Verstappen wins 2026 Singapore Grand Prix as Leclerc and Antonelli complete podium

Verstappen holds off Leclerc at the start

Charles Leclerc made a strong start from second, but Max Verstappen retained the lead into Turn 1. Leclerc stayed within six tenths of a second early in the race before Verstappen extended the gap to 2.6 seconds by lap 15.

A Virtual Safety Car followed when Bortoleto stopped near the pit lane exit. Marshals later extinguished a fire on his Audi. The interruption came during an opening phase in which Verstappen had kept Leclerc behind him.

Pit stops reshape the order behind the leader

Hamilton changed to soft tires on lap 19 and passed Lawson for sixth two laps later. Antonelli stopped for medium tires on lap 24, and Leclerc stopped the following lap, rejoining just ahead of Hamilton. Verstappen waited until lap 33 to switch from soft to medium tires and retained the lead.

Stroll’s stop at Turn 15 brought out a second Virtual Safety Car. Leclerc and Antonelli made second stops during that period. Piastri later made an additional stop on lap 42 because of a slow puncture.

Leclerc and Antonelli secure the podium places

Leclerc passed Hamilton for second on lap 46. Antonelli also moved forward, passing Norris before overtaking Hamilton at Turn 16 for third. Norris and Piastri subsequently passed Hamilton, who finished sixth.

Verstappen had radio trouble late in the race, so Red Bull communicated with him using a pit board. He completed all 62 laps to win by 7.335 seconds over Leclerc, with Antonelli third, 24.573 seconds behind. It was Verstappen’s first Singapore Grand Prix victory and his 73rd career Grand Prix win.

Norris and Piastri finished fourth and fifth. Behind Hamilton, Lawson, Hulkenberg, Russell and Hadjar completed the top 10.