Verstappen claims first Singapore Grand Prix victory with dominant drive
Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix in Singapore on 11 October 2026, taking his first victory at the venue and his second dominant triumph inside a week. He fended off a start-line challenge from Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and led the race from start to finish.
The victory followed Verstappen's and Red Bull's maiden win of the year in Malaysia last weekend and confirms the team's re-emergence as a major force. Leclerc finished second, and Lewis Hamilton was sixth after a baffling strategy from his team. Hamilton, trying to last out on a set of soft tyres for a mammoth 44 laps, lost out in the closing laps to Kimi Antonelli and the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Kimi Antonelli finished third. His team-mate George Russell recovered to ninth place after starting from 19th. That combination extends the Italian's championship lead to 102 points.
The key stories of the race were Verstappen's dominance reviving memories of his pomp during his title-winning era. The event also featured a confusing day at Ferrari with regard to strategy. Antonelli's result further closed him in on the world title.
Verstappen had stressed the importance of reaching the first corner ahead, given the difficulty of overtaking in Singapore, and he fought tooth and nail to do so. Leclerc got a better start and challenged down the inside as they approached Turn One. Verstappen squeezed him tight towards the pit wall; with their entry to the corner compromised, Leclerc eventually backed off and the four-time champion claimed the corner.
Verstappen, Leclerc and Hamilton ran nose to tail for the first four laps before the seven-time champion began to drop back from about lap five. Leclerc remained within a second of Verstappen for a further five laps before the Red Bull began to edge away. From that point Verstappen continued to build his lead and motored away, never looking like being beaten.
It is possible for Antonelli to clinch his first world title at the next race, the United States Grand Prix on 25 October. He would need to win the race with Russell finishing ninth or lower to become champion in Austin.