Max Verstappen dominates, but Antonelli’s podium finish is worth half the world championship
The Singapore Grand Prix delivered an intense race on the Marina Bay street circuit, where Max Verstappen confirmed Red Bull’s competitiveness and claimed victory ahead of Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari. Kimi Antonelli was also a standout performer, finishing third in his Mercedes and solidifying his lead in the Formula 1 World Championship.
The Dutch driver, who started from pole position after also winning Saturday’s Sprint Race, managed the race with authority, gradually increasing his lead over the chasing pack. Leclerc tried to keep pace with the Red Bull but had to settle for second place, despite a convincing performance and several fast laps in the closing stages.
It was still a positive result for Ferrari, even though Lewis Hamilton was unable to complete the Maranello team’s celebration. The Brit, initially in the fight for the podium, struggled with tire management and lost ground in the closing stages after being overtaken by Antonelli and rivals making a comeback.
The young Italian’s race takes on special significance in the context of the world championship. After finishing fourth in the Sprint, Antonelli managed to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the race, stayed in contact with the front-runners, and moved into podium positions. This was an important result for the championship leader, who also benefited from the struggles of his teammate George Russell, who was forced to make a comeback after starting from the back of the grid due to a power unit replacement.
Race results:
1 Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing):
2 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +7.335
3 Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +24.573
4 Lando Norris (McLaren) +40.506
5 Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +49.644
6 Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +53.514
7 Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) +82.111
8 Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) +83.966
9 George Russell (Mercedes) +85.118
10 Isack Hadjar (Red Bull Racing) +89.731
11 Pierre Gasly (Alpine) 1 L
12 Oliver Bearman (Haas) 1 L
13 Esteban Ocon (Haas) 1 L
14 Carlos Sainz (Williams) 1 L
15 Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) 1 L
16 Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) 1 L
17 Alexander Albon (Williams) 1 L
18 Sergio Perez (Cadillac) 2 L
19 Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) 3 L
