Verstappen wins Singapore Grand Prix as Hamilton apologises for strategy call

Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix on 11 October, taking his first career victory at the Marina Bay Street Circuit from pole position, according to Sky Sports. Sky Sports reported he led every lap and finished seven seconds ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, with Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli third. BBC Sport reported it was Verstappen's second win in a row, after he also won the final sprint event of the campaign in Singapore. Sky Sports said the win came on his 250th grand prix start, and that a radio problem left him unable to communicate with his team during the race.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton finished sixth after choosing not to pit under a Virtual Safety Car, Sky Sports reported. Sky Sports said Ferrari told him to follow team-mate Charles Leclerc into the pits on lap 39 of 62, but he stayed out and was overtaken by Antonelli, McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the closing laps. Hamilton said on team radio: "Sorry boys. I let you down today with that strategy." In a statement released by the team, he said he missed the pit entry and then decided to stay out to hold track position, adding: "I take full responsibility for the decisions I made."

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur told Sky Sports F1 that Hamilton had ignored the pit wall's instructions. "We called him, we called them both to pit," Vasseur said, adding that Ferrari would have finished second and third had Hamilton pitted. Vasseur said Ferrari went into the race "blind" on which tyre would perform better because Saturday's sprint had taken place in wet conditions.

Sky Sports reported that Antonelli extended his championship lead over Mercedes team-mate George Russell to 102 points, and that he can win the title at the next race in Austin on 23-25 October if he outscores Russell by 23 points and Hamilton by 14. Sky Sports reported Hamilton is 111 points behind Antonelli and eight points ahead of Verstappen, who BBC Sport said moved from sixth to fourth in the standings. BBC Sport reported Verstappen is 119 points behind Antonelli.

Sky Sports reported Norris finished fourth ahead of Piastri, with Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson seventh, Audi's Nico Hulkenberg eighth and Red Bull's Isack Hadjar tenth from the pit lane. Russell recovered to ninth after starting 19th because of grid penalties for a new power unit, Sky Sports reported. Sky Sports said Gabriel Bortoleto, Franco Colapinto, Lance Stroll and Alex Albon all retired with reliability issues, and no full Safety Cars were required.

Sky Sports reported Hamilton required medical checks after the race as he felt unwell after competing in sweltering conditions, and was excused from his media duties. He said: "I'll continue to put the work in and come back fighting at the next race."