McLaren secured its tenth Formula 1 constructors’ championship on Sunday, October 5, at the Singapore GP in Marina Bay. George Russell, driving for Mercedes, won the race with a solid performance, finishing ahead of Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing, who took second. Lando Norris of McLaren completed the podium in third, earning crucial points for the team’s championship. Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto, racing for Sauber, finished 17th after facing challenges during the race.
The race was marked by an incident at the start between McLaren drivers Norris and Oscar Piastri, who collided at Turn 3, creating tension within the team. Despite the clash, Norris held third place, while Piastri finished fourth. Mercedes, which hadn’t won since the Canadian GP, celebrated Russell’s second victory of 2025.
- McLaren’s points: 650, compared to Mercedes’ 325.
- Constructors’ titles: McLaren surpasses Williams, trailing only Ferrari’s 16 titles.
- Next race: United States GP, October 19.
Russell’s commanding performance
George Russell led from start to finish, maintaining his advantage over Verstappen from the outset. The Mercedes driver built a 6-second lead by lap 12, effectively managing tires and pit stops.
On lap 26, Mercedes executed a double pit stop for Russell and Kimi Antonelli without issues. The strategy ensured Russell’s lead, as he fended off Verstappen’s attempts with a consistent pace until the end.
McLaren tension after start
The collision between Norris and Piastri at Turn 3 sparked debates over the team radio. Norris, starting fifth, overtook his teammate and held his position, but Piastri sustained front wing damage.
McLaren informed Piastri that the contact occurred as Norris tried to avoid Verstappen. The Australian, however, questioned the move, highlighting the risk of colliding with his teammate.
Piastri’s pit stop on lap 28 lasted 5.2 seconds, hampering his race. Norris, meanwhile, attempted to chase Verstappen but couldn’t overtake him, finishing 6 seconds behind.
Bortoleto’s performance
Gabriel Bortoleto started 13th but dropped to 14th after contact with Lance Stroll at the start. The Brazilian pitted on lap 14 to replace his Sauber’s nose, rejoining the race in last place.
Despite gaining positions as rivals pitted, Bortoleto was overtaken by Carlos Sainz on lap 53. The Sauber driver finished 17th, ahead only of Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly, and Nico Hulkenberg.
Strategies and battles at the front
Verstappen faced handling issues with his Red Bull, including gear-downshift problems. The Dutch driver pitted on lap 20, switching from soft to hard tires, but couldn’t close the gap to Russell. Norris attempted a bluff on lap 18 to pressure Verstappen, but the strategy failed. McLaren prioritized Norris in pit stops, causing friction with Piastri, who lost time during his stop.
Results and next steps
The Singapore GP solidified McLaren’s lead in the constructors’ championship with 650 points. In the drivers’ standings, Piastri remains ahead, 22 points clear of Norris. Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc in sixth and Lewis Hamilton in seventh, lags behind in the table.
Formula 1 returns in two weeks with the United States GP, the 19th race of the 24-race 2025 season. The championship promises more intense battles, with McLaren established as the dominant force.