Russell wins Singapore GP as McLaren clinch Constructors’ Championship
George Russell delivered a flawless drive to win the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, leading from start to finish under the Marina Bay lights. The Mercedes driver held off Max Verstappen and Lando Norris to claim his first Singapore victory, while McLaren secured the Constructors’ Championship in dominant fashion.
McLaren’s Lando Norris finished third and teammate Oscar Piastri came fourth, sealing enough points for the British outfit to clinch their second consecutive team title—and their 10th overall—matching Red Bull’s record of winning the championship with six races still to go.
Russell’s Redemption at Marina Bay
For Russell, it was a moment of redemption. Two years ago, a last-lap crash robbed him of victory at the same circuit. This time, he made no mistakes.
“It feels amazing, especially after what happened a couple of years ago,” Russell said after the race. “That was a missed opportunity, but we more than made up for it today. It wasn’t easy—the heat, the humidity, the focus—but everything came together.”
The British driver started from pole and quickly established control, pulling a 10-second gap within the first 20 laps. Despite the demanding conditions, he maintained composure to cross the line comfortably ahead of Verstappen.
McLaren Celebrate Back-to-Back Titles
While Russell celebrated his win, the bigger story was McLaren’s back-to-back constructors’ crown. The team’s strong finishes from Norris and Piastri brought in 27 points—enough to seal the championship with a record-breaking margin.
“They’ve been outstanding all year,” said McLaren CEO Zak Brown. “You can’t win the Constructors’ without two great drivers. We’ve let them race hard and fair, and they’ve delivered.”
It wasn’t without tension, though. Norris and Piastri made contact early in the race as they battled for position. Sparks literally flew, but both cars stayed on track and continued to push.
Piastri, who still leads the Drivers’ Championship, wasn’t happy about the intra-team fight. “That wasn’t fair,” he said over team radio after Norris muscled past him on Turn 1. Norris, however, saw things differently: “It was good racing,” he replied post-race with a grin.
Verstappen Battles to Second
Max Verstappen had to settle for second after struggling with gearbox issues throughout the race. “It was a tough one,” said the Red Bull driver. “The car wasn’t behaving the way I wanted—it felt like a handbrake during downshifts. Around here, overtaking is nearly impossible, so second was the best we could do.”
The result keeps Verstappen third in the drivers’ standings, 63 points behind leader Piastri, with six rounds remaining.
Heat, Humidity, and New Safety Rules
This year’s Singapore Grand Prix was officially designated as Formula 1’s first “Heat Hazard” race, requiring teams to have liquid-cooled vests available for drivers. Although the temperature dropped to around 28°C—slightly cooler than expected—conditions remained punishing. Some drivers, including Verstappen, chose not to wear the cooling vests.
Mercedes’ rookie Kimi Antonelli impressed again, finishing fifth behind the top four. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton followed in sixth and seventh, with Hamilton later demoted to eighth after a five-second penalty for repeated track limit violations. Fernando Alonso, Oliver Bearman, and Carlos Sainz rounded out the top ten.
Norris and Piastri Continue the Title Fight
Norris’s third-place finish trimmed Piastri’s championship lead to 22 points, keeping the fight for the drivers’ crown alive heading into the final stretch of the season.
“I gave it everything today,” Norris said. “Max didn’t make any mistakes, but our pace was strong. We’re still in the fight.”
For McLaren, the title win cements their status as the sport’s dominant force of the current era. And for George Russell, the Singapore night finally brought the victory that slipped away before—a drive of redemption, precision, and poise under the floodlights.
SportsLigue