Verstappen Dominates 2026 Singapore Sprint

(Image credit: Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claimed a dominant victory from Lewis Hamilton in a wet 2026 Singapore Sprint.

Verstappen initially lost the lead to Mercedes’ George Russell at the start after a 30-minute delay due to a rain shower, but the former four-time champion regained the lead a lap later after Russell spun out of the lead.

Verstappen subsequently proceeded to cruise to victory from Hamilton and Charles Leclerc,

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris were set for fourth and fifth until the pair spun around at Turn Four on the final lap which promoted Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Liam Lawson, Oliver Bearman and Nico Hulkenberg to fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh.

Norris however recovered to eighth and the final points-paying position.

In the drivers’ standings, Antonelli extended his title lead over Russell to 87 points.

A heavy rain shower ten minutes before the planned sprint start led to the formation lap start time being delayed 30 minutes, before Verstappen suffered wheel spin on the standing start after two formation laps and lost the lead to Russell.

Hamilton meanwhile swept past Norris, Piastri then Leclerc to climb to third by the first corner.

Further behind the lead drivers, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll tried to sweep around the outside of Cadillac’s Sergio Perez into Turn 16 but got spun out by the Mexican, who subsequently retired with damage in the pit lane.

Russell shortly afterwards spun out of the lead across the start-finish line after he dipped his right-sided tyres on the outside kerb, which sent his Mercedes sliding into the pit wall then back across the track.

The safety car consequently was deployed during which Isack Hadjar retired with a brake issue, whilst Alpine’s Franco Colapinto suffered a sudden power unit shutdown.

Racing recommenced on lap seven but towards the end of lap six as Verstappen set the pace of the restart, Williams’ Alex Albon ran into the back of Gabriel Bortoleto which caused Valtteri Bottas to helplessly hit the rear of Albon’s car.

Bortoleto and Bottas consequently retired in the pit lane due to the damage.

Up front, the top seven held position whilst Bearman passed Pierre Gasly on the restart as the Frenchman slipped down to 11th after Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Ocon too passed him.

Leclerc’s intermediate tyres however degraded by the final lap which allowed Piastri to reel him in but the Aussie ran wide on entry to Turn Four on the final lap, which allowed Norris to dive down the inside only for Piastri to get back alongside and Norris helplessly clipped Piastri’s right-rear tyre.

Both McLaren drivers consequently spun in synchronisation whilst Antonelli, Lawson, Bearman and Hulkenberg gained two positions, but Norris crucially kept his power running and finished eighth.

Position Driver Team Laps Time
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull 20 20 Laps
2 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 20 + 2.591
3 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 20 + 16.871
4 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 20 + 17.238
5 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls 20 + 20.632
6 Oliver Bearman Haas 20 + 24.321
7 Nico Hulkenberg Audi 20 + 27.525
8 Lando Norris McLaren 20 + 28.272
9 Esteban Ocon Haas 20 + 36.220
10 Pierre Gasly Alpine 20 + 37.640
11 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 20 + 50.464
12 Carlos Sainz Williams 20 + 52.467
13 Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls 20 + 55.792
14 Oscar Piastri McLaren 19 Spin
RET Alex Albon Williams 15 Damage
RET Gabriel Bortoleto Audi 6 Damage
RET Valtteri Bottas Cadillac 6 Damage
RET Franco Colapinto Alpine 3 Power Unit
RET Isack Hadjar Red Bull 2 Brakes
RET George Russell Mercedes 1 Spin
RET Sergio Perez Cadillac 1 Collision
RET Lance Stroll Aston Martin 0 Collision

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