Max Verstappen won the rain-affected Singapore Grand Prix Sprint after George Russell crashed out from the lead on the opening lap, while Lewis Hamilton finished second for Ferrari and a late collision eliminated McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. The 20-lap race at Marina Bay was delayed by 30 minutes because of heavy rain, and Verstappen’s victory came after he lost the lead at the start before Russell’s error changed the order.
Russell made the better getaway from second on the grid and passed polesitter Verstappen into Turn 1. Hamilton also made substantial early progress, moving from sixth to third on the damp circuit. However, Russell’s Sprint ended at the final corner of the first lap when he ran wide, touched the white line and crashed into the barrier.
The Mercedes driver later accepted responsibility, saying he had misjudged the exit after receiving more battery deployment than he expected. He described the mistake as overly confident driving in wet conditions. Verstappen inherited the lead and, after a Safety Car period, managed the changing surface and increasingly worn intermediate tyres to keep Hamilton behind.
According to the FIA’s official result, Verstappen crossed the line 2.591 seconds clear of Hamilton, with Charles Leclerc third for Ferrari. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli finished fourth for Mercedes, ahead of Liam Lawson, Oliver Bearman and Nico Hülkenberg. Norris took eighth, the final points-paying place, after his collision with Piastri.
Russell’s mistake turns the Sprint
The opening lap provided the defining change in a race in which track position was especially valuable. Verstappen had started from pole but described his launch as poor, allowing Russell to take control immediately. Russell’s crash then handed the Red Bull driver clear air at the front, and Verstappen said overtaking was difficult in the wet-to-drying conditions.
That sequence mattered more than the final winning margin. Hamilton remained close during the middle part of the Sprint, but Verstappen gradually extended his advantage as the circuit dried. The FIA reported that the gap grew to around five seconds before Verstappen controlled the closing stages, with Hamilton ultimately finishing 2.591 seconds behind.
Russell’s retirement compounds an already difficult Singapore weekend. Sky Sports reported that he is due to start Sunday’s Grand Prix from the back of the grid after taking a new power unit, regardless of his qualifying position. Qualifying was delayed after the late finish of the Sprint, while Mercedes faced repairs to Russell’s car.
For Verstappen, the result offered useful evidence of Red Bull’s pace but also exposed an immediate concern. He said the team needed to improve its starts, arguing that another poor launch in the Grand Prix could be highly costly if no unusual incident intervened. He also said the Sprint victory did not replace his objective of winning Sunday’s full-distance race.
McLaren’s final-lap collision costs Piastri
McLaren’s drivers had been running close together behind Leclerc as the Ferrari driver struggled with tyre wear. On the final lap at Turn 5, Norris attempted an inside move on Piastri while contesting fourth place. Their cars made contact and spun; Piastri hit the wall and did not complete the final lap, though he was classified 14th. Norris continued with damage and finished eighth.
The stewards placed the collision under investigation after the race. Norris said he had seen an opportunity but that the gap narrowed as he attempted the move, while Piastri said he needed to review the incident before offering a firm view. Neither account establishes responsibility, and any sporting consequence remained unresolved in the supplied reports.
The incident reshaped the points immediately available to the two drivers. Piastri was classified 14th, while Norris finished eighth in the final points-paying position. Antonelli benefited by taking fourth, with Lawson, Bearman and Hülkenberg also moving ahead of the damaged McLaren.
Hamilton’s second place followed his opening-lap rise from sixth to third. Verstappen, however, remains the Sprint winner and heads into qualifying after a Sprint victory.