Verstappen Wins Singapore Sprint as Russell Crashes from the Lead and McLarens Collide

Max Verstappen secured his second sprint win of the 2024 season at the Singapore Grand Prix, converting a chaotic opening lap into a comfortable victory. The Dutch driver, who started from pole, led the final five laps after a series of incidents shuffled the field, finishing ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris.

Russell’s dramatic exit

George Russell, who had taken the lead early on, suffered a heavy crash on lap three after losing control at Turn 1. The Williams driver spun into the wall, damaging his front wing and suspension, and was forced to retire. The incident handed Verstappen a clear track ahead and sparked a safety‑car deployment that compressed the pack.

McLaren’s misfortune

While the safety car was out, the two McLaren cars – Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris – made contact at the end of the straight, sending Piastri into a spin and briefly blocking the pit lane. Both drivers were able to continue, but the collision cost them valuable time and dropped them out of the top‑ten battle.

Lewis Hamilton, who started from fourth, capitalised on the chaos and moved up to second place, finishing just under three seconds behind Verstappen. Lando Norris recovered from the McLaren incident to claim third, completing the podium.

For Indian fans

The sprint race started at 5:30 pm IST, and the full Grand Prix will take place on Sunday, 9 October, with the main race kicking off at 8:00 pm IST. Indian viewers can watch the live action on FanCode, which holds the official streaming rights for the 2024 Formula 1 season. Highlights and replays will also be available on the F1 TV app and the official F1 YouTube channel.

Verstappen’s win extends his lead in the Drivers’ Championship, while Russell’s retirement keeps him in the midfield hunt. The upcoming main race promises another showdown between Red Bull and Mercedes, with the Indian audience eager to see if Hamilton can close the gap.

Source: BBC