George Russell clinches Singapore GP win as McLaren drama erupts

When George Russell, Mercedes surged past the finish line at the 2025 Singapore Grand PrixMarina Bay Street Circuit, the British driver turned a pole‑position start into a triumphant victory that stunned the hot‑weather‑averse team.

Why this race mattered

Singapore has long been a bellwether for the championship; ten of the last fifteen races were won from pole, and the night‑time street circuit tests both driver stamina and aerodynamic stability. With the title battle heating up, a win here not only adds valuable points but also signals which technical upgrades are actually delivering.

Mercedes’ unexpected performance

Historically, Mercedes has struggled in humid conditions, but a new front‑wing package – introduced on the Thursday before the race – seemed to click on the relatively moderate 33‑34 °C night temperature. The wing provided cleaner airflow around the front tires, reducing drag on the twisty sections of the circuit.

Russell’s qualifying lap of 1:29.158 not only secured pole but also smashed his own lap‑record from earlier in the session. He turned the 62‑lap race in 1 hour 40 minutes 22.367 seconds with just a single pit stop, a strategy that underlined the car’s tyre‑preserving advantage.

"The new front wing gave us that extra bite in the slow corners, and the tyre wear was far better than we expected," Russell said after the podium ceremony. "It feels great to finally break the ‘hot‑track curse’ we’ve had for years."

Podium finishers and their stories

Trailing Russell by 5.430 seconds was Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, who led much of the middle stint before the Mercedes power unit kept the gap steady. In third, Lando Norris, McLaren managed to stay ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri, despite an opening‑lap clash that left both drivers rattled.

McLaren’s fourth‑place finisher Piastri was only 8.146 seconds off the lead, while Kimi Antonelli, the other Mercedes rookie, capped the top five, finishing 33.681 seconds behind Russell.

McLaren drama on the first lap

The race’s most talked‑about moment came at the third corner, where Norris dove down the inside line on Piastri, prompting a light‑touch collision. The stewards reviewed the incident but ultimately decided no penalty was warranted.

After the race, Piastri didn’t hold back: "I’m disappointed with how that start unfolded and with the team’s decision not to swap us. Lando’s move was overly aggressive, and it cost us a chance to challenge for a higher podium spot." Norris, for his part, defended his action as a legitimate racing line, saying, "We’re both fighting for the championship. I saw the opportunity and took it."

Despite the tension, McLaren celebrated clinching their second straight Constructors’ Championship, a feat that underscores the team’s consistency across a season that saw them out‑perform many larger budgets.

Lewis Hamilton’s penalty and the battle for points

Seven‑time champion Lewis Hamilton, also driving for Mercedes, endured a frustrating weekend. Brake‑by‑wire glitches forced him wide on several corners, and track‑limit violations earned a five‑second time penalty, dropping him from seventh to eighth place.

"The brakes were a real issue, but the soft tyre stint towards the end showed we still have speed," Hamilton explained. "I’m happy with the attack we made, even if the penalty shuffled the final order."

Free practice highlights and broader trends

• FP1 – Fernando Alonso topped the timesheets with a 1:31.116 lap.
• FP2 – Oscar Piastri led the session, clocking 1:30.714.
• FP3 – Max Verstappen was fastest, posting 1:30.148.

Williams, meanwhile, suffered double disqualifications for technical non‑compliance, sending both drivers to the back of the grid and effectively ending any hopes of scoring points this weekend.

What this win means for the championship

Russell’s victory propels him to 112 points, narrowing the gap to championship leader Piastri, who remains fifth in the standings after his own fourth‑place finish. Mercedes, previously trailing the top three teams, now sits just two points behind Red Bull in the Constructors’ tally, thanks largely to the front‑wing upgrade and a flawless pit strategy.

Looking ahead, the next round in Japan will test whether Mercedes can replicate this performance on a circuit that favours high‑speed stability rather than low‑speed agility. For McLaren, maintaining the team morale after the Singapore incident will be pivotal as they defend their Constructors’ crown against a resurging Ferrari squad.

Key Facts

• Winner: George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:40:22.367
• Pole time: 1:29.158 – new lap record for the circuit
• Podium: Max Verstappen (Red Bull), Lando Norris (McLaren)
• Fastest lap in practice: Fernando Alonso (Alpine) – 1:31.116
• Constructors’ champion: McLaren – second consecutive title