Singapore Grand Prix Recap: From George Russell's Masterclass to McLaren's 'Disasterclass'

ROHAN SINGH - STAFF WRITER

George Russell celebrates his victory at Marina Bay in front of Lando Norris, whose McLaren team clinched their second straight Constructor's title. (Photo Credit: Lillian Suwanrumpha, AFP, October 5th, 2025)

The Singapore Grand Prix is among the most popular destination races for Formula One fans. It is the epitome of glamour with its high-intensity street racing during the night. However, it is also a terrifying undertaking for the drivers who have to battle through the sweltering heat. Even though drivers were equipped with a new cooling device this time around, Singapore remained unforgiving.

As the free practice sessions commenced, there was a slight apprehension in the McLaren camp. The Papaya drivers were gearing up to bring home yet another Constructor’s title for the team, but their dominance has taken a huge hit in recent weekends, after the resurgence of Max Verstappen and Red Bull after summer break.

Qualifying Session - Verstappen’s Fury Unleashed as Russell Edges Out With Pole Position

Max Verstappen is a variable that you can never put aside. The Dutch Lion, as he is aptly called, has the ability to bring out the best in the car, even in situations which do not favor him immensely. Yet again, he was looking fast enough for pole position in Singapore, but lost out in the final moments due to dirty air from Norris’s car.

The qualifying session was a success for Mercedes. They were back on pole position for the second time this year, courtesy of George Russell. One thing is for sure, Russell is establishing himself as one of the best and most balanced drivers this year. There’s no weekend that the Briton doesn’t perform in. He and Kimi Antonelli indeed give Mercedes a bright future. Ferrari, meanwhile, did what they do best: absolutely botch the strategy of their fastest driver. Lewis Hamilton was once challenging for pole position, but bad tyre management by the team left him in a mere 6th place.

The entire qualifying session was dominated by the top four teams, with multiple drivers putting in purple sectors in a bid to claim pole. Perhaps the most dull performance came from the McLaren camp, whose drivers were unable to start from the front row, a place they’ve become accustomed to this season.

The Race - Everything, Everywhere, All at Once

It would be a massive understatement to call the Singapore Grand Prix a simple race. Street circuits do not have a good reputation when it comes to overtakes because of their narrow and treacherous turns.

But it seems that nobody relayed this information to the drivers. The likes of Carlos Sainz and

Fernando Alonso were displaying maneuvers that drew awe from the public and fear among their competitors. Sainz in particular gained eight places, starting from P18 and spending an astonishing 50 laps on a single set of tyres. Fernando Alonso was being his usual vocal self with some of the best radio moments from the Singapore GP. The Spaniard threatened to turn off his radio at one point for the disturbance created by the team.

However, the brunt of all the controversy and action was carried out by the ones in front. It started with a small scuffle between the Papaya cars. The issue ended up increasing to the point where both drivers were actively trying to gain an advantage over each other, no matter the cost. Norris and Piastri’s second collision was not as buddy-buddy as their first contact in Canada, but the drivers salvaged third and fourth place and clinched the organization its second consecutive Constructor’s title, as Norris closed the gap on Piastri to 22 points for the Driver’s championship. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen was defending furiously against Norris while battling problems with the car (as always).

George Russell was the only driver this weekend who was away from the drama. His Silver Arrow was safely ahead of the pack as he cruised to an easy victory, his second of the season, and the fourth different winner in as many years at the track.

It was a great weekend for Mercedes but one to forget for Ferrari, who can’t put two and two together in hopes of increasing their car’s performance as Lewis Hamilton dealt with brake issues late while Charles Leclerc was largely a non-factor throughout the weekend.

Overall, the Singapore Grand Prix weekend was a true display of  the best of F1 racing. Talent, speed, controversy, action, scuffles, and daring overtakes were the ingredients which made Marina Bay an instant hit among the audience.