McLaren Claims 10th Constructors’ Title, Reaffirming Their Prowess
In an exhilarating race, Mercedes driver George Russell emerged victorious in the Singapore Grand Prix, finishing ahead of Max Verstappen and the two McLaren cars driven by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. This triumph secured the constructors’ title for McLaren, marking their 10th championship win and reaffirming their status as the top car on the grid.
Constructors’ Title Race
McLaren’s Zack Brown expressed his delight, stating, “Our drivers have been driving exceptionally well throughout the season. You can’t win the constructors’ title without two outstanding drivers.”
Race Highlights and Controversy
Norris, starting fifth, swiftly gained two positions, even overtaking Piastri in a daring maneuver that could have resulted in both McLarens being out of the race. Russell, however, maintained his lead without any issues, staying ahead of Verstappen.
Piastri voiced his frustration over the radio, complaining about Norris’s risky move to avoid contact with Verstappen at Turn 2. “It’s not fair. Why did Lando push me off the track?” he exclaimed.
McLaren’s team principal, Zack Brown, attempted to mediate: “We’re allowing them to compete. It’s intense, but they race hard and cleanly.”
Russell’s Dominant Performance
Russell capitalized on the lack of traffic ahead, opening a gap from Verstappen: two seconds in just four laps, which he extended to three times the lead after eight laps.
Verstappen attempted to close the gap, but McLaren threatened a tire change strategy to overtake the Dutchman in the pits. However, this proved unsuccessful as Norris remained on the track with new tires.
Pit Stops and Final Standings
Pit stops commenced in lap 19, with Verstappen leading the pack. With fresh tires, Verstappen set the fastest lap time of 1:36.330, prompting Russell, Norris, and Piastri to make their pit stops.
By the halfway point, Russell led with over three seconds ahead of Verstappen, nearly eight seconds ahead of Norris, and 17 seconds clear of Piastri.
Alonso narrowly avoided a crash in lap 35, going wide in a corner but managing to avoid disaster.
The top positions remained unchanged until the end, with the focus shifting to the battle for points:
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin, despite a mechanical issue in the first pit stop)
- Oliver Bearman (Haas)
- Carlos Sainz (Williams, with an impressive comeback)
Franco Colapinto (Alpine) and Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) finished 16th and 17th, respectively.
Post-Race Reactions
“It’s fantastic… I’m not sure exactly where this performance comes from, but I’m incredibly happy,” Russell said after his dominant victory.
“The race was quite challenging for various reasons, so second place was the best result possible,” Verstappen remarked contentedly.
