Formula 1
Formula 1 Spanish GP Review: Verstappen gets a hard fought victory
Verstappen clinched a hard-fought victory over Norris on the pole, with Hamilton returning to the podium, while Ferrari suffered from a lack of pace.
The 2024 Spanish Grand Prix held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was a thriller. A race of exceptional driving, strategic brilliance, and intense competition among the top three teams. Still, it was Max Verstappen who emerged victorious for Red Bull Racing.
Practice
The three practice sessions were all closely contested. Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz were the only 2 drivers to be in the top 3 of all the 3 Practice sessions.
During the first practice session, the weather was dry, unlike the mixed conditions in Canada during the last round. Oliver Bearman drove Nico Hulkenberg’s Haas as part of his planned six practice appearances with the team in 2024. Some teams used the session to test their upgrades for the weekend, including VCARB.
The session was briefly red-flagged to clear debris from Alonso’s car before the action resumed. Norris ended the session on top with a time of 1m 14.228s in the McLaren, 0.024s faster than Verstappen in second place, even though the latter experienced clutch issues. Sainz put his Ferrari in third place.
During the second practice session later that day, Logan Sargent had a close moment and managed to save his Williams after losing the rear. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen reported that his RB20 was experiencing understeer mid-corner, stating: “This car doesn’t bite.” Lewis Hamilton held the top spot with a lap time of 1m 13.264s. Sainz stayed in P2, with Norris taking P3 in the McLaren. Pierre Gasly was a shocking P4 for Alpine, putting him ahead of Verstappen in P5.
After a closely contested FP2, it was time for the final practice session before qualifying. The drivers tested their one-lap pace in preparation for the battle for pole position. Carlos Sainz topped the times with an impressive 1m 13.013s, closely followed by Lando Norris with 1m 13.043s and Charles Leclerc with 1m 13.050s.
During the sessions, both Charles Leclerc and Lance Stroll of Aston Martin were found to have impeded Norris and Hamilton in separate incidents. They both cut across Norris and Hamilton, resulting in contact in both cases. As a result, both Leclerc and Stroll were reprimanded for “erratic driving”.
Qualifying
The mixed results of the practice sessions left us puzzled about the grid order for the race as it was quite unclear who had the better car. Saturday afternoon’s qualifying session was crucial, with 30 of the 33 Grand Prix winners at the Barcelona circuit having started from the front row of the grid.
The heavily upgraded VCARB failed to impress as both cars were out in Q1, with Yuki leading Daniel in 17th and 18th place. Williams too had a tough outing with the team locking out the front row. Albon was a comfortable 4 tenths clear of his teammate. He would later start the race from the pit lane due to a change in the power unit. With rumors of Logan being replaced for next year, performances like these don’t help his case. Kevin Magnussen failed to reach Q2 as well, his first Q1 elimination since Imola.
No shocking eliminations in Q2 this time around with Both Aston Martins, Saubers, and the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg failing to reach Q3.
Alpine had the best qualifying of the season, with both cars making it to Q3. However, it was Lando Norris who put in a perfect lap to secure pole position at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. A final lap time of 1m 11.383s for Norris, narrowly beating Max Verstappen. It was the Brit’s second pole position, the first since 2021 at the Russian Grand Prix. Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell took P3 and P4 respectively, showing strong performance. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz locked the third row for Ferrari. Sergio Perez finished eighth but will drop three places due to a grid penalty from Canada, promoting Esteban Ocon and Oscar Piastri.
Embed from Getty Images“It was pretty much a perfect lap”
lando norris
Race
It was evident that the Redbulls were not the outright fastest car going into the weekend with close competition from the McLarens and Ferraris. Mercedes surprisingly was quick and was expecting to have a podium finish.
When it was lights out, Lando Norris got a poor getaway resulting in losing the start to Verstappen, it was Russell who made up the best of the situation with a slipstream from the pair ahead to take the lead of the Grand Prix with brave around the outside of turn 1. The Aston Martin of Alonso, starting in 11th position, dropped back after seemingly being tagged from behind. He was forced to take to the escape road at Turn 1, which left him in 14th place.
However, despite Russell’s mega start, his lead of the race wouldn’t last long as Verstappen overtook him on the outside of Turn 1 on the third lap. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz also overtook his teammate Charles Leclerc at the same turn, with the two Ferraris appearing to touch as Sainz used the escape road. Despite this, he successfully moved up to P5. The stewards briefly reviewed whether he had left the track and gained an advantage but decided no further investigation was necessary. But both teammates were unhappy about the incident and they complained over the radio.
On Lap 13, began the first wave of pitstops with Perez pitting on what would be the first of his 3-stop strategy, while Gasly had a slow stop of 6.7s ruing his race start efforts, George Russell dived to the pits on lap 15 but avoided a close coming together in the pits with Carlos Sainz by staying ahead of him by mere inches. Soon Verstappen reacted to him by pitting on lap 17 with an error-free pitstop of 1.9s, while Norris decided to stay out taking the lead and looking to extend this advantage.
During Lap 18 of the Grand Prix, Hamilton found himself in an intense battle for sixth position with Sainz. With the help of DRS, Hamilton made a move going into Turn 1 of the next lap, resulting in the two cars touching. Sainz expressed his frustration over the radio, claiming that Hamilton ran him off the track and insisting that Hamilton needed to let him pass. Despite Sainz’s complaints, no further investigation was conducted regarding their collision.
Norris finally came into the pits to change his soft tires. He re-entered the race behind Russell and was determined to quickly pass him to catch up to race leader Verstappen. On lap 34, Norris was able to close the gap on the Mercedes using the DRS on the main straight, leading to an intense side-by-side battle between turns 3 and 7. Norris demonstrated excellent racecraft and utilized his tire advantage to successfully overtake Russell.
With 20 laps to go, Hamilton was putting pressure on Sainz for sixth place. He managed to overtake Sainz into Turn 1, and Norris was then instructed to pit on the next lap. However, Norris’s 3.6-second pit stop cost him valuable time, allowing Verstappen to regain the lead, with Norris staying ahead of Russell in second place. Meanwhile, in 11th place, Hulkenberg’s chances of moving into the points were harmed when he received a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane. Gasly and Ocon in the Alpines were holding onto ninth and 10th place, raising hopes for a double-point finish for the team. Tsunoda, who was in last place, also received a five-second penalty for the same pit lane speeding offense as Hulkenberg.
Lower down the order, 11th-placed Hulkenberg’s hopes of breaking into the points-paying positions suffered a blow as he was handed a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane – the Alpines of Gasly and Ocon currently holding onto ninth and 10th as the team’s hopes for another double points finish continued to grow. Tsunoda, running in a lowly last place, was also hit with a five-second penalty of his own for the same offense as Hulkenberg.
In the final stages of the Grand Prix, Norris was the fastest driver on the track, closing in on Verstappen’s lead, which was around 6.6 seconds. Max was forced to push hard to maintain his lead as Norris narrowed the gap. However, with only a few laps left, Norris was running out of time to secure his second career win. By Lap 65, the gap had decreased to just 2.3 seconds. Despite Norris’s efforts, Verstappen was able to hold him off and win by just a 2.219-second margin, to the disappointment of Norris and the crowd, who had hoped for a last-lap battle for the win.
Embed from Getty ImagesNorris was visibly frustrated as he crossed the finish line. He admitted over his radio that messing up the start had cost him a chance of victory today. However, Verstappen celebrated his 106th podium finish, placing him tied for fourth on the all-time list with legends Alain Prost and Fernando Alonso. Lewis Hamilton returned to the podium, making it his 18th continuous season with a podium finish.
Embed from Getty ImagesAnother interesting story was lower down the order with both Alpines finishing in points at 9th and 10th for the first time this season after they had the worst start to the season, this shows that the team is heading in the right direction, and also coinciding with the return of former Renault team principal Flavio Briatore to team as an executive advisor.
Championship Standings after the race:
Verstappen extends his championship lead on top while Norris jumps Leclerc to move into P2.
In the team’s standing Red Bull Racing remains on top, while Alpine jump Haas thanks to their double points finish.
Up Next
All eyes turn to the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix at the iconic Red Bull Ring at Spielberg. After facing challenges in the previous race, Red Bull Racing will be eager to reclaim its former dominance, while Mclaren will be looking to push for wins. With the championship battle heating up, fans can expect an exhilarating weekend of racing action as the teams and drivers vie for glory on Austrian soil.
Formula 1
A New Chapter in Mexico — Norris Seizes the Lead, Verstappen Stumbles
Under the blazing sun and deafening roar of the Foro Sol, the Brit delivered a masterclass in control, courage, and composure, claiming victory at the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix in stunning fashion.
From the very first corner, chaos reigned. A three-wide battle into Turn 1 saw contact between Verstappen, Leclerc, Hamilton and Russel scattering carbon fibre and shaking up the order. Amid the carnage, Norris held his nerve — slicing through the opening lap with surgical precision while others scrambled for grip on medium tires.
Norris Dominates as McLaren Turn Mexico City Orange
The 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix turned into a showcase of precision, pace, and pure composure from the papaya outfit as Lando Norris stormed to a commanding victory with 30.3 seconds difference from the second place while Oscar Piastri backed him with a strong top-five finish.
It wasn’t just Norris’ pace that won McLaren the race ,it was their strategic brilliance. With the track temperatures soaring and tyres blistering early, McLaren pulled the trigger first. An early undercut gave Norris clear air, while Red Bull and Ferrari hesitated a lap or two too long.Behind him, Oscar Piastri played the perfect support act — defending fiercely, keeping pressure on rivals, and ensuring both cars stayed in podium contention.As Norris crossed the line, the roar inside the Foro Sol stadium was deafening. Confetti rained down, the grandstands turned papaya orange, and McLaren’s pit wall erupted in celebration.
“When your teammate wins the race, finishing fifth is nothing that extravagant.The car’s not changed for a while now. It’s nothing to do with the car. … Clearly Lando’s found it a bit easier to dial into that and I haven’t. Plenty of analysis to try get on top of that.”
-Oscar Piastri(post race)
Leclerc Salvages Podium Amid Mexican Mayhem
The signs were there early — Ferrari’s pace looked strong in qualifying, with Leclerc lining up on the second row and Lewis Hamilton just behind. Both cars had shown impressive speed through the twisty middle sector, suggesting that if they stayed clear at Turn 1, they could fight McLaren and Red Bull head-on.
As the lights went out, Leclerc dived into the first corner alongside Verstappen, Russel and Lewis. The four cars went wheel-to-wheel, sparks flying — until contact between the Red Bull and the Ferrari sent Leclerc slightly off balance. Carbon fibre scattered, Hamilton and Russel dropped down the order, and Leclerc was forced to regroup in fourth, his chance at victory seemingly gone in seconds.
Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, endured a frustrating afternoon. Caught in midfield traffic after a slow pit stop, his SF-25 never quite found the rhythm it had in practice. Still, his defensive work kept Ferrari in the points, denying rivals valuable positions.Ferrari leave Mexico knowing they still have the speed to challenge — but the margins are razor thin. With McLaren’s momentum growing and Red Bull wounded, every pit stop and every corner matters more than ever.
“It was very very very dirty off the line and did the best I could to keep the car kind of or bring it back to the safely. And thats all I hope for.”
-Lewis Hamilton(Post race)
Red Bull’s Grit Shines in Mexico’s Madness
For years, Mexico City has been Red Bull territory ,a circuit carved in the name of Max Verstappen, a place where he’s made the impossible look routine. And in 2025, even when chaos reigned and rivals rose, the three-time world champion reminded everyone why he’s still the benchmark ,fighting through damage, strategy swings, and relentless pressure to claw his way onto the podium with a performance soaked in aggression and pride.
As the lights went out at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Verstappen launched hard from the grid. But in the long sprint to Turn 1, three cars, one line, and no mercy. Had contact, sparks flew, Max had to leave the track. Aggressively overtook 3 cars in 4 laps, fire exit over the corners, superfast pitstop, Max was unstoppable on the track. On the 3rd lap, Max met his 2021 rival Lewis Hamilton, collided and Lewis had to leave the track but gained an advantage and hence lodging a 10 second penalty to himself.
With ten laps to go, Verstappen reeled in Leclerc, dive-bomb after a dive-bomb The move was undone . The crowd gasped. Red Bull was back on the podium not by dominance, but by sheer force of will.
“That was quite hectic, and then a bit of rallying in between Turns 1 and 2. That was quite fun!”
-Max Verstappen(Post race)
HA HA HAAS HAS DONE IT!
Haas began the weekend quietly. No one — not even their rivals — expected fireworks. But from the moment the lights went out, the VF-25 looked alive. Bearman launched off the line with the composure of a veteran, threading through the Turn 1 chaos that saw debris fly and big names stumble.By Lap 10, the 20-year-old Brit found himself running inside the top 6, matching the pace of Ferraris and Mercedes on merit. His calm voice over the radio contrasted the storm around him — clear, focused, unshaken.
And when George Russell began to close in during the final laps, Bearman refused to blink. His defensive driving was textbook — calm under pressure, precise in every braking zone. The chequered flag came with thunderous cheers as he crossed the line P4 — just shy of a podium, but miles ahead of expectations.
Ocon, meanwhile, executed a patient race from the midfield. Smart tyre management and a perfectly timed undercut propelled him into the points, cementing Haas’s dream afternoon.
“That’s how we fight — smart, clean, and together.”
– Ocon(post race)
Mercedes Salvage Solid Points in Mexico
The altitude of Mexico City wasn’t kind to the Silver Arrows, but Mercedes once again showed grit and consistency as Kimi Antonelli and George Russell crossed the line P6 and P7, securing valuable points in a weekend that demanded precision over power.
It wasn’t a race of fireworks — it was one of quiet determination. Amidst the chaos of overheating brakes, fading tyres, and the relentless pace of the front-runners, Mercedes found calm in control, keeping both cars within the top 10 from start to finish.The team’s Mexico package didn’t bring the leap they had hoped for, but the consistent performance underlined progress in reliability and race balance — both crucial as the season edges toward its final rounds.
“”It was an afternoon of damage limitation, ultimately, and our championship fight remains nail-bitingly close. Onwards to Brazil”
-Russel (Post Race Debrief)Stake Rookie gets a point!
Gabriel Bortoleto has scored P10 in a hard-fought race. Did crazy overtakes with experienced tire management proved fruitful to Stake getting valuable race while being in contention for the mid-field place in the constructors.
Hulkenburg on the other hand, unfortunately had to split away due to a Power issue in the car resulting in a DNF.
Heart-wrenching weekend comes to an End: Williams Trauma
Williams Racing arrived with quiet confidence — but left with heavy hearts.
What began as a promising weekend ended in frustration, as Carlos Sainz’s race ended prematurely with a heartbreaking DNF due to a contact he had in turn 1, while Alex Albon battled hard but fell just short of the points in an afternoon that tested both car and driver to the limit.
On the other side of the garage, Alex Albon endured a rollercoaster race.A late stint on worn mediums saw him defend valiantly from the Alpines and the Haas of Esteban Ocon — but it wasn’t enough.He eventually crossed the line, agonizingly close to points, leaving the team with nothing to show for a weekend of hard work.
For Team Principal James Vowles, it was a weekend of what-ifs. The team’s Mexico setup looked competitive in qualifying, but the high temperatures and thin air exposed the limits of their cooling package.
Still, the pace shown before Sainz’s retirement gave Williams hope that their updates are moving in the right direction.
“A very difficult day. The positive news is the car was very fast.But we were unable to use it. In the case of Carlos, the race was over after turn 1 and the damage resulted in both a flat spot but also damage to our wheel.”
– James Vowels(post race)
Sao Paulo awaits!
From Verstappen’s podium roar to Bearman’s breakthrough and Sainz’s silent heartbreak, Mexico 2025 was a race that bled emotion.
Every team left with something — some with silverware, others with scars — but all with fire for what’s next.
And as the paddock packs up for São Paulo, one truth remains:
No one’s safe, no one’s settled, and the fight is far from over.
Lets take a look at driver’s championship!
Team Standings heading on!
Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.
Under the orange sunsets, one car paved around like it owned the circuit and it did. Max Verstappen stormed to pole position for the 2025 United States Grand Prix, mastering the twisting rollercoaster that is the Circuit of the Americas with a breathtaking lap of 1:32.510 — just over three tenths clear of Lando Norris in a McLaren. His first lap in Q3 was enough for him to see his rivals trying to catch up the speed and no one could. Purple sector – sector after sector until he crossed the line, delighted.
Austin has seen many thrilling qualifying sessions, but this one will be remembered for Verstappen’s statement of intent. It wasn’t just a pole ,it was a reminder that the reigning champion still dictates the rhythm of Formula 1. This almighty and unshakable lap showcased Max can never be ruled out from the contention of driver’s championship.
“Honestly, he manages to surprise us every time he gets into that car. It’s unbelievable … on that lap … he sent the car in the last corners and managed to create that small gap.” – RedBull Team Principle(Post Qualifying)
No Rhythm, No Result — McLaren Left Searching for Answers in Austin
From the double DNFs in the Sprint at to a unsatisfactory qualifying for the race left McLarens defeated at COTA. In a session filled with tension and contrast for McLaren, Lando Norris delivered a standout lap to secure P2.With a time of 1:32.801 (0.291 s behind pole-man Max Verstappen) he locked in a front row start, a crucial position at COTA. While his teammate Oscar Piastri, despite leading the championship, could only manage P6. The disparity between the two results casts both a spotlight on Norris’s sharp pace and concern around Piastri’s struggles.
Back from Singapore, it appears Norris adapted to the car balance and rhythm much quicker than Oscar. With the heat and wind, managing tyres and track evolution is tricky. Norris seemed to adapt quicker. Norris starting on front row gives him a strong strategic platform, clean air, fewer cars and a potential challenge for the win. But Oscar starting P6, would need more overtakes, more risks and more number of strategies come into play.
Red Revival: Ferrari Back in the Fight as Leclerc and Sainz Shine at COTA
Texas delivered intense drama for the Ferraris. Leclerc was flawless through COTA’s technical sections, threading the high-speed esses with precision and setting a lap just 0.297 s behind Verstappen. His qualifying performance not only secured a strong grid position but also SF25’s worth.
Continuing the struggles with Ferrari, Hamilton’s P5 lap was a blend of experience and tactical brilliance. Despite a slightly compromised car balance, he managed to extract maximum performance, slotting ahead of rivals and potentially pressuring McLaren and Mercedes for advantageous pit stop windows.
“we had a big improvement compared to yesterday. I am grateful to the guys in the garage because we made some sessions going into the session. The car wasn’t quite alright throughout qualifying and I had a massive understeer from the beginning.”
– Hamilton(Post Qualifying)
Mercedes risking it all!
Russell was the standout performer for Mercedes, extracting the car’s maximum from the first lap to lock in P4. His clean, aggressive lines through COTA’s technical sections showcased the team’s progress in chassis and tyre management. With a front-row-adjacent start, Russell is well-positioned to challenge both McLaren and Ferrari if he executes a perfect launch and race strategy.
The young rookie, Kimi Antonelli demonstrated why his racecraft remains unmatched. P7 was the reward for a patient, controlled qualifying run. Despite some minor traffic in his final laps, Kimi maximized his tyres and kept Mercedes in contention . His experience at COTA could be decisive on Sunday when the field jostles for position into Turn 1. Playing a tactical role, in pressurising McLarens and the Ferraris.
Rising from the Midfield: Williams Make a Statement in Austin
Yet as the final seconds of Q2 ticked down, blue and white flashed across the timing screens — and for a rare, electrifying moment, the underdogs roared.COTA has never been kind to the Grove-based team. Its sweeping corners and punishing bumps have a habit of exposing technical frailties. But this Saturday, the FW47 came alive. The car—steady through the esses, graceful in sector two—seemed to shrug off its usual limitations. The chatter in the garages quieted. Even the most skeptical pit reporters leaned in.
Carlos Sainz, who achieved the team’s first-ever Sprint podium earlier that day, carried the team’s hopes into Q2 and beyond, carving out a gritty ninth-place start for Sunday’s race. It was not the sort of headline that shakes the championship fight, but for Williams it was.
“It was a decent start to the day with the sprint.My final push lap time was deleted which was a shame as we should have been through to Q2 at least. Lets see what tomorrow brings.
Alex Albon on the other hand, faced struggles. His early pace had shown promise, but a clip of the white paint at Turn 15 triggered track-limit deletion of his lap, his best of the session and left him stranded at the bottom of Q1 .The crowd at COTA, ever fond of an underdog, cheered Sainz’s every split time as if urging the FW47 along.
Edged out Qualifying for Stake
After his stunning Sprint Qualifying display — where he delivered a blistering lap to start fourth on the grid for the Sprint race, just behind Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri — Hülkenberg seemed poised for another standout Saturday.
When it came to the main Grand Prix qualifying session, the momentum slipped away. Despite pushing hard through the twisting esses and nailing sector one, Hülkenberg’s lap wasn’t enough to make Q3. He wound up 11th overall, narrowly missing the final shootout by a few hundredths of a second. Gabirel Bortoleto struggled to make it out Q3 even after a seamless lap. Hence, stakes’s qualifying coming to an end.
Disastrous Qualifying for the Alpines and VisaCash RB team
For Alpine, it was another frustrating display of being close but not close enough. Pierre Gasly managed to drag his A525 into Q2, ultimately qualifying 14th, while rookie Franco Colapinto lined up 15th . Both drivers extracted respectable pace through the high-speed first sector but struggled for rear grip in the braking zones of Turns 11 and 15, an issue that has plagued Alpine since mid-season.
Isack Hadjar, however, had his session cut short in Q1 after a high-speed snap at Turn 9 sent him wide into the barriers, following a Red flag and leaving him 20th on the grid. Liam Lawson looked sharp early on, progressing into Q2 and setting a time good enough for 12th, narrowly missing the final segment by two tenths.
The Heat Is On!
With Max Verstappen storming to pole in supreme form, the Red Bull driver looks poised to convert qualifying dominance into a statement win — but Lando Norris, starting alongside him on the front row, is determined to keep the McLaren title hopes alive. Oscar Piastri’s sixth-place start means the championship leader will have to fight his way forward, surrounded by heavyweights. Williams enter on a wave of momentum after Carlos Sainz’s stunning Sprint podium, lining up ninth with confidence.
The talk in the paddock is that track temperatures and tire degradation could swing the race late, especially with high winds expected. Verstappen’s raw control might make him the benchmark, but with Norris hungry, Mercedes opportunistic, and Ferrari lurking, nothing about tomorrow feels certain.
Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.
Formula 1
DRC’s 2025 Singapore GP Review: Russell’s Epic Redemption, McLaren’s Stunning Double & the Battle of the Papayas
The Singapore GP was full of crowning moments, intense battles and iron clad defenses. Join us as DRC reviews a thrilling 2025 Singapore GP.
Formula One returned to the original night race as the Marina Bay street circuit played host to the 2025 Formula One Singapore GP. George Russell won in dominating fashion from pole as McLaren clinched the constructor’s championship for second year in a row, a feat they had not achieved since the tail-end of their dominating four-peat in 1991. Max Verstappen clawed back six valuable points into the title fight as seven different constructors gathered points for the first time at the Singapore GP. Join us as we recap a thrilling Singapore GP.
Table of Contents
Russell and Mercedes dominate the Singapore GP
Mercedes grabbed up a 2-4 finish in Baku with Russell finishing on the rostrum, but crossing the finish line about 15 seconds off Verstappen surely left a bitter taste in their mouth. Come the Singapore GP, the situation looked even worse.
George Russell was the lead Mercedes in the first practice session, an entire second off the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso, ultimately finishing 11th. Kimi Antonelli was a further quarter of a second behind him, as he finished 14th.
The second practice session, which acts more like a qualifying simulation, pushed the dagger deeper. George Russell crashed out of FP2, only managing to complete six laps in total, finishing dead last. Kimi Antonelli finished 18th, two seconds off the fastest lap set by Oscar Piastri.
Calling it a “very challenging day for a multitude of reasons”, George Russell also quipped that “Singapore GP has not been the kindest to me (in the past), but that is my own doing majority of the time.”
Saturday is when Mercedes hit the ground running. After seeing the McLarens, Verstappen and Fernando Alonso show impressive pace, Mercedes turned up with some of their own. Finishing 3rd and 4th in the third practice sessions, Mercedes announced their arrival onto the scene.
The momentum though, looked to be swinging between the McLarens and the Red Bull of Verstappen. But, it was the Mercedes of George Russell who peaked at the right time, topping Q2, and then setting two blistering laps in Q3. Each lap was not only good enough for pole, but he also broke the previous Marina Bay track record with a 1m29.158s in his final attempt, securing pole for sunday’s Singapore GP.
He beat Verstappen to the premier grid slot by nearly two tenths, while Kimi Antonelli out-qualified Lando Norris’ McLaren to finish 4th.
Starting from pole, Russell never looked back, as her dominated the race and went on to win by 5.4 seconds. This is quite an emotional result for Russell. He famously crashed out from victory contention at turn 10 on the last lap here in 2023, and very nearly caused major damage as he crashed out at turn 16 in FP2. The win was redemption as Russell himself admitted the win felt “amazing, especially considering what happened here a couple of years ago.”
McLaren clinch the constructor’s crown as the Papaya war rages on
McLaren looked in the hunt for pole for the longest time. Even other teams, who were quick in their own right, expected a McLaren resurgence after their meltdown in Azerbaijan. Piastri topped the qualifying simulations in FP2, while he finished second in the third practice session.
But as the track evolved on Saturday, conditions made way for the Mercedes of Russell and the Red Bull of Verstappen as they locked out the front row. Piastri was the lead McLaren in third, while Norris slotted in exactly behind him in fifth for the Singapore GP.
The race start, was absolutely chaotic for the papayas. Both Norris and Piastri came together in the opening lap, with Norris forcing his way past Piastri to claim third spot after going deep into turn three.
Tensions boiled over, as Piastri asked that he be handed the place back, much like what he did for Norris after they made contact in Monza two races ago. McLaren, however decided against this, and left Piastri Frustrated. Although the Stewards decided not to intervene in the incident, Zak Brown admitted that “(the incident) was a nailbiter, but they race hard and they race clean”, adding that “this is something that we will have to review internally.”
Although the P3 – P4 finish was sub – standard for team Papaya, it guaranteed them their tenth world constructor’s championship. This is also their second consecutive title and their first back-back since they won four in a row in 1991. McLaren also clinched the championship with six grand prix to go, matching Red Bull’s record as the team to win the title earliest in the season, who also won it at the Singapore GP in 2023.
The Prancing Horse struggles in the city of the Lion
The Scuderia were not looking strong for the get go. Charles Leclerc finished second in the first practice, although that looked more like a flash of fortune rather than that of brilliance. The Ferraris qualified 6th and 7th, with Hamilton out-qualifying Leclerc by a tenth. The scarlet red Ferraris did manage to make the race interesting, with Lewis Hamilton putting on the soft tire to the end, trying to charge towards a potential p4 and stop McLaren from another crown.
This rhythm was cut short, as Hamilton suffered braking issues towards the end of the race while hunting down Piastri for fourth, ultimately crossing the line in seventh but fell down to eighth after failing brakes caused him to violate track limits multiple times over the allowed upper bound. Singapore has developed quite a reputation for brake failure, with multiple instances being observed primarily due to the hot and humid conditions.
Hamilton now takes on a rather infamous Ferrari record, having gone 18 races without a Sunday podium for the Scuderia, which is their longest podium drought for a single driver ever. Leclerc finished 6th, meaning that he has gone for five races without a trip to the rostrum.
As Ferrari continue to struggle, this result is a setback. The SF 25 is car that is suited to slow to medium paced corners, which means heavy downforce races like Monaco, Hungary and the Singapore GP. Finishing fifth and eighth is one thing, you may have bad days, but being completely outclassed and outpaced by your competitors is a surely a sign of worry for the Scuderia.
Verstappen outscores McLaren as Alonso, Bearman impress
After completing a perfect weekend in Baku, which saw him earn a sixth career grand slam, Max Verstappen looked quick right from the get go on the Marina. He was the only driver to manage a top – 3 finish in all three practice sessions, ending FP3 at the top of the timesheets.
Qualifying was a different matter though. After trading places with George Russell and eventually falling to him in Q2, Verstappen could not even manage to get within a touching distance of either of Russell’s flying laps, both of which were good enough for a new lap record around Singapore. After qualifying P2, Verstappen looked to be set up for a perfect attack off the rip at Russell, to claim a Singapore GP win, and win on every circuit on this year’s calendar.
Coming raceday, Verstappen himself admitted that all hopes for the win ended after turn 1, and that “P2 finish was the best case scenario after the lengthy battle with Lando Norris.” Verstappen went on to say that “… it was more difficult than I had hoped…”, and that he was “… struggling with the upshifts and downshifts of the car”, admitting that the car was behaving in a way that is not considered ideal for street circuits.
Over on to the other end of the pitlane, the Aston Martin Fernando Alonso was impressive pace wise at the start of the weekend. Having topped FP1, the Spaniard lined up in the tenth grid box, managing to reach Q3 against quicker cars of Lawson and Tsunoda. His pace on race day was spot on as well, as he climbed up another three places to clinch a seventh place, and bring home six important points. This is an important points finish for Aston Martin, as they battle with Racing Bulls for sixth in the Constructors, trailing them with four points currently.
Another driver who impressed all over the weekend was Oliver Bearman, who qualified and finished ninth, gaining two crucial points for Haas in his fifth points finish this season. This gives Haas an opportunity to catch up to Sauber in the constructors championship for eighth in their battle.
Drivers and Constructors Championships
This is how the Drivers Championship is shaping up after the Singapore GP.
This is how the Constructors Championship looks like after the Singapore GP.
Onto Austin
Next up, we have the United States Grand Prix coming up from October 17-19.
Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.
Super Formula to race at India’s Buddh International Circuit?
Akshay Bohra’s 2025 FRECA Season Review: First Indian Race Winner & Pole-Sitter
A New Chapter in Mexico — Norris Seizes the Lead, Verstappen Stumbles
Lightning Lap – Verstappen Unleashes COTA Chaos to Steal Pole!
DRC’s 2025 Singapore GP Review: Russell’s Epic Redemption, McLaren’s Stunning Double & the Battle of the Papayas
Azerbaijan Ascendancy: Victory for Verstappen, Redemption for Williams on the Caspian Streets
-
Formula 12 years agoFancode: Everything you need to know before the Bahrain GP
-
DTM1 year ago
DTM 2024: Cars back in action at the Nürburgring GP
-
Formula 11 year ago
GIFT City’s Formula 1 Racetrack Plans Hit a Roadblock
-
Endurance/Sports car racing1 year ago
“I Want to Return to Single-Seaters and Reach Formula 1”: Mahaveer Raghunathan on His Ambitions, Challenges, and Racing Journey
-
Indian Motorsports10 months ago
Goa Street Circuit Set to Become India’s Newest Motorsport Destination
-
Indian Motorsports1 year ago
Dominant Wins and Close Battles Mark Round 1 of MECO-FMSCI
-
Formula 12 years ago
Formula 1 in India: A Curious Case
-
MotoGP2 years ago
Jio Cinema will be the Indian OTT broadcaster for MotoGP
You must be logged in to post a comment Login