News Summary
- Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix from pole, completing a successful weekend for Red Bull after his victory in Saturday’s sprint.
- Charles Leclerc finished second, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli took third after overtaking Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris late in the race.
- Gabriel Bortoleto and Franco Colapinto retired with technical problems, while George Russell faced a difficult recovery from the back of the grid.
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Max Verstappen won the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday (11 October), controlling the race from pole position to secure another victory for Red Bull at Marina Bay. Charles Leclerc finished second for Ferrari, while Kimi Antonelli recovered to third place, strengthening his position at the top of the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship.
The Dutchman had already established himself as the driver to beat over the weekend, winning Saturday’s rain-affected sprint before securing his 50th career pole position in qualifying. On Sunday, he converted that advantage into victory, keeping Leclerc behind throughout the race despite the Ferrari driver’s efforts to close the gap.
The Grand Prix was considerably calmer than Saturday’s sprint, which had featured heavy rain, several collisions and numerous retirements. Verstappen managed the race from the front, gradually extending his advantage as the leading teams worked through their tyre strategies and pit stops.
Leclerc remained his closest challenger but was unable to mount a sustained attack for the lead. The Ferrari driver showed competitive pace, including a series of fast laps, yet Verstappen maintained enough of a margin to prevent the battle from developing into a direct fight for victory.
Antonelli fights back to claim another podium
Behind the leading pair, the most significant changes came in the battle for third place.
Lewis Hamilton had spent much of the race in podium contention, but his position became increasingly vulnerable as the final stint developed. Antonelli overtook Hamilton late in the Grand Prix, while Lando Norris also found a way past the Ferrari driver, dropping the seven-time world champion to fifth.
The Mercedes driver had started fourth and was already in a strong championship position after Saturday’s sprint, when George Russell crashed out while leading. His third-place finish on Sunday further increased the pressure on his teammate, who had started near the back following a substantial power-unit penalty.
Antonelli’s performance was also significant for Mercedes’ technical programme. The Italian had remained with the aerodynamic package introduced at Sepang, while Russell reverted to an earlier specification after experiencing difficulties with the upgrade.
During the race, Antonelli had reported feeling something leaking around his feet while running sixth on lap 31. Despite that concern, he continued and ultimately reached the podium.
The result leaves Antonelli in a stronger position as the championship heads to Austin, where the title battle could reach a decisive stage. However, the precise mathematical requirements for him to secure the championship depend on the updated official standings and remaining points available.
Bortoleto and Colapinto suffer technical retirements
The race ended prematurely for two South American drivers, with Gabriel Bortoleto retiring on lap eight and Franco Colapinto stopping on lap 31.
Bortoleto had started 14th but dropped three positions on the opening lap. His race ended when he stopped his Audi near the pit exit with a gearbox problem, which the Brazilian subsequently identified as the cause of his retirement. The incident prompted the deployment of the Virtual Safety Car.
The setback contrasted with the performance of teammate Nico Hülkenberg, who gained positions at the start and spent much of the race fighting for points. Audi had already encountered gearbox-related difficulties during Friday’s practice session, when Hülkenberg was forced to stop near the pit exit.
Colapinto’s retirement came later in the Grand Prix. The Alpine driver managed to bring his car to a halt in a safe area beyond a corner, allowing race control to deal with the incident under local yellow flags without deploying another VSC or Safety Car.
It was another difficult weekend for Alpine, which had also suffered technical problems during Saturday’s sprint. The exact cause of Colapinto’s Sunday retirement had not been confirmed.
Verstappen completes strong Singapore weekend as F1 heads to Austin
Verstappen’s victory continued Red Bull’s recent improvement following its success at Sepang, where the Dutchman had also won the Grand Prix. His performance in Singapore was particularly convincing because he combined qualifying speed with effective race management on a circuit where overtaking opportunities are limited.
For Ferrari, Leclerc’s second place demonstrated the team’s competitiveness, although Hamilton’s late loss of positions prevented a double podium. Mercedes, meanwhile, left Marina Bay with another important result from Antonelli despite Russell’s difficult weekend.
The Singapore Grand Prix was the 17th round of the 2026 Formula 1 season. The championship now moves to the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, scheduled for October 23–25.
GRANDE PRÊMIO continues its Formula 1 coverage as the championship enters its final stages.
