News Summary
- Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collided at Turn 4 on the final lap of the Singapore GP sprint while battling for fourth position.
- Piastri retired after being spun around by contact with Norris, who continued to finish eighth.
- Max Verstappen won the rain-affected sprint, which had already featured George Russell’s early crash and several retirements.
McLaren’s Singapore GP sprint ended in disaster on Saturday, October 10, after Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collided on the final lap while fighting for fourth place, leaving the Australian out of the race and Norris eighth as Max Verstappen claimed victory at Marina Bay.
The two McLaren drivers were running immediately behind Charles Leclerc and ahead of championship leader Kimi Antonelli when Norris attempted to pass Piastri around the outside at Turn 4. The cars made contact, sending Piastri into a spin and ending his race just moments before the chequered flag.
Norris managed to continue but dropped to eighth, salvaging one championship point from a race in which McLaren had been positioned to score with both cars.
Norris and Piastri collide while fighting for fourth
The McLaren drivers entered the final lap separated by very little as they chased Leclerc’s Ferrari, with fourth place still being contested.
Norris attempted to make a move around the outside of Piastri at Turn 4, but the two cars touched during the manoeuvre. The contact sent Piastri spinning, while Norris also lost time before continuing.
The Australian was unable to complete the race, recording a retirement after spending much of the sprint inside the points-paying positions.
The incident came at the end of a difficult race in changing conditions, with the circuit still affected by the heavy rain that had delayed the start.
McLaren had qualified fourth and fifth for the sprint, with Piastri ahead of Norris. Both had remained in contention for points before their late collision.
The team now faces an investigation of the incident and the consequences for its drivers ahead of Saturday’s separate qualifying session for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Verstappen wins after Russell’s early crash
The race had already produced a dramatic opening when Russell overtook Verstappen for the lead at the start, only to lose control and crash into the barriers on lap two.
The Mercedes driver touched a wet kerb at the final corner, spun and struck the wall, triggering a safety car.
Russell escaped uninjured but retired immediately, losing an opportunity to reduce Antonelli’s championship advantage.
As GRANDE PRÊMIO reported during the race, the accident came just moments after Russell had taken the lead from Verstappen.
The Red Bull driver subsequently regained control of the race and secured victory in Singapore’s first Formula 1 sprint.
Verstappen had already secured pole position on Friday with a 1:31.156, narrowly beating Russell and Leclerc in qualifying.
McLaren loses valuable points in chaotic Singapore sprint
The collision between Norris and Piastri came at a particularly difficult moment for McLaren, with both drivers positioned to score points before the final lap.
Piastri’s retirement eliminated his points finish, while Norris dropped to eighth and collected only one point.
Antonelli, meanwhile, had been running behind the McLarens before the collision, giving the Mercedes driver an opportunity to gain positions as the incident unfolded.
The Singapore sprint had already been disrupted by several retirements, including Russell and Lance Stroll, while Sergio Pérez required repairs after damaging his Cadillac.
The race began after a 30-minute delay caused by heavy rainfall, with two formation laps completed before the start. Standing water and limited visibility complicated the opening stages.
The complete Singapore GP schedule, including qualifying and broadcast information is available in GRANDE PRÊMIO‘s weekend guide. GRANDE PRÊMIO follows the latest Formula 1 news throughout the Singapore GP weekend.
