Overview: A Singapore Showdown
The Singapore Grand Prix produced a marathon of strategy, tyre management, and on-track bravery. Key teams shared their reflections on pace, pit stops, and the moments that decided the race. Here is a concise look at what the teams said after the action-packed evening.
Mercedes: Victory and Vigilance
George Russell delivered a commanding drive to win, building a solid early lead before the hard tyres’ graining complexity leveled the playing field. Despite Verstappen’s attempt to close in, Russell remained in control, sealing a second win of the season. Kimi Antonelli’s recovery to fifth reflected a resilient Mercedes performance. Toto Wolff highlighted Russell’s pace and the podium’s milestone with PETRONAS, while Andrew Shovlin praised the front-running pace and tyre management. The team celebrated a strong showing but acknowledged the night’s tyre and grip challenges that kept the pressure on the constructors’ title chase.
Kimi Antonelli noted a rocky start with some wheelspin but finished strongly with a clever overtaking move on Leclerc. The engineering team, including Andrew Shovlin, stressed the importance of long-run data and maintaining tyre windows for future venues.
Red Bull: Close Fight, Near-Perfect Defence
Max Verstappen started on the Softs to chase quick pace but found it tough to dethrone the Mercedes. A strategic defense against Norris in the second stint and some downshift issues limited his chances for a more decisive overtake. Nevertheless, Verstappen finished second, acknowledging the weekend’s learning curve and praising McLaren for their Constructors’ title triumph. The team highlighted a hard-fought performance in a circuit where overtaking is notoriously difficult and confirmed they’ll analyse the downshift problems for future improvements.
Tsunoda’s race remained in midfield, with pace that suggested potential if not for the points shortfall. Laurent Mekies and Laurent’s post-race comments framed the result as a realistic outcome on a track that demands precision and reliability.
Ferrari: Mixed Fortunes and a Late Blur
Leclerc’s strong start gave way to a challenging race as Ferrari navigated paces with Antonelli and Hamilton chasing different strategies. Hamilton’s late brakes and the track limits penalty reshaped the order, while Leclerc’s weekend frustration pointed to areas for tuning as the team aims for better balance ahead of the United States round. Charles Leclerc spoke candidly about the weekend’s difficulties and the need for thorough analysis to reclaim competitiveness.
Lewis Hamilton’s attempt to recover from a difficult weekend showed flashes of pace on the Soft tyres, but cooling and brake concerns tempered the final push. Ferrari’s leadership, including Fred Vasseur, emphasized learning from a weekend that didn’t fully showcase their car’s potential and stressed the ongoing battle with rivals as the season progresses.
Aston Martin: Overtakes and Operational Hurdles
Fernando Alonso’s aggressive driving and a slow pit stop briefly hindered the strategy, yet he clawed through the order to finish seventh after Hamilton’s post-race penalty reshuffled the final standings. Lance Stroll’s decision to push for overtakes on a soft-start strategy showed his willingness to gamble for position, even as the medium tyres faded under traffic. The team’s notes praised the decisions that kept both drivers in contention and looked ahead to Austin with cautious optimism.
Andreas Cowell and team principals celebrated Fernando’s driver-of-the-day performance while recognizing the need to optimize pit timing and tyre strategies in the remaining races.
Haas: A Positive Step, Yet Ground to Make Up
Oliver Bearman’s points finish marked Haas’s first points since Zandvoort, a sign of progress after a difficult stretch. The start line incident, early tyre choices, and a mid-race spin for Nico Hulkenberg tested the team’s ability to recover, but a long-run strategy and careful tyre management delivered a credible result. Franco Colapinto fought hard for position, though older tyres in the closing stages limited his progress. The team’s leadership, from Ayao Komatsu to Jonathan Wheatley, stressed the value of learning from the race and carrying momentum into Austin.
AlphaTauri and Williams: Small Gains, Big Lessons
AlphaTauri’s Colapinto and Gasly faced a challenging Singapore night, with pit-stop strategy and a backfoot start shaping their race. Williams took a strategic risk by starting Sainz from the back and Albon from the pit lane, scoring a late point as Sainz clawed through the field. Both teams highlighted the learning opportunities and the importance of bouncing back at Austin, where more conventional circuit characteristics could better suit their packages.
Final Reflections
Across the paddock, leaders praised the McLaren Constructors’ title triumph, underscoring how the sport’s season-long chess match continues beyond a single race. Teams emphasized data-driven adjustments, tyre strategy, and evolving car setups as the key to staying competitive in tight urban layouts. The Singapore race proved once again that even a single event can reshape momentum as the season moves toward the United States openers.
