Race Notes - Russell wins Singapore from pole

By Mark Karp

George Russell, after taking pole position on Saturday, won the Singapore Grand Prix in his Mercedes GP.

Max Verstappen in the Red Bull-Honda finished second, 5.430 behind the winner.

Lando Norris in the McLaren-Mercedes was just behind Verstappen, 6.066 behind the winner.

McLaren clinched its second straight Constructors Championship - the tenth for the team, and it’s first consecutive back to back season since 1990-91.

The win is Russell’s second win of the 2025 season, and fifth of his career. It is also Russell’s eighth podium of the season.

Piastri continues to lead the Driver’s Championship by 22 points ahead of Norris and 63 points over Verstappen.

Oscar Piastri (8.146s) in the second McLaren was fourth, followed by Kimi Antonelli (33.681s) in the second Mercedes was fifth, Charles Leclerc (45.996s) in the Ferrari was sixth, his team mate Lewis Hamilton (1m20.251s) with failing brakes in the last few laps was seventh, Fernando Alonso (1m20.667s) in his Aston Martin-Mercedes was eighth, Oliver Bearman (1m33.527s) in the Haas-Ferrari was ninth, and Carlos Sainz (1 lap) in the Williams-Mercedes took the final point in tenth place.

Earlier, one hour before the start, there was a light rain shower at Marina Bay. The surface was damp, but drying quickly as the temperature was rising.

Overnight the two Williams cars were disqualified from qualifying for having their rear wings DRS slot opening too much, Sainz starting 18th and Gasly and Alex Albon starting from the pitlane.

Russell on pole with Verstappen alongside on the front row, Piastri and Antonelli on row 2, Norris and Hamilton on row 3, Leclerc and Isack Hadjar on row 4, and Bearman and Alonso rounding out the top ten.

It is still slightly damp, and all of the drivers starting on medium tyres, except Verstappen, Hadjar, Alonso, Yuki Tsunoda, Lance Stroll and Franco Colapinto starting on soft tyres.

At the appointed time this evening the drivers came around on the formation lap to the grid. The lights went off and race began with Russell takes the lead over Verstappen. Norris getting past Piastri, Leclerc up to fifth over Antonelli, Hamilton, Hadjar, Alonso and Bearman tenth.

Norris appears to have his front wing endplate damaged, having hit the rear of Verstappen in turn 1. Norris and Piastri also having bumped into each other at the first corner.

At lap 2 Russell has a 1.5 second lead over Verstappen, Norris, Piastri, Leclerc and Antonelli.

Piastri asks the team if they will ask Norris to let him by, as they bumps at the start.

On lap 3 Russell sets fast lap at 1m38.035s, and again the next lap at 1m37.570s.

On lap 7 Russell sets another fast lap at 1m30.768s, and has a 3.9 second lead over Verstappen.

At lap 10 of 62, Russell leads Verstappen by 4.7 seconds, followed by Norris (6.6s), Piastri (10.1s), Leclerc (12.2s), Antonelli (13.9s), Hamilton (15.2s), Alonso (20.9s), Hadjar (22.2s) and Bearman (23.9s) in tenth.

Verstappen tells the team that he is having issues on his downshifts with the gearbox.

On lap 12 Russell sets fast lap at 1m36.485s, and leads Vertappen by 6.5 seconds.

On lap 14 Gabriel Bortoleto pits with front wing damage, Tsunoda and Colapinto pitting as well.

On lap 20 Verstappen pits from second switching from soft to medium tyres and rejoining seventh ahead of Alonso.

On lap 21 Hadjar pits from ninth for hard tyres and rejoins 17th.

On lap 22 Leclerc pits from third for hard tyres and rejoins tenth, and quikly passes Nico Hulkenberg for ninth

Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m30.333s.

On lap 24 Bearman pits.

On lap 25 Hamilton pits from fifth for hard tyres and rejoins ninth.

On lap 25 leader Russell pits for hard tyres and rejoins third. Antonelli pits as well and rejoins seventh behind Leclerc.

On lap 26 Norris pits from the lead for hard tyres and rejoins fourth, Piastri leads yet to pit.

Racing Bull reports an engine problem for Hadjar.

Piastri pitsfor hard tyres and has a slow stop, and rejoins fourth ahead of Leclerc. Alonso pits as well.

Antonelli sets fast lap at 1m35.303s.

At lap 30 Russell leads Verstappen by 4.0 seconds, followed by Norris (8.4s), Piastri (18.2s), Leclerc (22.6s), Antonelli (29.1s), Hamilton (29.2s), Liam Lawson (40.1s), Stroll (42.6s), and Esteban Ocon (44.5s) in tenth place.

On lap 31 Bearman pits and changes to hard tyres and rejoins 11th.

On lap 35 Russell leads Verstappen by 2.7 seconds, Verstappen slowly catching Russell.

On lap 36 Verstappen locks up his brakes and loses 2 seconds.

On lap 37 Alonso passes Hadjar for 13th.

On lap 39 Stroll makes his first stop from ninth for medium tyres and rejoins 20th.

At lap 40 Russell leads Verstappen by 4.6 seconds, followed by Norris (6.1s), Piastri (14.0s), Leclerc (26.7s), Antonelli (28.5s), Hamilton (31.6s), Lawson (1m07.5s), Sainz (1m13.5s), and Bearman (1m13.9s) in tenth.

Norris is hovering just beyond DRS behind Verstappen in third place.

On lap 43 Alonso passes Albon for 11th. The next lap Albon pits.

On lap 45 Hulkenberg spins, goes into the runoff, but continues.

On lap 46 Norris closes to under a second behind Verstappen and is within DRS.

On lap 47 Hamilton pits for soft tyres staying in seventh.

On lap 48 Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m33.808s, again the next lap at

At lap 50 Russell leads Verstappen by 5.9 seconds, followed by Norris (6.5s), Piastri (13.0s), Leclerc (23.8s), Antonelli (25.2s), Hamilton (38.4s), Alonso (1m25.1s), Bearman (1m35.4s), and Hadjar (1m36.9s) in tenth.

Norris continues to follow half a second behind Verstappen.

Hamilton on soft tyres continues to lap 2-3 seconds faster than Anonelli, 6 seconds behind.

On lap 53 Norris trys to look to the outside of Verstappen but can’t make the move.

On lap 53 Antonelli passes Leclerc for fifth.

On lap 55 Norris continues to trail Verstappen by around one second.

On lap 56 Hamilton passes Leclerc for sixth, and trails Antonelli by 2.4 seconds.

On lap 59 Hamilton is within DRS of Anthonelli.

Hamilton reports that he is losing his brakes.

On lap 61 Leclerc passes Hamilton for sixth.

At the checkered flag Russell wins over Verstappen and Norris.

On the final lap Sainz passes Hadjar to take tenth place.

Hamilton with his brakes totally failing finished in seventh, just 0.416 ahead of Alonso, and will be investigated for cutting some chicanes at the end.