Under the glowing lights of Marina Bay, George Russell finally claimed redemption and the chequered flag as Mercedes returned to the top step of the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix podium.
The 29-year-old Brit controlled the race from lights to flag, delivering a flawless performance around one of the calendar’s most challenging circuits. His win – the second of this season and fifth of his career – came two years after heartbreak at the same venue, when a late-race crash cost him victory.
“It feels amazing, especially after what happened a couple of years ago. That was a bit of a missed opportunity, but we more than made up for it today,” said Russell after taking the flag in 1 hour 40 minutes:22.367 seconds, finishing 5.430 seconds clear of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Marina Bay has long been known as a driver’s circuit, and this year it rewarded intelligence as much as speed. Russell kept his composure from the start, managing tyres, traffic, and pressure in equal measure. Behind him, Verstappen wrestled an ‘undrivable’ RedBull, while Lando Norris survived early drama to claim third.
The McLaren driver’s elbows-out move on teammate Oscar Piastri in the opening laps sparked tension inside the papaya garage. The points, though, sealed McLaren’s second consecutive Constructors’ Championship with six races still to go.
While youth battled at the front, experience held its ground behind. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) delivered another chapter in their long-running duel, finishing just four-tenths apart after penalties reshuffled the order.
Further back, Carlos Sainz salvaged points for Williams after starting from the pit lane, while Haas rookie Oliver Bearman impressed with ninth.
Away from the main grid, Ferrari-backed Maya Weug took a thrilling win in the F1 Academy to keep her championship hopes alive. Meanwhile, Dylan Pereira dominated the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia double-header, signing off the final race for the iconic 911 GT3 Cup car in style.
Singapore delivered yet another Grand Prix weekend of drama, redemption, and raw emotion, from Russell’s long-awaited victory to McLaren’s simmering rivalry.
