Verstappen wins chaotic rain-stricken Singapore sprint as Russell crashes out

KUCHING: Max Verstappen won a rain-hit Singapore Grand Prix sprint ahead of Ferrari pair Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc after early leader George Russell crashed out in difficult conditions.

Russell had briefly taken control, but with sections of the Marina Bay circuit still wet, the Mercedes driver ran wide at the final corner on the opening lap and lost control. His car spun across the track and hit the barriers, with the rest of the field managing to avoid him.

That left Verstappen with the lead, and the Red Bull driver made no mistake from there, keeping Hamilton behind to take the sprint victory. Leclerc followed in third.

The drama was not over. On the final lap, McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri made contact at Turn Five as Norris tried to get past, allowing Kimi Antonelli to move up to fourth.

With Russell failing to finish, Antonelli extended his championship lead to 89 points.

Verstappen’s win came less than a week after his victory at Sepang, giving him another strong result before Sunday’s main race in Singapore.