After each Grand Prix, we present the RaceReport, a unique and engaging digital recap of the race weekend. Our correspondent André Venema brings you the latest from Singapore!
A TROPICAL SURPRISE IS NEVER FAR AWAY IN SINGAPORE
If there’s one Grand Prix that has rapidly evolved into a classic on the Formula 1 calendar, it’s Singapore. The inaugural night race in 2008 gave the sport an unprecedented boost, not least because of Crashgate: arguably the biggest scandal in the 75-year history of Formula 1.
Tickets typically sell out every year. The Singapore GP is a fan favorite, attracting spectators from around the world to the Asian metropolis. They come not only for the spectacular street race under artificial lights, but also for the culinary delights of the city-state, the tropical sun, and the pop concerts.
With the latter, Singapore plays a pioneering role in Formula 1: since the first Grand Prix, ticket holders have been able to enjoy (free) performances by world-famous artists. With concerts from The Foo Fighters, Elton John, and Martin Garrix, the lineup was diverse last year. The central location of the street circuit near the exceptional Marina Bay Sands Hotel (starting price for a room per night during the GP: €2000) and the Singapore Flyer exerts an irresistible pull on fans.
In nearly twenty years, the race, where drivers lose five kilos of fluid in two hours, has provided many highlights. Spectacular crashes involving the likes of Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, and Lance Stroll, thrilling rain races, and a scandal – Crashgate 2008 where Fernando Alonso win – have put the Singapore GP on the global map and shaped it into a modern classic on the F1 calendar.
The local businesses are more than happy: hotels are fully booked at double the rate, the government imposes a special F1 tax during the GP weekend and also makes a substantial profit. The fact that city traffic has to be diverted is inconvenient for residents and taxi drivers. But as always with a Grand Prix, there are commercial winners and losers. However, the biggest winners are the hundreds of thousands of fans who flock to the mega event each year. Because a tropical surprise or the safety car is never far away under artificial light and with zero room for steering errors in Singapore.
Just not this year.
Highlights from Singapore
Max’s Quote
“The last three weekends in Monza, Baku, and Singapore were really good. Before the race in Monza, we were constantly adjusting the car’s setup from left to right, because it just wasn’t working. Sometimes it was okay, but now it finally feels solid. We can start fine-tuning instead of making radical adjustments. And that’s exactly what you want. Of course, some circuits will suit us better than others, but the foundation is now much more consistent. And that gives confidence.”
Top & Flop
The weekend in Singapore provided plenty of material for discussion. George Russell drove to a surprising and convincing victory, while Williams experienced a bitter disappointment after the disqualification of both cars. These are the top and flop of the Singapore Grand Prix!
George Russell Shines in Singapore
Under the bright lights of Marina Bay, George Russell delivered an almost flawless performance. The British driver secured pole position with a lap that seemed to come out of nowhere and effortlessly carried that form into the race. While Max Verstappen and Lando Norris were hot on each other’s heels, Russell drove unchallenged to his second victory of the season. Interestingly, he did not see this coming: the Mercedes felt unpredictable and heavy on Friday. The sudden surge of speed at Singapore, a circuit where Mercedes rarely excels, raises questions. “We need to figure out where this came from,” Russell said calmly. “If I had to make a list at the beginning of the year of where Mercedes could win, Singapore would probably have been at the bottom.”
Williams Faces Disappointment in Singapore
It was a bitter aftertaste for Williams following the qualifying round in Singapore. Both cars were disqualified after the qualifying round because the upper rear wings did not comply with the technical regulations. A painful moment, as both Alexander Albon and Carlos Sainz Jr saw their twelfth and thirteenth starting positions vanish. Team boss James Vowles spoke of a “bitter disappointment” and emphasized that the team was not seeking any performance advantage: the wings had passed internal checks earlier in the day. But in Formula 1, only one measurement counts: that of the FIA. Williams accepts the verdict, but the incident exposes the ruthless precision of this sport. Vowles emphasizes that this will not happen again.
Behind the Scenes
A peek behind the scenes at the Singapore Grand Prix!
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Results of the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix
The 2025 Singapore Grand Prix saw an impressive victory from Russell, with Verstappen successfully holding off Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Three Questions for… Oscar Piastri
‘If I stay focused, everything will naturally fall into place’
World Championship leader Oscar Piastri cannot afford any slip-ups, like in Baku, in his pursuit of the holy grail. The race in Singapore offered some consolation with a fourth-place finish. “But I’m not too concerned with the bigger picture of the championship.”
Perhaps an odd question, but did the double crash in Baku yield any positives?
“It’s clear that we can’t afford weekends like that. For me personally, there were harsh lessons, but as a team, we also saw opportunities to emerge stronger from such a weekend – and that’s just as important. Honestly, I’m not too focused on the bigger picture of the championship. Baku was primarily a reminder of how quickly things can turn around, but also of the things that have made this season so successful for us. If I continue to focus on that, the rest will follow naturally.”
You’ve called Baku ‘educational’. What were the lessons exactly?
“In the qualification, it was actually quite simple: on a street circuit, you’re harshly punished if you push just a bit too much. The false start in the race was due to a combination of factors, and then the crash – it was hard to separate from how the race started. There are lessons in there for how I can better handle such a situation and how I assess risks. But I don’t want to make a drama out of it: in 17 out of 18 weekends, my approach worked excellently. Baku looked intense because everything happened in one weekend, but they were just mistakes. If I keep focusing on what’s going well, everything will naturally get back on track. I didn’t dwell on it for too long. Monday morning, I just went to the supermarket to do some shopping, as after every race.”
Team Boss Andrea Stella Reflects on the Performance of Greats Like Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso
“Yes, absolutely. I hope that Azerbaijan was my only weekend of that order, but everyone in the sport experiences it. It’s reassuring to see that even the very best have had difficult moments. I try to learn from these experiences and focus mainly on the positive trajectory of this season. There have been seventeen other weekends where we were very strong, and that gives confidence.”
Together with reporter André Venema, we look back at the Grand Prix of Singapore from the Marina Bay Street Circuit. George Russell wins in a sensational manner and Max Verstappen fights his way to second place on a circuit where Red Bull usually has nothing to look for. And McLaren? They once again win the constructors’ championship, but the celebration is significantly disrupted by a collision between Piastri and Norris. Will these tensions continue to affect the title fight?
Next Grand Prix: United States
Circuit of the Americas
“The Formula 1 heads to Austin for the United States Grand Prix 2025. The race at the Circuit of the Americas will follow the sprint format. This means one free practice on Friday, followed by the sprint qualification later that day. On Saturday, the sprint race and the qualification for the Grand Prix are scheduled, with the lights going out for the race on Sunday. Below is the full schedule, including Dutch times, for the American Grand Prix 2025.
Schedule for the 2025 American Grand Prix
Friday, October 17
- First free practice: 17:30 – 18:30 UTC
- Sprint qualification: 21:30 – 22:15 UTC
Saturday, October 18
- Sprint race: 17:00 – 18:00 UTC
- Qualification: 21:00 – 22:00 UTC
Sunday, October 19
- Race: 19:00 UTC
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