Max Verstappen claimed his first Singapore Grand Prix victory with a commanding performance at Marina Bay, extending Red Bull’s resurgence and tightening Kimi Antonelli’s grip on the 2026 Formula 1 world championship.
The Dutchman controlled Sunday’s race from start to finish, holding off an early challenge from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc before pulling clear to secure his second consecutive Grand Prix victory, following his triumph in Malaysia last weekend.
Leclerc finished second, while Mercedes’ Antonelli completed the podium to extend his championship lead over team-mate George Russell to 102 points.
The result leaves the Italian in a position to clinch his first world title at the United States Grand Prix in Austin on 25 October.
Verstappen’s victory followed his success in Saturday’s Singapore sprint, underlining the improvement in Red Bull’s form after a difficult start to the season.
The four-time world champion made the most of pole position at a circuit where overtaking is notoriously difficult. Leclerc launched a strong challenge into the first corner, but Verstappen held his line and retained the lead.
The pair remained close during the opening laps before Verstappen gradually opened a gap and managed the race from the front.
“The last few races have been really positive for us and it is just great to see,” Verstappen said. “We have a lot of motivation in the team to try and deliver even more results.”
Ferrari, meanwhile, endured a frustrating afternoon. Lewis Hamilton finished sixth after remaining on soft tyres for an extended stint, leaving him vulnerable in the closing laps.
Mercedes’ Antonelli and McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri all moved ahead of Hamilton as his tyre performance deteriorated. The strategy decision proved costly for Ferrari, which had started the race with both cars in contention near the front.
Antonelli’s third-place finish further strengthened his title prospects, while Russell could manage only ninth after starting from 19th.
The championship leader can secure the title in Austin if he wins the race, provided Russell finishes ninth or lower and Hamilton finishes fifth or lower.
Asked about the possibility immediately after the race, Antonelli appeared surprised by how close he was to the championship.
“Can I? Really? Let’s not worry about that, let’s try to do the best weekend possible and finish the job,” he said.
With the season approaching its decisive stage, Verstappen’s resurgence has added another dimension to the closing races, while Antonelli now has a clear opportunity to secure his first drivers’ title.
