F1 Singapore GP Sprint: Max Verstappen Wins Rain-Hit Race as George Russell Crashes Out

Singapore, October 10, 2026: Max Verstappen won a dramatic, rain-affected Sprint at the 2026 FIA Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, beating Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc after George Russell crashed out of the lead on the opening lap. A late collision between McLaren team-mates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris added further drama to an incident-filled 20-lap race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

The Red Bull driver took the chequered flag 2.591 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Hamilton, while Leclerc secured third place despite struggling with intermediate tyre degradation in the closing stages. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli finished fourth for Mercedes after benefiting from the McLaren pair’s late collision.

Russell Crashes Out After Taking the Lead

Heavy rain swept across Singapore shortly before the scheduled start, leaving standing water at Turns 2 and 3 and forcing officials to delay the Sprint by 30 minutes. With conditions varying across the circuit, drivers completed two formation laps before starting the 20-lap contest on intermediate tyres.

Polesitter Verstappen initially lost the advantage to Mercedes’ Russell, who made a strong getaway and swept into the lead at Turn 1. Hamilton also made an excellent start, moving up from sixth to third ahead of Leclerc, Piastri and Norris.

However, Russell’s lead lasted less than a lap. The Mercedes driver lost control over the kerb on the exit of the final corner and crashed into the inside barrier, bringing his Sprint to an abrupt end.

Verstappen inherited the lead, while further incidents added to the opening-lap chaos. Lance Stroll and Sergio Pérez collided at Turn 16, eliminating both drivers, while Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar retired after reporting an engine-braking problem.

The Safety Car was deployed to allow marshals to recover the stranded cars. During the neutralisation, Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad spun but managed to rejoin, while Alpine’s Franco Colapinto retired with a technical problem.

Verstappen Controls Restart as Hamilton Applies Pressure

Racing resumed after five laps behind the Safety Car, with Verstappen controlling the restart ahead of Hamilton and Leclerc. The Dutchman immediately began managing the pace at the front as drivers negotiated the slippery surface and changing grip levels.

Further down the order, Haas driver Oliver Bearman overtook Alpine’s Pierre Gasly following a prolonged wheel-to-wheel battle through the opening sector. Gasly subsequently lost another position to Audi’s Nico Hülkenberg, complaining that the German driver had forced him wide. The stewards decided that no further investigation was necessary.

Hamilton initially stayed within striking distance of Verstappen, with the gap fluctuating between 0.7 and 1.4 seconds through Lap 11. However, as the circuit gradually dried, intermediate tyre management became increasingly important.

Verstappen handled the changing conditions effectively and began extending his advantage. The Red Bull driver opened a three-second lead by Lap 13 before stretching the margin to approximately five seconds three laps later.

Hamilton was unable to match Verstappen’s pace over the closing stages, leaving the reigning Red Bull challenger in control of the race.

McLaren Collision Hands Antonelli Fourth Place

While Verstappen established his advantage, Leclerc faced growing difficulties with front-tyre degradation. The Ferrari driver came under pressure from the pursuing McLarens and Antonelli as the Sprint approached its conclusion.

With three laps remaining, Piastri and Norris had closed in on Leclerc, setting up a tense battle for the final podium position. However, the McLaren team-mates dramatically disrupted their own challenge on the final lap.

Norris attempted to pass Piastri at Turn 5, but the pair made contact and spun. Norris dropped to eighth place, while Piastri failed to complete the final lap and was classified 14th, one lap behind the winner.

The collision allowed Antonelli to move into fourth, finishing just 0.367 seconds behind Leclerc. Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson took fifth, followed by Bearman and Hülkenberg, while Norris recovered to eighth ahead of Gasly and Esteban Ocon, who completed the top 10.

Fernando Alonso finished 11th for Aston Martin, ahead of Williams driver Carlos Sainz and Lindblad.

Eight Drivers Retire in Incident-Filled Singapore Sprint

The difficult conditions and multiple collisions resulted in eight retirements. Russell, Pérez and Stroll were among the early casualties, while Hadjar and Colapinto also exited the race within the opening two laps.

Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas retired on Lap 6 following a three-car collision involving Williams driver Alexander Albon, who subsequently retired on Lap 14.

Despite the interruptions, Verstappen maintained his composure through the changing conditions to secure a convincing Sprint victory. Hamilton finished second for Ferrari, while Leclerc held on to the final podium position ahead of Antonelli.

The result provided Verstappen with an important Singapore Sprint win, while the late McLaren collision proved costly for both Piastri and Norris in a race that featured a delayed start, multiple retirements and rapidly changing track conditions.

2026 FIA Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix Sprint – Complete Results

Note: Time gaps are as supplied in the race classification. Retired drivers are listed separately from the classified finishers.