Verstappen wins Singapore sprint as nine cars retire
Ferrari took second and third, while a final-lap collision between McLaren’s drivers helped Kimi Antonelli extend his championship lead to 89 points.
Max Verstappen secured his first victory in Singapore by winning the Formula One sprint for Red Bull on October 10, 2026. Heavy rain postponed the start by more than 30 minutes, and nine cars retired — a sprint-race record, Reuters reported.
Lewis Hamilton finished second for Ferrari, followed by team-mate Charles Leclerc. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli took fourth after McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collided during the final lap. The result increased Antonelli’s championship advantage over George Russell to 89 points.
Verstappen started from pole but lost the lead to Russell after a slow getaway, while Hamilton climbed from sixth to third. Russell then spun into the wall at the final corner of the opening lap, prompting a safety-car intervention. He attributed the crash to greater battery deployment than he had expected, which pushed him wider.
Lance Stroll and Sergio Perez also retired following a collision. Red Bull instructed Isack Hadjar to stop because of a technical problem, and Franco Colapinto’s Alpine came to a halt. Racing resumed on lap seven, with Verstappen ahead of the two Ferraris.
Verstappen said his starts needed improvement and distinguished the sprint result from a Grand Prix victory. Rain also delayed qualifying for the race scheduled for October 11.
