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 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.

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.

Baku never disappoints — and the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was no exception. On the twisting streets along the Caspian Sea, drama unfolded at every turn, with crashes, safety cars, and strategy gambles keeping fans on the edge of their seats. Verstappen launched cleanly from the front, but the chasing pack wasted no time in piling on the pressure. A first-lap incident, Oscar Piastri crashing into the wall, immediately brought out the safety car, setting the tone for a race that would be dictated as much by chaos as by speed.

Behind him, heartbreak struck: a bold Ferrari challenge ended with a nasty strategies , while McLaren’s podium dreams dissolved in the pits. Max opting for a medium – downforce package, striking a balance between the long straight speed and tight middle sectors. This gave him a strong top-end speed without compromising too much of the grip he received. His first stint on the softs paved him way as he managed effectively extending their life. Second stint on hards, won him the race. McLaren tried to undercut by pitting early, failed to do so due to the traffic and a slow stop (4 seconds) stationed them behind the Ferraris and Yuki in his Redbull. Verstappen tamed his rivals once again.

His teammate, Yuki scored P6 fighting a Williams, McLaren and a Ferrari. Proving consistency is key.

The Underdog Roars: Williams Shocks Baku

Williams arrived in Baku with a bold philosophy “strip the car for straight-line speed”.While others opted for stability in the tight castle track,Williams gambled on a low-drag system that made them the fastest car through the speed traps. Carlos Sainz secured his first podium of this year, making it a Willaims’s podium after 4 years.

Setup changes were a huge plus to Carlos Sainz’s driving style, qualifying on the front row with Max. While Alex Albon struggled to make it into Q2, Carlos Sainz put up an extraordinary lap all together. As carnage erupted in the midfield on lap 1, the drivers kept their noses clean, climbing places without having to give away some of the risky moves. Due to the safety car neutralising the race, they extended their first stint on softs. Due to the pitstop, he received an undercut from Russel as he stole the spot with one of the cleanest pitstop from Mercedes.

The joy among the fans all over were humongous. The defensive driving was flawless,calm, calculated, and uncompromising. When the checkered flag fell, Williams had secured a P3 “their best team result in recent memory”.

A Weekend to forget for the McLarens

McLaren left Azerbaijan with a lingering sense of “what could have been.” Fast on the straights, brave in wheel-to-wheel combat, but ultimately undone by strategy, brakes and tire struggles, McLaren’s 2025 Baku campaign was a case study in how fine margins define success and failure in Formula 1.

Oscar Piastri’s Baku Grand Prix ended in sorrow, a brutal crash into the barriers. A false start and misjudgment of gap level landed him to P20. Malfunctioning of MCL38, put him straight into the castle at turn 5. As the championship battle intensifies, they’ll hope Piastri’s mistake becomes a lesson and not a recurring incident.

Norris with a low-drag package struggled to make to the top 5. Qualifying was a equally disaster for both due to package and set up differences. The decision paid dividends in qualifying, with their cars consistently among the fastest through the speed traps. However, that came at a cost: A DNF and P7 finish by the end of the race.

“Oscar was pushing right where he needed to. In Baku, you take risks — sometimes it pays off, sometimes the walls win.” – Andrea Stella(Team Principal) (post race)

Mercedes Surprise Surge

After months of chasing the frontrunners, the Silver Arrows finally returned to the podium, proving that persistence, strategy, and precision still run deep. George Russel pulled his W16 to P2 in the almighty turns of Baku while the McLarens pushed aggressively and paid the price in the long run.

The defining moment came when Mercedes timed their stop perfectly under the Virtual Safety Car. While Ferrari and McLaren hesitated, Mercedes seized the opportunity, saving precious seconds. Emerging in clean air, they were able to undercut one Williams of Carlos Sainz, leapfrogging into podium contention.

Kimi Antonelli successfully scored P4 position unable to overtake Carlos with a few laps of time. Mercedes team together proved that this race result was a statement that they are still present in the constructor’s title.

Baku Bravery: Racing Bulls Take the Fight to the Midfield

Redbull’s sister team secured a splendid result with Liam Lawson with a P5, his best career finish and Issack Hadjar in P10, earning 11 valuable points. Racing bulls opted for a medium downforce setup adjusting to the curves of Baku. This team is proving it can better than its sister team and with time, its proving true.

Ferrari Truma continues.

Both the Ferrari drivers failed to keep with the mid field. They were asked to swap but didn’t make a mark. Yuki survived Lewis Hamilton losing large amount of time. Charles on the other hand, had a splendid first stint but lost pace due to the McLarens.

Ferrari arrived in Azerbaijan with confidence, running a high-downforce setup aimed at maximising grip through the tight castle section. While they were quick in the technical sector, the lack of straight-line speed left them vulnerable. A weakness that would haunt them on race day. The opening laps showed Ferrari’s fragility. Though they managed to hold track position early on, McLaren and Williams repeatedly threatened on the 2km main straight.Ferrari facing another hard time raised questions among fans, F1 enthusiasts, etc.

Race Result

Constructor Standings

On to Singapore!

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix of 2025 delivered everything Baku is known for chaos, heartbreak, and breathtaking drama. From Verstappen’s relentless charge to Mercedes’ podium redemption, Williams’ resurgence, and McLaren’s costly misfortune, the race was a rollercoaster of shifting fortunes.

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.