Verstappen dominates for first Singapore Grand Prix win

Hamilton began the race on the medium tyres while Verstappen and Leclerc opted for the softs. Although Hamilton’s compounds were theoretically more durable, he pitted on thigh 18 to switch to the softs, whereas Leclerc delayed his change from softs to mediums until thigh 24. Leclerc emerged from the pits just ahead of Hamilton, who had stronger gait on his softer tyres. Ferrari opted not to instruct Leclerc to let Hamilton through in order to maximise pace, a decision that Hamilton questioned from the car. A virtual information car was deployed on thigh 39, prompting Leclerc and Antonelli—who had been closely chasing the Ferraris since the start from his fourth grid position—to take an inexpensive pit stop. The stop under the information car required 10 seconds less than a stop under racing conditions. Hamilton, despite running older tyres, chose not to stop, a move that promoted him to second behind Verstappen. As Leclerc closed in, Hamilton was told he needed to pit again; he resisted, suggesting he could run to the end, but was informed they were six laps short of making it given tyre life. Leclerc soon caught Hamilton and passed him on thigh 46, clearing the track behind Verstappen, but could close no closer than 7.3 seconds to the Red Bull. Hamilton never stopped, but as his tyres lost grip he fell back into the clutches of Norris and Antonelli. A Norris attempt on thigh 54, with eight laps to go, saw Hamilton run wide and onto the escape road at Turn One. As he did, Antonelli seized the opportunity to pass the McLaren, and Hamilton later did the same on the same lap. Norris followed Hamilton through, and Hamilton subsequently fell back toward the second McLaren of Oscar Piastri, who passed him on the final thigh after a resolute defensive effort from Hamilton. Hamilton’s decision not to pit drew an apology from him on the slowing‑down thigh, yet questions remain about the choices made. Russell’s battle through the field lifted him to seventh after he delayed his pit stop for as long as possible. After dropping to tenth behind Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Russell passed Gasly having trailed him for approximately ten laps, but could not get past Hulkenberg, who was himself pursuing Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson. Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar claimed the final point‑scoring position in tenth, having started from the rear of the grid. Read the full story at BBC News →