Max Verstappen won the wet Singapore Grand Prix sprint race on Saturday before claiming pole position for Sunday’s main event. George Russell led briefly from the start before crashing into the pit lane wall.
Max Verstappen took victory in the wet Formula 1 sprint race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit on Saturday and followed it hours later by capturing pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix. Red Bull’s four-time world champion finished 2.50 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton in the sprint after Mercedes driver George Russell crashed out of the lead on the opening lap, Al Jazeera reported. The result gave the Dutchman his first win of any kind in Singapore, coming on the heels of his and Red Bull’s first win of the season at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, according to BBC News.
How the sprint race unfolded
The sprint start was pushed back by 30 minutes following a heavy shower that hit 10 minutes before the scheduled start. When the cars completed two formation laps behind the safety car, the entire grid began on intermediate tires across a circuit where some sectors were much drier than others.
Russell started on the front row alongside pole-sitter Verstappen and launched faster to take the lead into the opening sequence. That advantage ended on the final bend of the first lap, where Russell lost control after touching the white line and slid sideways into the pit lane wall. The crash triggered a safety car period. Russell told Sky Sports that a miscalculation with battery deployment carried him wider than intended onto the line, calling the incident a “Silly mistake. Big consequences.”
Hamilton capitalized immediately after charging up from sixth on the grid, passing Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc and both McLarens on the first lap to move into second. Verstappen managed the tricky conditions from the restart onward. He explained that his approach required patience on a track that was drying in parts and greasy elsewhere, with high tire degradation and only a single racing line available, Yahoo Sports reported.
A battle behind the leaders shifted the final points on the last lap when McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collided and spun while running fourth and fifth. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli capitalized to take fourth for Mercedes after starting seventh. Liam Lawson placed fifth for RB, Oliver Bearman took sixth for Haas, and Nico Hulkenberg crossed in seventh for Audi. Norris recovered to limp home in eighth for the final point, while Leclerc completed the podium behind Hamilton.
Qualifying battle for Sunday’s grid
Hours after winning the sprint, Verstappen returned for grand prix qualifying and secured pole position for Sunday’s race. After topping the timesheets, Verstappen said, “This was the one I really wanted.”
Ferrari drivers remained in contention but missed out in the final round. Leclerc qualified third after battling braking issues during the opening two segments, explaining that small mistakes on his final lap cost him a shot at pole. Hamilton set the fastest times in both the first and second sessions of qualifying, but balance snaps through Turns 1 and 3 during his final flying laps left him unable to match that pace.
Start troubles and what happens next
Verstappen noted that his sprint victory carried little meaning for him because his main priority is winning Sunday’s grand prix. While Red Bull’s car has shown competitive pace at Marina Bay, Verstappen warned that poor starts remain a pressing weakness for the team.
Mercedes cars had swept past Verstappen off the line in Malaysia, and Russell repeated the move at the start of Saturday’s sprint. Verstappen said Red Bull’s inability to accelerate off the line is an ongoing limitation that could cost them Sunday’s race if it happens again, noting that sister team Racing Bulls often manages better launches.
Russell is scheduled to start Sunday’s grand prix from the back of the grid after receiving engine penalties, leaving him facing a difficult recovery on a street circuit known for limited overtaking opportunities. Verstappen will lead the field from pole position as he searches for his first grand prix win at Marina Bay.
