For all the flashpoints that the Singapore Grand Prix sprint race caused, most of the action was actually quite processional.
But that still required composure from all 22 drivers – some of whom managed to keep their cool better than others.
Here is our pick of the winners and losers from the sixth and final sprint race of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Loser: Russell (DNF)
“I just misjudged him,” George Russell said of his race-ending crash in Singapore.
While it probably won’t make any difference to his dwindling title hopes, Russell finds himself in a position where, for his own sake, he needs to finish the year strong.
Taking the lead from Verstappen at the sprint start seemed like the perfect way to do it before a grid penalty hampered the rest of his weekend.
But the heavy crash – which he attributed to the battery having more power than expected coming out of the final corner and then hitting the white line while he was running a bit wide – ended that in a very painful way.
“It’s a very, very stupid mistake,” he said. “Too confident. I think this is my first fall of the year. It’s boring to come from this position.”
Winner: Kimi Antonelli (4th)
It was a quintessential “when it’s your year, it’s your year” day for Kimi Antonelli.
He didn’t do anything remarkable – which in itself is a good thing because it was obvious that in those conditions it was easy to trip – and yet he took a small step closer to his world championship.
His main “rival” for the title, Russell, came out of a winning position in the first round. Then, at the very end, two cars in front of him were swept away in an unnecessary collision.
Aside from keeping the car on the road, it was the easiest progress Antonelli would make all season – and it almost ended in an improbable sprint podium, such were Leclerc’s problems at the end of the race.
Loser: McLaren (8th & 14th)
A frustrating but strong race turned into a needlessly destructive race for McLaren thanks to Lando Norris’ overambitious move on the final lap.
Sending it to the inside of Turn 5 in the wet is borderline hopeless at the best of times, let alone against your teammate.
McLaren bosses must have held their breath when it happened, but ultimately, although gutted, they are surely not surprised that it prompted a synchronized spin from both men, effectively ending Oscar Piastri’s race.
It was always likely to end badly and it could get even worse if Norris incurred a penalty that would see him lose eighth place, and with that the measly point McLaren was still getting as a faint glimmer of hope.
Winner: Max Verstappen (1st)
Would Verstappen have had anything to get back at Russell? We’ll never know – although one could infer that Verstappen may have found it difficult given his post-race assertion that “I think we shouldn’t have a sprint where you can’t overtake”.
This is all academic. Verstappen never looked threatened from behind, and his quest for victory had an air of cruise control – on a track too, where Verstappen can struggle to reach his peak performance level.
Yet further proof that the four-time champion is currently the best driver.
Loser: Isack Hadjar (DNF)
It’s difficult to judge Hadjar too harshly considering he only completed two laps before parking with a power issue.
But he lost two places at the start, if we are ultra-critical.
And of course, there’s no escaping the fact that this was a DNF in a race won by the sister car.
Winner: Lewis Hamilton (2nd)
Lewis Hamilton did the heavy lifting for his sprint race in the opening seconds, overtaking his teammate and both McLarens.
Considering he seemed to have the best pace of anyone, other than Verstappen, in this race, that was key. Getting stuck on a track where it seemed almost impossible to overtake in these conditions – barring bigger pace changes in the middle of the pack – would have made Hamilton’s sprint much more average.
He couldn’t match Verstappen in the middle of the race, but started to lose the lead again late on and managed his tires much better than teammate Leclerc appeared to be as the track dried.
Winner: Liam Lawson (5th)
If you can keep your head when everyone around you is losing theirs…
OK, the Singapore sprint wasn’t the hardest to manage actually, but there were still plenty of rewards to be reaped by keeping it clean and tidy.
It was another exemplary ride from Lawson, who, in repeating his best trick from qualifying, also intended to capitalize on any mishaps to come. (Hello, McLaren.)
It’s this sort of driving that means the direction of travel is only going one way in the fight for fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship between Racing Bulls and Alpine at the moment.
Loser: Arvid Lindblad (13th)
Compare Lawson’s serene run to fifth place with the struggles of his Racing Bulls teammate Lindblad.
Lindblad was perplexed after the race by his spin under the safety car – “it was a bit confusing at the time because she was quite lacking in power and then she suddenly lost it” – but he was a little cowardly in his description of the events, “then I tried to get her to go back”, as he had actually spent several seconds rolling the car backwards while trying to loop around Turn 5.
So it’s no surprise that this caught the attention of race management.
And even if he escapes the penalty, it’s a last one on the road with the same car that finished fifth at the top of the road. There is no doubt, given the attrition, that points were up for grabs.
Loser: Cadillac (DNF & DNF)
Two cars. Two collisions. An unproductive race.
The Sergio Perez-Lance Stroll clash looked like as obvious a case of a racing incident as possible, so there’s little blame to be placed on the Cadillac driver.
Valtteri Bottas does not have such an easy journey. What initially looked like a lazy slide from Alex Albon into the back of Gabriel Bortoleto was actually the result of Bottas entering the back of the Williams. All this before the race even resumes.
The “rubber band” effect was partly to blame – Bottas said “both cars in front of me came to a complete stop and I just didn’t have time to react” – but it ultimately triggered contact.
So much for the kind of weekend and track that can play into Cadillac’s hands…
Winner: Ollie Bearman (6th)
Ollie Bearman was absolutely delighted with his sprint work, although he admitted his rise of seven places had been bolstered by the mistakes of others.
Regardless of the Russell shunt and the McLaren collision, Bearman was a man on the move here. He held up well to get ahead of Pierre Gasly once the race resumed after the safety car, which was essential to consolidate the points finish.
Bearman was on course to clinch eighth place regardless of what happened on the final lap – so the climb back to sixth only strengthened the Haas driver rather than completely flattering his efforts.
Gn sports
