George Russell Converts Pole Position into Victory, while McLaren Secures the Championship

Following the highly anticipated Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the participants of the Formula 1 World Championship tested their mettle on the narrow, unforgiving street circuit of Singapore. Unlike the thrilling and high-octane race in Baku, the contest in Singapore was characterized by a more tactical and steadier pace.

The free practice sessions, which commenced on the dusty asphalt over the weekend, initially saw Alonso distinguish himself, followed by the season leader Oscar Piastri, who topped the second session. The qualifying round on Saturday was conducted with maximum intensity. At the end of the session, where only 0.089 seconds separated the top five, Mercedes driver George Russell secured pole position. Verstappen finished second, with Piastri in third. The "Williams" drivers, however, were excluded from the results and relegated to the back of the grid due to a technical regulation infringement.

The race start was equally dramatic: Verstappen's risky decision to use soft tires did not pay off. Norris first squeezed out Antonelli and then his teammate Piastri, advancing his position. The leading quartet of George-Max-Lando-Oscar, formed from the very first lap, remained unchanged until the end of the race.

In the second half of the race, Alonso stood out with intriguing overtakes. Ferrari opted for a bold strategy by calling Lewis Hamilton into the pits for a second time. However, the British driver's car experienced a brake failure, causing him to fall back. Consequently, Alonso closed the gap directly behind him at the finish line, and following a penalty, the Spanish driver advanced his position.

George Russell, who started and finished the race in the lead, claimed his second victory of the season and the fifth of his career. Max Verstappen applied close pressure but was unable to take the lead. Lando Norris completed the podium in third place, securing McLaren's second consecutive Constructors' World Championship title.

Oscar Piastri finished fourth, thereby maintaining his championship lead. He currently holds 336 points. Lando Norris is 22 points behind, and Max Verstappen is also 41 points behind him. George Russell (237) also retains his mathematical chances.

The battle for the Vice-Championship between Ferrari and Mercedes has also intensified – Antonelli's 5th place and Russell's victory have given Mercedes the upper hand. Alonso finished 7th, while Bearman and Sainz rounded out the top ten.

The final quarter of the season will commence in just two weeks in the USA with the Texas Grand Prix. We are now entering the decisive turns in the championship battle.