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Verstappen Wins Singapore Sprint After Russell Crashes
Confirmed
In Short: Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix sprint race after George Russell crashed his Mercedes.
Heavy rain delayed the start of the Singapore Grand Prix sprint race by 30 minutes, according to Al Jazeera (Qatar) and Autoweek. Al Jazeera reported that the race was delayed by 10 minutes before the scheduled start, while Autoweek noted that the pre-race downpour soaked half of the circuit, particularly Turns 2 and 3.
George Russell, driving for Mercedes, led the race off the line but crashed at the end of the first lap, spinning across the track and into the barrier, as reported by Al Jazeera (Qatar), Bluefield Daily Telegraph, The Spec, and couriernews.com. Dailysabah (Türkiye) and Formula1 also noted that Russell had overtaken Max Verstappen at the start but lost control and crashed shortly after.
Verstappen inherited the lead after Russell's crash and went on to win the race by 2.50 seconds over Lewis Hamilton, with Charles Leclerc finishing third, as reported by Al Jazeera (Qatar) and Sports. Al Jazeera added that the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri touched and spun on the final lap while in fourth and fifth, benefiting Kimi Antonelli, who inherited fourth place from seventh on the grid.
The race saw drivers remain on Intermediate tires throughout despite parts of the circuit drying, as noted by Autoweek. Verstappen, in a quote to Autoweek, said, “Silly mistake, big consequences,” referring to Russell’s crash and his own inherited lead.
Kimi Antonelli extended his title advantage to 89 points after Russell’s exit and the McLarens’ implosion, as reported by Autoweek. Antonelli had a low-key race from seventh on the grid but moved up to fourth due to the incidents.
Verstappen’s win was his first of any kind in Singapore, as noted by Al Jazeera (Qatar). He expressed dissatisfaction with the race format, stating that the circuit needs redesigning and lacks entertainment value for a sprint race, as reported by Scmp (Hong Kong) and Sports.
Verstappen and Hamilton both criticized the start of the race, with Verstappen saying, “The start was horrendous again, so that’s definitely something that we need to improve on because if you have something like that tomorrow, that’s your race over,” as quoted by Sports.
Russell’s crash was attributed to an unexpected spike in battery deployment, as revealed by George Russell to PlanetF1. Russell apologized over the radio, saying, “I’m fine. Sorry, sorry, sorry,” as quoted by The Spec.
The race’s chaotic start and Russell’s crash highlighted the challenges of racing in wet conditions, with drivers struggling to maintain control on the slippery track.
Despite the differing details provided by various outlets, they all agreed that Verstappen won the sprint race after Russell’s crash, with Hamilton finishing second and Leclerc third.
What this adds
The race's start was delayed due to heavy rain, with different outlets specifying the duration and extent of the delay. The race saw multiple retirements and incidents, with Verstappen and Hamilton both criticizing the race format and start conditions.
Background
Max Verstappen secured pole position for the sprint race at the Singapore Grand Prix, with George Russell joining him on the front row.
What's confirmed
- A heavy shower 10 minutes before the scheduled start meant a delay of 30 minutes.
- Four-time Formula One champion Verstappen held off Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton to win by 2.50 seconds, with Charles Leclerc third as the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri touched and spun on the final lap while in fourth and fifth.
- The big beneficiary of Norris and Piastri’s “papaya spat” on the last lap was championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who inherited fourth place in his Mercedes having started seventh on the grid.
- Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won a wet and wild Singapore Grand Prix sprint race on Saturday after George Russell crashed his Mercedes while leading at the end of the opening lap.
- The eventual standing start saw Russell start on the front row alongside pole-sitter Verstappen and it was the Englishman who got away better.
- It was another setback in a season of bad luck for Russell, who will start from the back of the grid in Sunday’s Grand Prix because of engine penalties.
- Russell beat Verstappen off the line at the start in wet conditions but lost control at the end of the first lap, spinning across the track and into the barrier.
What's still developing
- In a repeat of last weekend’s start at Sepang, Russell charged past polesitter Verstappen in the slippery conditions and initially drove into the distance, only to undo that work by dramatically crashing at the final corner of the first lap.
- When the sprint got underway, it was still a tale of two halves in terms of track conditions and all cars started on intermediate tyres after two formation laps.
- When the race restarted, Verstappen drove away from Lewis Hamilton, who had gained three places with a brilliant start.
- Red Bull driver says ‘we shouldn’t host a sprint where you can’t pass’ after he claims first win in city state as nine cars retire Singapore’s Formula 1 circuit needs redesigning and lacks entertainment value for a sprint race, Saturday’s sprint winner Max Verstappen and runner-up Lewis Hamilton said after the 20-lap race involved little overtaking.
- 11, the Russellville Fire Department became the first in Arkansas to carry blood onboard emergency vehicles and have the ability to perform blood transfusions onsite.
- The formation laps at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia saw several drivers slowing to a crawl or stopping completely; watch the Singapore GP Sprint weekend from this Friday, live on Sky Sports F1 Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The FIA revealed an “unprecedented” glitch caused several cars to stop in the chaotic start to the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
- Isack Hadjar and Pierre Gasly round out the top ten. — Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) October 9, 2026 “Close to the walls in places, but once we bolted all the soft tires, it felt like the car was coming alive a little bit more,” said Verstappen after stepping from his Red Bull.
- "It's closer in Singapore. Your lap itself, you're pushing as hard as you think is possible, close to the walls in places," Verstappen said.