Formula 1: Verstappen finally crowned at Marina Bay, Hamilton powerless… the tops and flops of the Singapore Grand Prix

After the satisfaction of a first victory this season, Max Verstappen headed into Singapore with a clear objective: to finally win. It is now done, with a first career victory on the Marina Bay track this Sunday. Among the rare anomalies in the career of “Mad Max”, the Singaporean night is now included in the track record of the four-time world champion, winner of a 73rd race on a 27th different circuit. And the Dutchman did it in style, with a perfect weekend, winner of the sprint the day before and author of his 50th pole position in the process. He did not lose control on Sunday, flying to the front after a messy but successful start, on a track where it is more important than elsewhere to start first. At the end, a second victory in a row and progression to fourth place in the world championship, where he returns on the heels of Lewis Hamilton.

Kimi Antonelli has never been closer. Fourth on the grid, the Mercedes driver patiently bided his time, smart behind the Norris-Hamilton battle for 3rd place, to jump at the opportunity and score a 14th podium this season. When he can't win, which now seems difficult with improvements that aren't really there on his Mercedes, the Italian makes a point of maximizing his capital. Even playing regularly, with the limits of the track, little worried by rather magnanimous commissioners. But its effectiveness is indisputable, with 15 new points in the bag to extend its lead beyond 100 points in the world championship. In two weeks in Austin, he will even be entitled to his first match point.

It was one of the curiosities of the race. The starts at the back of the grid of George Russell (19th) and Isack Hadjar (from the pits), penalized for changes to their engine unit. Better equipped than the rest of the competition at the rear, the two drivers managed to move up the pack, which is not always easy in Singapore, to get into the points (Russell 9th, Hadjar 10th), the Ile-de-France rider even his compatriot Pierre Gasly (Alpine) for the point of 10th place in the final laps. And given his not always appropriate smile, the Red Bull driver seemed to have had a good time.

The look of bad days for Sir Lewis. Third on the grid and long in the race for the podium, Lewis Hamilton lost everything in the last ten laps. Victim of the wear of his soft tires, obviously put on a little early, the great tire manager showed his helplessness, beaten without almost resisting by Antonelli, Norris and finally Piastri in the final. On arrival, a 6th place and a slightly clearer decline in the world championship, where his meager hopes are now well under way.

A week after rediscovering the joys of a completed race and the battle for the top 10, Lance Stroll fell back into his old ways. Or rather those of his team, where his definitely poorly born Aston Martin led to another retirement, the 11th (!) in 16 races this season (a non-start in Australia). Extended by the British team and especially by his father for the coming season, the Canadian is having an absolutely nightmarish season, he who shares the sad fate of the Cadillac drivers (Perez and Bottas) with 0 points on the clock.