Max Verstappen dominated the Singapore Grand Prix to secure his second consecutive win, with Charles Leclerc finishing second and Kimi Antonelli third. Should Mercedes be worried by Red Bull’s form as the season comes towards its conclusion?
Verstappen untouchable in Singapore
Verstappen had a sensational weekend at the Marina Bay Circuit as he won the sprint, took pole position and won the race by 7.3 seconds. He faced issues with his team radio, but it did not stop him from securing his first-ever win in Singapore.
It has been a season full of struggle for the four-time world champion, who had failed to win a race prior to last weekend in Sepang. Alongside that, constant complaints about the Red Bull car and the controversial new regulations, it has been a challenging season for the Dutchman and his support.
Verstappen’s biggest challenge over the weekend was the Ferrari cars, with both Leclerc and Hamilton showing promising pace but ultimately failing to challenge over the course of the full race distance.
The Mercedes car struggled at times this weekend, with Antonelli doing well to finish on the podium. Meanwhile, George Russell’s slim Championship hopes all but faded as he finished ninth, having started 19th due to a grid penalty. Russell’s crash in the sprint on Saturday was another major blow for the Brit.
Antonelli now holds a 102-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship. He may even secure the title before the next race in Austin, as we await confirmation on whether the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will go ahead.
Should Mercedes be concerned by Red Bull’s form?
Despite the rapid rise in form of Red Bull, they are too far behind Mercedes in both championships to cause any concern for the Silver Arrows this season. Nevertheless, Toto Wolff has warned his team of the threat of Red Bull and Verstappen in the future. He said: “One thing is for sure, next year it’s full-on the fight between the teams and Red Bull are part of that.”
Red Bull have moved their focus to next season, with their final upgrade for 2026 coming a few weeks ago in Baku. Since the upgrade, Verstappen seems to be much happier with the Red Bull car. Normally, when he has a car that is quick, and he is comfortable with, he dominates the sport. His 2023 season remains the most dominant season in F1 history, setting several records which may never be broken.
The other challengers
Verstappen and Red Bull have suffered from multiple key staff departures over recent years, and there is another huge exit in the immediate future. Max’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, is leaving the team having worked alongside the Dutchman since 2016. Tom Hart will take over from Lambiase for the next three races as part of the preparation for Lambiase’s departure at the end of the year.
Lambiase is moving to McLaren to become the Chief Racing Officer. McLaren are looking to bounce back from a challenging season, having come into 2026 off the back of winning the Constructors’ Championship in 2024 and 2025. A collision between Norris and Piastri in Saturday’s sprint did little to boost morale within the team. McLaren have two wins in 2026, both coming courtesy of the reigning world champion Norris.
Ferrari have shown promise over the course of the season and look set to comfortably finish second in the Constructors’ Championship. Ferrari’s form has dipped in the second half of the season, and they have not won since the British Grand Prix at the start of July. Despite this, they do remain competitive and are regulars on the podium. A few big upgrades over the winter and they will be in the thick of the battle in 2027.
Ultimately, there is nothing for Mercedes to worry about in regard to the Championships in 2026. Verstappen’s return to the top step of the podium is a warning sign to the Silver Arrows about what they should be ready to face in 2027. Ferrari and McLaren will both be working hard over the coming months to close the gap and bring a fascinating title fight involving four teams in 2027.
