Singapore Grand Prix 2026 Race Report
Max Verstappen conquers Marina Bay as Kimi Antonelli strengthens championship lead
Max Verstappen finally conquered the streets of Singapore, delivering a controlled performance under the lights at Marina Bay Street Circuit to secure his first Singapore Grand Prix victory.
The Red Bull driver led all 62 laps, holding off Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and finishing ahead of Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, who strengthened his position in the 2026 championship battle.
Race Results
1. Max Verstappen
Red Bull Racing · Winner
25 points
2. Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
+7.335 seconds
3. Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes
+24.573 seconds
The start — Verstappen holds his ground
Verstappen made a strong start from pole position, defending against Leclerc into the opening corner.
The Ferrari driver stayed close during the early stages, but Verstappen gradually established control and built a comfortable advantage.
Mid-race — Red Bull executes
The pit-stop phase proved crucial.
Verstappen switched from soft to medium tyres on Lap 33 and retained the lead after his stop.
Red Bull managed the one-stop strategy effectively, allowing its driver to maintain his advantage despite radio communication problems that forced the team to rely on pit-board messages.
The fight for the podium
Antonelli produced another impressive drive to secure third.
Lando Norris challenged for the final podium position, but a failed attempt to pass Lewis Hamilton allowed Antonelli to move ahead.
Hamilton subsequently struggled with tyre performance and finished sixth, while Oscar Piastri took fifth for McLaren
Top 10 Finishers
Pos. Driver Team
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull
2 Charles Leclerc Ferrari
3 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes
4 Lando Norris McLaren
5 Oscar Piastri McLaren
6 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari
7 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls
8 Nico Hülkenberg Audi
9 George Russell Mercedes
10 Isack Hadjar Red Bull
Championship Implications
Antonelli’s third-place finish further strengthened his championship position. Verstappen’s consecutive victories in Malaysia and Singapore also demonstrated Red Bull’s renewed competitiveness, putting additional pressure on McLaren in the constructors’ standings
Final Verdict.
The 2026 Singapore Grand Prix belonged to Verstappen.
His first victory at Marina Bay was built on a commanding start, disciplined tyre management and a flawless pit-stop strategy. Leclerc earned a strong second place, while Antonelli continued to demonstrate the consistency required of a championship contender.
With the season approaching its decisive stages, Verstappen has regained momentum, Mercedes remains firmly in the championship conversation, and McLaren faces increasing pressure to respond.
Race result: Max Verstappen wins the Singapore Grand Prix ahead of Charles Leclerc and Kimi Antonelli.
