George Russell secured a commanding victory at the Singapore Grand Prix, while McLaren confirmed their defense of the Constructors’ Championship with six rounds remaining, marking one of the earliest title clinches in Formula 1 history. Amid this success, the McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris clashed on track, impacting the drivers’ championship battle and tightening the gap between them.
McLaren Teammates Involved in Early-Race Incident
Lando Norris made a strong start from fifth on the grid, gaining positions quickly by overtaking Kimi Antonelli and then his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri at Turn 3. In the process, Norris lightly nudged Piastri off the racing line. While Norris advanced to third place, just behind Max Verstappen, the contact sparked tension between the teammates. Piastri expressed his displeasure over team radio, describing the move as unfair and implying that Norris breached McLaren’s internal racing protocols.
“that’s not fair” on the radio and hinted Norris had broken McLaren’s racing rules of engagement.
– Oscar Piastri, McLaren driver
Race Outcome and Drivers’ Championship Implications
The initial lap set the tone for the race, as the top four drivers retained their positions through to the finish. Russell claimed his second race win of the year, following his earlier success at the Canadian Grand Prix. Verstappen finished second, successfully defending against Norris, who ended the race in third. Piastri recovered to fourth after a slow pit stop, which prevented him from mounting a podium challenge. This result narrowed Piastri’s lead over Norris to 22 points in the drivers’ championship, while Verstappen cut the gap to Piastri to 63 points.
Additional Highlights from the Singapore GP
Kimi Antonelli impressed by securing fifth place in his first appearance in Singapore, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished sixth. Despite a late brake problem, Lewis Hamilton managed to claim seventh place, though he is currently under investigation for exceeding track limits during his final battle with Fernando Alonso. Alonso, recovering from a slow pit stop, finished eighth, followed by Oliver Bearman in ninth and Carlos Sainz in tenth. Sainz utilized an alternative race strategy, extending his first stint to make up ground.
Upcoming Races and Championship Outlook
With McLaren already crowned Constructors’ Champions, the focus now shifts to the tight drivers’ championship fight between Piastri, Norris, and Verstappen. The F1 season continues in North America, starting with the United States Grand Prix in Austin from October 17-19, where the battle for the title is expected to intensify. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports F1 and via streaming services.
