Verstappen converted pole position into the lead and controlled much of the 62-lap race, despite an intermittent radio problem and a late lock-up that briefly reduced his advantage. Leclerc secured second for Ferrari, while Antonelli recovered through the closing stages to take the final podium position.
Verstappen Holds Off Leclerc at the Start
Track temperatures reached 43°C before the start, with Verstappen leading the field away from pole. Leclerc applied pressure into the opening corner, but the Red Bull driver defended successfully and completed the first lap in front.
Further back, Oliver Bearman made early progress through the midfield, while George Russell began recovering positions after starting outside the points.
Leclerc remained Verstappen’s closest threat through the opening laps and briefly set the fastest lap, but Verstappen responded and gradually extended the gap.
Early VSC Interrupts the Opening Phase
The first interruption came on lap eight when Gabriel Bortoleto stopped with a gearbox problem. A short Virtual Safety Car followed, but racing resumed one lap later.
The leading order remained unchanged, with Verstappen ahead of Leclerc and Hamilton. As the first pit window approached, Hamilton stopped on lap 19 and returned behind Liam Lawson before quickly recovering a position.
Leclerc began reporting that his soft tyres were reaching the end of their useful life, while Mercedes and Ferrari started committing to their first stops.
Verstappen Retains Control Through the Pit Cycle
Antonelli stopped before Leclerc, with both returning inside the top six. That temporarily promoted the McLaren pair into second and third behind Verstappen. Verstappen made his own stop on lap 33. Norris also pitted, allowing the Red Bull driver to retain the effective race lead on medium tyres.
Piastri briefly moved into second before stopping one lap later, returning Leclerc to the position behind Verstappen.
By that stage, Verstappen had built a margin of roughly five seconds.
Stroll Retirement Triggers Second VSC
Lance Stroll retired on lap 39 with a mechanical problem, prompting a second Virtual Safety Car.
Ferrari and Mercedes reacted by bringing Leclerc and Antonelli into the pits. Russell was also called in, but the VSC ended as he approached pit entry, costing him relative time and dropping him back to 10th.
Antonelli’s race then became more complicated when he reported a long brake pedal and difficulty slowing the car. Despite that, he remained in the fight for the podium.
Verstappen Manages Radio Trouble and Late Lock-Up
Verstappen had stretched his advantage over Leclerc to around 14 seconds when he locked up and lost approximately four seconds.
His radio was also malfunctioning, making communication with Red Bull increasingly difficult. By lap 53, the team had resorted to a simple communication method: race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase told Verstappen to make a sound if he wanted to pit and remain silent if he preferred to stay out. Verstappen stayed quiet. He remained on track and continued to control the race.
Antonelli Takes Third in Late Fight
The final laps brought the most intense action behind the leading pair. Norris began pressuring Hamilton on lap 54. Hamilton defended initially but ran wide, opening the door for Antonelli to move ahead of the McLaren and into fourth.
One lap later, Antonelli completed the move on Hamilton and took third. Norris also passed the Ferrari soon afterwards, dropping Hamilton further down the order. Piastri added another late move on Hamilton on the final lap, leaving the seven-time World Champion sixth.
Verstappen Wins for the First Time in Singapore
Verstappen crossed the line first to take his maiden Singapore Grand Prix victory. Leclerc finished second, while Antonelli completed the podium after a race that included brake concerns and a late recovery through traffic.
For Verstappen, the result closed one of the few remaining gaps on his Formula 1 record. He controlled the opening phase, stayed ahead through the strategy cycle and managed both a communication problem and a late mistake without surrendering the lead.
Marina Bay had resisted him throughout his career. In 2026, Verstappen finally won it.
Watch the 2026 Singapore GP highlights here.
