Russell Triumphs in Singapore as McLaren Clinches the Constructors’ Title
5 October 2025
Race Recap
George Russell sealed victory at the Singapore Grand Prix, the 18th round of the Formula 1 World Championship, ahead of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, as McLaren clinched the Constructors’ title.
Oscar Piastri finished fourth, narrowing his lead over Norris in the drivers’ standings to 22 points. McLaren needed 13 points to secure the constructors’ crown, a goal they achieved in Singapore after a missed opportunity earlier in Baku due to Piastri’s accident and Norris’s pace.
Russell earned his second win of the season and his first in Singapore. Norris showed the best start, climbing from fifth to third, overtaking Piastri and Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli. A minor clash between McLaren drivers caused a slight wing damage to Norris, while Piastri vented over the team radio seeking a reset to regain position.
Russell defended the lead from the start and set the fastest laps in the first three circuits, stretching his advantage to about two seconds over Verstappen as Norris pressed the defending champion early on.
Antonelli dropped from fourth to sixth early on as Charles Leclerc rose to fifth. Verstappen was the first into the pit on lap 20, returning to the track seventh behind Fernando Alonso.
The strategic race unfolded with many drivers banking on undercuts to gain track position, riding the tire-change window to leapfrog rivals. On lap 26, Russell finally pitted, re-emerging in third behind Verstappen and ahead of Norris and Piastri, with Norris following suit the next lap. On lap 27, Piastri pitted and slipped to fourth, restoring the expected order. Verstappen paid the price for a mistake at turn 14, briefly handing Norris renewed hope of a podium.
Leaders began encountering backmarkers, allowing Norris to shave the gap to about half a second behind the Dutchman before the race concluded. The top four positions remained unchanged to the finish. The Singapore Grand Prix was run under night lights to boost European viewership and mitigate heat effects on the drivers.
Key Results and Standings
Top five finishers: 1) George Russell (Britain/Mercedes) 2) Max Verstappen (Netherlands/Red Bull) 3) Lando Norris (Britain/McLaren) 4) Oscar Piastri (Australia/McLaren) 5) Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Italy/Mercedes).
Drivers’ Championship lead: 1) Oscar Piastri 324 points 2) Lando Norris 299 points 3) Max Verstappen 255 points 4) George Russell 212 points 5) Charles Leclerc 165 points.
Qualifying saw Russell take pole ahead of Verstappen, with Piastri and Norris in strong positions and Antonelli in the mix, underscoring McLaren’s competitive pace this weekend.
Season notes: Verstappen remained a dominant force, but McLaren’s surge—led by Piastri and Norris—added fresh texture to the championship, while Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso continued to deliver strong performances amid technical gaps with the frontrunners.
Behind the Scenes Quick Take: Russell’s lap of 1:29.158 was a standout, finishing 0.182 seconds ahead of Verstappen in the overall pace battles of the weekend.
Punchline 1: Russell’s win was so clean you’d think the car came with a warranty against spoilers. Punchline 2: McLaren clinching the constructors’ title proves that two heads (and two cars) are better than one when the pit crew brings snacks to the sequence, not just strategy.
