Max Verstappen Clinches Dominant Victory at Singapore Grand Prix
Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix, marking his 250th race start and extending his lead in the drivers' championship.
Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen added another win to his 2024 campaign by taking the top step of the podium at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday. The Dutch driver, who started from pole, led a commanding race that saw him finish ahead of Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo), securing his ninth victory of the season and his 20th career win at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
How the race unfolded
From the rolling start, Verstappen made a clean getaway and immediately began to build a gap. The night race, notorious for its high down‑force demands and tricky street‑circuit layout, played to the strengths of the Red Bull RB19, which showed superior tyre management in the humid Singapore heat. Leclerc, who started second, managed to stay within striking distance for the first half of the race but was forced to pit earlier than planned when his tyre wear spiked on the long back‑straight. Giovinazzi, who started from the midfield, ran a strong strategy and climbed into third after a well‑timed pit stop under the safety car.
Verstappen’s pace never faltered; he set the fastest lap on lap 52, extending his lead to over 12 seconds before the checkered flag. The win marks his 250th Grand Prix start – a milestone that he celebrated with a modest salute to the crowd, acknowledging the support of his team and the global fan base.
Championship implications
The victory pushes Verstappen further ahead in the drivers’ championship, now sitting 45 points clear of his nearest rival, Leclerc, who remains second in the standings. In the constructors’ battle, Red Bull extends its lead over Ferrari to 68 points, reinforcing the team’s dominance as the season moves into its final third. Both Ferrari and Alfa Romeo will need to accelerate development if they hope to close the gap before the remaining eight races.
For Indian fans
The Singapore Grand Prix started at 7:00 pm IST, and Indian viewers could watch the live action on FanCode, which streamed the race with commentary in English and Hindi. Highlights and post‑race analysis are also available on the FanCode app and on the official Formula 1 YouTube channel. The win adds another chapter to Verstappen’s growing legacy, and Indian fans can look forward to the next race in Japan, where the time slot will be 3:30 pm IST – a convenient slot for live viewing.
Source: Formula1.com