Singapore without salt: Russell uncomfortable winner, McLaren constructor champion

In second place, the most consistent driver of this second phase of the season. A Max Verstappen who does not give up easily, author of a masterful weekend only a week ago on the Nordschleife of the Nurburgring with a victory on his debut in GT3 with a Ferrari, today comes second and shows that he is there. He shows that a champion is not just an 'occasional spoilsport', but a real threat for a title that at one point might have seemed almost too easy for the papayas in Woking. While the two contenders continue to scrap from Sunday to Sunday, today Verstappen still manages to nibble away precious points, even if, realistically, it is increasingly difficult for him to make the 'hit' of a new world championship unless there are disastrous retirements, scandals or disqualifications.

With six races to go and a shrinking points margin, it is true that for McLaren the margin for error is narrowing: a recovery by Verstappen would only be possible if, in each race, his lead in the standings grew sharply over both Papaya rivals. At Marina Bay, however, the McLarens were right there and the performance gap was not so unbridgeable.

From the premises one could have hoped for a hard-fought race: the first ten on the grid contained within eight tenths, problems and twists and turns since Friday's incident in the pit lane between Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris, which fortunately ended with a fine against Ferrari, without penalties: a fact that exacerbated the debate and tension in the paddock. There was no lack of impeding episodes and the resounding disqualification of both Williams drivers from qualifying for non-compliance of the single-seaters. Which didn't exactly exempt the Grove-based stable from criticism and suspicion, which is in fifth place in the 'makes', as it hasn't been since 2016 thanks to a driver of the calibre of Felipe Massa and a three-pointed star powertrain in the midst of the years of invincibility of the first hybrid given to Hamilton.

Saturday had therefore not rewarded Verstappen who, as perhaps never before this year, wanted pole and victory, also for pure personal pride: in fact, his trophy cabinet in the top series is only missing the Singapore trophy. He would have raised his number of winning tracks to 24, i.e. all the ones he has raced at in recent years.

Everything was played out and seen at the start. The heat did not exceed 30 degrees, although the humidity was high. No propulsion jumped. No surprises or gambles: the history of high walls has taught us something.

Verstappen therefore maintained second position: he was unable to attack Russell despite a slight skid on the pitch. Norris, on the other hand, made a blitz by overtaking both Kimi Antonelli and team-mate Oscar Piastri, not without some hard contact of which Piastri protested without getting any punishment. However, there was a small natural compensation, due to a little damage to Norris' front wing. A tough game, a sportsmanship put aside because with twenty-five points behind, the Englishman still hoped to play his cards for the drivers' championship. Speaking of penalties: a penalty with the engines off is not ruled out for Hamilton because at the end, while trying to defend himself against Alonso, he ended up under investigation for exceeding track limits.

Antonelli's poor start also continued with Leclerc losing a position, who in turn began to redeem his bad qualifying Saturday by also overtaking Hamilton in the early stages.

The rest, as in 2024, was quite soporific.