Verstappen wins Singapore sprint after Russell crash, then takes Grand Prix pole

Max Verstappen of Red Bull won the Singapore Grand Prix sprint race on Saturday. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton finished second and Charles Leclerc third. Verstappen then took pole position for Sunday's Grand Prix.

It was Verstappen's first win of any kind in Singapore. He also won the previous round, in Malaysia. According to The Guardian, this was the first sprint held at the Singapore circuit.

Rain delayed the start. Al Jazeera and BBC Sport put the delay at 30 minutes. The field completed two laps behind the safety car before a standing start.

Verstappen started from pole, with Mercedes' George Russell alongside. Russell made the better start and took the lead. At the end of the opening lap, he touched the white line at the final corner, lost control and crashed out. A safety car followed. Hamilton started sixth and moved up after a strong start.

On the final lap, McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri made contact while running fourth and fifth. Norris finished eighth. Piastri retired. According to BBC Sport, the stewards took no action, finding that both drivers contributed.

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) finished fourth. Liam Lawson was fifth, Oliver Bearman (Haas) sixth and Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) seventh. Antonelli leads the championship by 89 points.

In qualifying, Verstappen set a time of 1:31.373. Leclerc was about 0.05 seconds slower. Hamilton, Antonelli, Norris and Russell followed. The Guardian said it was Verstappen's 50th career pole. Russell will start from the back of the grid because of engine-related penalties.

What is disputed

No facts are directly disputed. Accounts differ in detail. BBC Sport cites too many engine parts for Russell's penalty. The Guardian cites a new engine after a failure in Malaysia.

What each side says

Russell blamed himself. BBC Sport quoted him as saying: "Rule number one in the wet is don't touch the white line. Very silly mistake."

BBC Sport quoted Norris as saying he apologised "because it was still me attacking, as I had the right to do." The Guardian quoted McLaren team principal Andrea Stella as saying: "Seeing two McLarens making contact like that is simply not acceptable." The reports do not include any comment from Piastri.

According to Reuters, Verstappen and Hamilton said the circuit needs redesigning for sprint racing. The Guardian quoted Leclerc: "I don't think it makes sense to have any sprint races on city tracks in general."

Analysis

The result keeps Verstappen's recent form going, but the title picture depends mostly on Antonelli. According to The Guardian, a 101-point lead after Singapore would let him secure the championship in Austin. He currently leads by 89. Sunday's result could change that. The Guardian said Antonelli's fourth place in qualifying carried greater weight because Russell, his teammate and title rival, starts from the back. The McLaren collision may lead to closer team management, although the reports do not describe any action beyond talks. Drivers' criticism of sprints on street circuits may add to a wider debate about which venues suit the format. Organisers have not responded in the reports reviewed by Vocemundi.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.