after a concertina at a safety car restart, in which Albon hit Bortoleto and Bottas hit Albon at Turn 16. None of the three was penalised because all of them retired, and Alexander Albon was told to retire his Williams on lap 15.
Antonelli adds five, Russell none
With eight points for the win, Verstappen added to his victory at Sepang last Sunday. In the championship, the Sprint helps Antonelli more than anyone: his five points for fourth extend his lead over Russell from 84 to 89 points, according to the FIA standings after the Sprint. Hamilton’s seven points for second take him to 221, still third in the standings. Our title permutations will be updated after Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Our view
Verstappen has now turned Friday’s single lap into a Saturday win, and he did it the hard way, losing the lead at the start and taking it back the moment the race restarted. With Russell starting Sunday from the back and Mercedes still comparing two specifications, Red Bull and Ferrari look like the teams to beat in the Grand Prix. McLaren, meanwhile, threw away points on the last lap that it cannot afford.
What to watch
- Grand Prix qualifying at 15:00 CEST (21:00 local).
- The Grand Prix start on Sunday at 14:00 CEST (20:00 local).
- Whether the track dries before qualifying, after a Sprint in which the track stayed too wet for slicks.
- Russell’s climb from the back on Sunday, and how many points Antonelli can add to his lead.
Read our Sprint Qualifying report and our Singapore preview, and see how the format works in our Sprint explainer.
Can anyone stop Verstappen in Sunday’s Grand Prix, or is Singapore finally his? Tell us in the comments.
