Verstappen wins rain-delayed Singapore sprint as McLaren pair collide

Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix sprint after a rain delay and a series of retirements, finishing ahead of Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. The Guardian's live report recorded a dramatic final lap for McLaren, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri making contact and spinning as the 20-lap race reached its conclusion.

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The sprint began 35 minutes late because of the weather. George Russell's retirement brought out the safety car, interrupting a race in which he had briefly led before Verstappen returned to the front. Russell acknowledged making a mistake. Lance Stroll, Sergio Perez and Franco Colapinto were also among the drivers who went out during the disrupted contest.

Verstappen led Hamilton and Leclerc when racing resumed, with Piastri ahead of Norris and Kimi Antonelli following the McLarens. Conditions improved as the track dried, but wet areas remained a complication for drivers running intermediate tyres. Hamilton reported that parts of the circuit were still wet, while managing tyre temperatures became an important consideration as the race progressed.

Hamilton stayed within reach of Verstappen during the middle stages before the Red Bull driver's advantage grew to 2.6 seconds on lap 12. After the finish, Hamilton described trying to close the gap while preserving his tyres, before tyre difficulties limited that effort. Leclerc also reported struggling with degradation from the middle of the race and losing pace as the surface dried. Ferrari nevertheless brought both cars home on the podium.

McLaren's race unravelled when Norris and Piastri collided on lap 20. Norris had been closing on his team-mate, with Antonelli in turn putting pressure on Norris. According to the live coverage, Norris restarted and finished eighth. He apologised afterwards, explaining that he believed he was alongside Piastri but had run out of room. The contact ended their late-race pursuit with a costly incident for the team.

The afternoon schedule was also affected by the earlier rain delay. The Guardian reported that qualifying would not begin at its previously scheduled time, although a revised start was not yet clear. The sprint result therefore left Verstappen with victory and Ferrari with two podium places, while McLaren faced the aftermath of its last-lap collision before the next session.