The Singapore Grand Prix is one of the most anticipated races in the F1 calendar. Few races test drivers like Singapore does, where strategy becomes survival — and last weekend, spectators watching under the Marina Bay lights witnessed it all.
Watching George Russell finally conquer the Singapore Grand Prix felt almost cinematic, a long-awaited redemption arc wrapped in silver. From McLaren’s back-to-back Constructors’ title to Ferrari’s deepening frustrations, the weekend had everything an F1 fan could ask for — speed, strategy and storylines that will shape the rest of the season.
When Russell slammed into the barriers during FP2, I thought his weekend was done for. However, there was a surprising comeback by both the team and the driver in Saturday’s qualifying match. Russell stormed through Q3 with a blistering lap that no one — except himself on a second run — could top, securing Mercedes their first pole since June’s Canadian Grand Prix.
It’s no news Russell has had his eye set on a Singapore victory for quite a while, evident in his post-race message to Team Principal Toto Wolff: “Made up for three years ago.” This victory marked his fifth career Grand Prix win and further solidified his outstanding 2025 campaign — an achievement that will surely strengthen his hand as Mercedes continues contract negotiations.
McLaren’s weekend, on the other hand, was pure theater. The opening lap alone was enough to get every fan off their seat. Lando Norris’ audacious move on Oscar Piastri had me gasping — brave but borderline reckless. For a moment, it looked like the papaya dream might implode.
Piastri, clearly not thrilled about the outcome, was heard disgruntled on the radio, “Are we cool with Lando barging me out of the way, or … what’s the [deal] there?” Both the FIA and the McLaren team decided to not take any action, but the chaos settled into control.
McLaren walked away with a P3-P4 finish and their second consecutive Constructors’ title. It’s wild to think that after decades in the wilderness, McLaren is now the team everyone’s chasing again.
Red Bull’s gamble on soft tyres was bold — maybe too bold. Max Verstappen’s attempt to snatch the lead from Russell at Turn 1 fizzled fast, and the rest of his evening was a defensive masterclass rather than an attacking showcase. It was strange — almost unsettling — to see him fighting to hold position rather than extending a lead.
His post-race remark said it all: “Unfortunately, I think the whole race was quite difficult — more difficult than I hoped for — for a lot of different reasons, let’s say it like that.” Singapore continues to be his kryptonite, and I can’t help but think he knows it.
Ferrari, though, were the heartbreak of the weekend. Watching them struggle with pit stops and mechanical issues at a track that used to be their playground was painful. Charles Leclerc’s brief overtake on Antonelli gave a flicker of hope, but it faded quickly. Lewis Hamilton’s race wasn’t any brighter — brake issues, slow stops and a penalty summed it up.
It’s frustrating to see a team with such a legacy fall behind, and the standings now reflect it. Ferrari now trail Mercedes by 27 points in the Constructors’ Championship, with Red Bull only eight points behind in P4.
One standout performance that shouldn’t go unnoticed came from Fernando Alonso, who finished in eighth place and was later promoted to seventh after Hamilton’s penalty. It was definitely one of Alonso’s strongest performances of the 2025 season.
Starting P10, he wasted no time climbing up the order, managing his soft tyres with that trademark calm precision. Even after a slow pit stop briefly set him back, he fought his way back past Isack Hadjar and closed to within five seconds of Hamilton by the chequered flag. Watching him still deliver this level of control and consistency, race after race, is genuinely impressive.
Having scored points in seven of the last 10 Grands Prix, Alonso may not grab headlines anymore, but he continues to deliver quietly consistent results that Aston Martin and Lawrence Stroll will surely be pleased with.
However, I definitely felt the broadcast focused too heavily on the frontrunners. There was no shortage of backfield action. Gabriel Bortoleto, despite suffering front-wing damage, managed to hold on and finish P17, while Hadjar battled persistent VCARB engine issues to end up just outside the points in P11. Nico Hülkenberg’s off-track excursion left him trailing home in P20, rounding off a chaotic evening for the midfield.
As the paddock packs up and heads to Austin for the U.S. Grand Prix, a home race for many fans reading this column, I can’t help but feel the season’s energy shifting. McLaren might have sealed the Constructors’ fight, but the Drivers’ battle feels far from settled. Austin’s sprint weekend could either cement the papaya dominance — or finally shake it.
Either way, if Singapore proved anything, it’s that Formula 1’s most dazzling night still knows how to deliver drama. And as I watched the sparks fly under those golden lights, I remembered why I fell in love with this sport in the first place: the emotion, the unpredictability and those rare moments of redemption that make every lap worth watching.
