Verstappen wins Singapore Grand Prix for first time

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, finally grabbing the one race that has eluded him.

Red Bull’s Verstappen, the pole sitter, held the lead throughout the race after he held off Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in the first corner.

Leclerc stayed close at the Marina Bay Street Circuit before Verstappen pulled away with a big lead.

Even with his mid-race pit stop and trouble staying in touch with his team via a malfunctioning radio, Verstappen maintained a sizable lead.

He crossed the finish line 7.3 seconds ahead of Leclerc.

The victory came in the 250th Grand Prix start for the 29-year-old Verstappen.

It was his 73rd career victory and first at Singapore in 10 attempts for the Dutchman.

He now has won every race that appears on the 2026 schedule except the Spanish Grand Prix at The Madring in Madrid, which ran its inaugural event, this year.

“It’s taken a while, but I think this race was very good.

It worked out, so of course I’m very happy to win here” Verstappen said after the victory.

With his third-place finish, +24.573s back, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli extended his points lead in the drivers’ championship standings.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, both driving for McLaren, ended up in fourth and fifth places, respectively.

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton finished sixth, good enough to hold third in the drivers’ standings.

This was the second consecutive win for Verstappen, who triumphed last week at the Bahrain Grand Prix, in Malaysia.