Max Verstappen wins Singapore Grand Prix: Formula One 2026 race – as it happened

Aha, Giles Richards’ race report is here… …which means that’s it from me. We’ll see you again a fortnight today for the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. Peace. Apparently there’s anothrer football match going on today. That should be a nice, quiet night in at the library.

Not! I don’t think! Also going on: 1 Mercedes 🇩🇪 578pts 2 Ferrari 🇮🇹 444 3 McLaren 🇬🇧 339 4 Red Bull 🇦🇹 332 5 Racing Bulls 🇮🇹 100 6 Alpine 🇫🇷 68 7 Haas 🇺🇸 30 8 Audi 🇩🇪 23 9 Williams 🇬🇧 12 10 Aston Martin 🇬🇧 7 11 Cadillac 🇺🇸 0 The pace, tension and levity of that; man, I’m tearful and exhausted just reading it.

In a way, this has nothing to do with F1, in another way, it’s almost identical. I just read this and suggest youse do too; some people are built differently. Verstappen lifts the trophy, and well has he earned that moment. His champagne will taste very sweet, Crofty reckons, which I’m pretty sure it won’t, given that’d kind of defeat the purpose of what, I presume, is a decent drop.

It’s a minor thing, but I’m surprised Verstappen has that little beard; it surely gets hot, sweaty and itchy under the bally and, as we’re all friends, we can be honest in saying it’s not worth even a millisecond’s discomfort. Podium and anthem time… 1. Kimi Antonelli 🇮🇹 Mercedes 340pts 2.

George Russell 🇬🇧 Mercedes 238pts 3. Lewis Hamilton 🇬🇧 Ferrari 229pts 4. Max Verstappen 🇳🇱 Red Bull 221pts 5. Charles Leclerc 🇲🇨 Ferrari 215pts “So boys, I let you down today with that strategy,” Hamilton tells his team. I think it’s fair to say he’s earned the right to make those calls.

1 Max Verstappen 🇳🇱 Red Bull 1:42:00.785 – 25pts 2 Charles Leclerc 🇲🇨 Ferrari +7.335 – 18pts 3 Kimi Antonelli 🇮🇹 Mercedes +34.573 – 15pts 4 Lando Norris 🇬🇧 McLaren +40.506 – 12pts 5 Oscar Piastri 🇦🇺 McLaren +49.644 – 10pts 6 Lewis Hamilton 🇬🇧 Ferrari +53.188 – 8pts 7 Liam Lawson 🇳🇿 Red Bull +81.386 – 6pts 8 Nico Hülkenberg 🇩🇪 Audi +66.187 – 4pts 9 George Russell 🇬🇧 Mercedes +84.677 – 2pts 10 Isack Hadjar 🇫🇷 Red Bull +90.862 – 1pt 11 Pierre Gasly 🇫🇷 Alpine +1 lap 12 Oliver Bearman 🇬🇧 Haas +1 lap 13 Esteban Ocon 🇫🇷 Haas +1 lap 14 Carlos Sainz 🇪🇸 Williams +1 lap 15 Arvid Lindblad 🇬🇧Racing Bulls +1 lap 16 Fernando Alonso 🇪🇸 Aston Martin +1 lap 17 Sergio Pérez 🇲🇽 Cadillac +2 laps 18 Alexander Albon 🇹🇭 Williams DNF 19 Valtteri Bottas 🇫🇮 Cadillac +3 laps NC Lance Stroll 🇨🇦 Aston Martin DNF NC Franco Colapinto 🇦🇷 Alpine DNF NC Gabriel Bortoleto 🇧🇷 Audi DNF Verstappen thinks the race was very good.

They had pace on both tyres when they needed them, though everyone struggled on the medium, and the last few races have been really positive. There’s a lot of motivation in the team, a really good bunch of people he enjoys working with, and he hopes they can have some fun in what’s left of the season.

A very tough race, he says, and he was able to take advantage of the fight between Norris and Hamilton to pass both. He’s surprised to hear he can clinch the title next time out then, just as he’s getting excited, he remembers what the rules say, reminding himself it doesn’t matter and he just has to have a good week.

Leclerc, meanwhile, thinks he did a good job and did all he could with good pace overall, though the car needs work. You’ve got to admire Antonelli’s ability to find a way. He’s addicted to the podium, it seems, and here he is now… Mercedes are chuffed with Antonelli, while it sounds like it was Hamilton’s strategy that went wrong, not Ferrari’s; he wanted to stay out, rather than come in when given the chance to do so cheaply by the VSC.

A terrific drive completes a terrific weekend for Verstappen, who dominated pretty much everything. Antonelli, meanwhile, will be pretty surprised to end up third given how the race went, and he has an outside chance of securing the driver championship a fortnight from now in Austin.

Charles Leclerc of Ferrari is second and Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes is third. Lap 62/62 Piastri tries again, and again Hamilton shuts off the space … but he can’t keep doing it, the lack of grip apparent as he’s finally forced to give way. He won’t be happy with a P3 to P6 drop, but let’s get back to the front… Lap 61/62 Piastri gets closer to Hamilton … but doesn’t attack through the chicane, then sees the track constantly closed off to him and he seeks to get position.

The Ferrari is slipping about, but the control is superb. Lap 60/62 It doesn’t look like Russell can get past Hulkenberg, just as it looks like Antonelli will hold off Norris, who has a braking problem. Lap 59/62 And another fastest lap from Leclerc, while Piastri gains on Hamilton; he’s scope to go by before the end.

I’m quite looking forward to Hamilton’s post-race interview. Lap 58/62 Verstappen leads by 9s, and this has been a typically understated procession. If he can get a competitive car for next season, he’ll have a very good chance of contesting the title. Lap 57/62 Leclerc sets another fastest lap as Norris is told that Antonelli is close to a penalty for infringing track limits so he must stay within five seconds.

But we’re close to the end now… Lap 56/62 We’ve not mentioned Verstappen for a while, but he’s serenely speeding to victory. He leads Leclerc by 8.8s, while Antonelli, now third, has an outside chance of securing the title in Austin if he stays where he is and if Hulkenberg, eighth, holds off Russell, ninth.

Lap 55/62 Hamilton is noted for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, but before he can so much as absorb the injustice, Antonelli does what Norris couldn’t, passing him to take third and a potential place on the podium. That’s terrific opportunism from the young man, then Norris attacks again and this time, he passes.

Hamilton is now fifth, having endured a miserable five minutes in a race that has not gone well for him. Are the tactics his or his team’s? Lap 54/62 Norris goes on the outside … but Hamilton shuts him out, so Norris tries on the inside, and that’s brilliant from Hamilton, again closing the door … meantime, Antonelli capitalises, the champion-elect zipping by the defending champion, and taking fourth!

Lap 53/62 Norris tucks in behind Hamilton, but does he has the grip and chops to pass? The gap os 0.4s, as Leclerc sets another fastest lap. Lap 52/62 Hulkenberg, eighth, will record Audi’s best-ever finish if he stays where he is; Leclerc gains a little on Verstappen, who now leads by 9.1s, but must decide if he’s going to pit again.

Lap 51/62 Another leaderboard: 1. Verstappen 2. Leclerc 3. Hamilton 4. Norris 5. Antonelli 6. Piastri 7. Lawson 8. Hulkenberg 9. Russell 10. Gasly Lap 50/62 Another fastest lap from Leclerc, who trails Verstappen by 11.2s, while Hamilton is also under threat of finishing behind Antonelli, who might end a disappointing weekend by finishing above his two nearest challengers.

When it’s going for you, it’s going for you. Lap 49/62 Norris is closing on Hamilton and should overtake him on track if he doesn’t pit. It’s not clear what’s gone on with his strategy – he might’ve taken his planned second pit when the second VSC came out, but instead he’s been kept out there and is going backwards.

Lap 48/62 Russell goes again … and this time he’s past Gasly. The way things are, he ninth and Antonelli fifth, the latter won’t be able to secure the title in Austin a fortnight today. Lap 47/62 I fear for Hamilton; I’m not sure that, if he pits again, he can beat Norris today.

Meanwhile, Russell, 10th, attacks Gasly … who slams the door shut. Lap 46/62 Verstappen now leads Leclerc by 15.0s; Hamilton is third, a second behind, with Norris 5.7s behind him, and Antonelli fifth, a further 3.5s in arrears. Lap 45/62 Another fastest lap to Leclerc, who’s now 0.6s behind Hamilton, and it looks like the two are on different strategies; will the Brit come in again?

“Let’s not lose time,” Leclerc tells the team, before passing his teammate without much effort expended. Lap 44/62 Leclerc has taken six seconds out of Hamilton in three laps and, if Ferrari are going to challenge, he must surely be allowed by. Antonelli, meantime, has been grousing about his brakes, but he seems OK again now.

Lap 43/62 Hamilton lost two seconds to Leclerc with that most recent fastest lap, and he’s got a problem with his car, complaining to his team about his tyres. He trails Verstappen by 10.8s. Lap 42/62 Leclerc sets a fastest lap as Piastri pits – he’s a slow puncture – and Antonelli complains about fluid in his car.

Verstappen leads Hamilton by 9.7s. Lap 41/62 I say that, but Russell should have the pace to move up the field. Lap 40/62 Leclerc comes in and takes softs, but Hamilton, who now has a chance to return to his two-stop strategy, does not. In goes Russell … and as soon as he nips into the lane, the VSC goes, his advantage gone, so lawson, Hulkenberg and Gasly go by, leaving him 10th.

Lap 39/62 Verstappen now leads by 5,7s, while Lance Stroll is forced to stop by a braking issue; a yellow flag follows, then a virtual safety car, which’d allow Russell a cheap pit=-stop … but he’s passed the lane. Still, he might be able to go again next time round.

Lap 38/62 Russell is now up to seventh, 17.5s behind Piastri so with plenty to clear track to enjoy. He’ll be in the points, you’d think, but Antonelli will still increase his lead. Lap 37/62 Hamilton, it seems, is on a one-stop strategy, otherwise Leclerc would be ordered to let him by.

The gap between them is 2.4s, with Antonelli 5.4s behind in third. Lap 36/62 On fresh tyres, you have to assume Versatappen will increase his lead and, as Lauren Mekies, the Red Bull pit wall tells us, it might take a safety-car situation to stop him. Lap 35/62 Verstappen now leads Leclerc by 4.8s, as an issue for the front-right tyre means a slow stop for Piastri, who now lies sixth.

Lap 34/62 “Isn’t it time at least half the F1 track circuits were redesigned and remade so that real racing rather than processions could more often take place?” asks Shando Varda. “Is that a conversation the drivers could have and push?” I think the money it’d cost would be immense, perhaps prohibitive, safety would need to be guaranteed, and the tracks need to have different characters But I know what you mean.

Lap 33/62 Verastappen is in and out in 2.2s, then Norris pits too, returning in sixth, meaning Piastri moves second and Leclerc, now third, nails another fastest lap. Hamilton will have to go some to catch him. Lap 32/62 Into the second half of the race as Verstappen pulls yet further ahead, his lead now 19.6s, while Lawson stops, meaning Russell is now eighth.

Verstappen will be in next lap. Lap 31/62 Ach Colapinto pulls into the run-off area, so the yellow flag is waved … then he retires … while Leclerc sets a fastest lap. Lap 30/62 Versteppn leads from Norris, from Piastri, but none have pitted; Leclerc comes next, then Hamilton, then Antonelli.

Russell is now 10th. Lap 29/62 Verstappen now leads Norris by 18.1s; Hamilton is told to slow down a bit at the corners, not what he’d have wanted to hear. Lap 28/62 …so Leclerc sets a fastest lap. Shut your noise Lewis, as Alan Pardew might say, the gap between the two now 1.1s.

Lap 27/62 Verstappen is pulling away from Norris and is told by his team that the mediums aren’t doing it for anyone. Meantime, Hamilton grouses to his team Leclerc is getting in the road… Lap 26/62 Veratappen now leads from Norris, by 16.1s, while Hamilton, just 0.737s behind Leclerc, tries to force an angle.

At the front, though, it’s serene. Lap 25/62 Leclerc comes in, also changes to medium, and returns 0.3s ahead of Hamilton, his tyres not yet warm. He should be ready for a tussle, because you can be sure one is coming. Lap 24/62 Antonelli stops, changes to medium, and emerges well behind Hamilton, who’s been absolutely kicking it since changing tyres.

Back at the front, though, Verstappz leads by 9,2s from Leclerc. Lap 23/62 Russell gets close enough to attack Ocon … and he slips by very nicely, having moved from 19th to 11th. Lap 22/62 Verstappen continues building his lead, now 6.7s, while Hamilton must be hoping he can get to the end on his softs, because it doesn’t look like anyone else will pit twice.

He’s flying, though; were Antonelli, in fourth, to stop now, he’d come out roughly level with the Brit. Lap 21/62 The soft tyres are doing their users a solid, lasting very nicely. Hamilton goes at Lawson and diddles him on the outside, but he’s still the only racer to pit.

Verstappen leads by 6.3s. Lap 20/62 “Each sports brings its own uniqueness,” writes Krishnamoorthy V. “But the speed at which F1 operates and the margins that dictate the differences are insane. I have been on the autobahns and I barely managed 220kmph for 30 seconds.

The adrenaline rush is off the charts. Your hands tremble , eyes glaze, feet twitch and the body feels feverish. And someone like Kimi does it for close to 100 minutes at about 250kmph! Unbelievable.” I feel ill even thinking about it. Lap 19/62 Hamilton swings into the pit at the last second so no one has the jump on it, and changes to softs which he’ll hope to use until the end; if not, it’s a two-stop strategy.

He emerges in P7, but should move up the field easily enough. Lap 18/62 Norris is only 0.6 behind Russell, but he needs to pit soon and won’t want to do so to come out ninth, behind Hulkenberg. It looks like Hamilton will be in soon. Lap 17/62 Verstappen must’ve been managing his tyres in the race because he’s now 3.5s ahead now, while Hamilton tells his team he can’t go any faster.

It’s looking good for Red Bull. Lap 16/62 Let’s go through the order: 1. Verstappen 2. Leclerc 3. Hamilton 4. Antonelli 5. Norris 6. Piastri 7. Lawson 8. Hulkenberg 9. Gasly 10 Bearman 11. Ocon 12. Russell Lap 15/62 Fastest lap set by Verstappen, whoi now leads Hamilton, in third, by 4.1s, while Russell is closing the gap on Ocon by a second a circuit.

Lap 14/62 Verstappen extends his lead to 2.2s, now 2.4s, now 2.6s, and this is impressive stuff. Lap 13/62 Russell is now up to 13th, and will fancy himself some points from here. Not enough to disquiet Antonelli, who we’ve barely mentioned and lies fourth, oh, and Russell nails Sainz to move 12th.

This is some terrific work from him. Lap 12/62 Hamilton, they reckon in comms, is looking to go as long as he can on his mediums, so that in the closing stages, he’ll have the fastest tyres. He’s 3.2s off the lead now, which is a helluva lot to make up but, on the other hand, we mustn’t forget he’s a genius.

Lap 11/62 Verstappen must reckon if he keeps it sensible, he’ll be hard to stop, a better driver than Leclerc, in a car that’s at least as good. The gap is 1.2s. Lap 10/62 Bortoleto’s Audi is now in flames, so the pit-lane is closed which the fire is extinguished.

Verstappen leads Leclerc by 0.8s with Hamilton a further 3.0s behind. Lap 9/62 The VSC does one, which doesn’t help poor old Bortoletz, out again. Otherwise, the soft tyres seem to be the ones, given Hamilton and his mediums are dropping off. Lap 8/62 Bearman’s overtake seems to have been legit, but poor old Bortoleto has been let down by his Audi again.

He pulls over, and we’ve a virtual safety car situation … but the leader’s opt to not pit. Lap 7/62 Verstappen’s sixth lap was the race’s fastest and he now leads by over a second. Back in fourth, Antonelli is taking it easy – relatively! – wanting to complete the race and draw closer to the title, rather than risk accident seeking a win he doesn’t need.

Lap 6/62 Ha, of course Leclerc immediately makes me look silly, recording a fastest lap, and he’s now 1.5s ahead of Hamilton; that’s some great work. Ah, but Verstappen saves me… Lap 5/62 Bearman has been noted for further investigation after leaving the track when duelling with Ocon; Russell is now up to 15th.

Meantime, back at the front, Verstappen’s lead has stabilised at 0.5s. I don’t see how Leclerc can get at him as long as the car sticks in. Lap 4/62 Hamilton sets a fastest lap but is full second behind Leclerc in third -though, as I type, he trims that by a tenth.

Unless he’s made a brilliant choice with his mediums, it’s hard to see how gets by Verstappen, even if he finds a way past Leclerc. Lap 3/62 Russell is motoring, now up to 17th, while Bearman attacks his teammate, Ocon who started 16th and is now 11th. He gets past, then cedes the place again … then passes again!

Bearman takes 11th, Ocon 12th while, at the front, the top six are pulling away – there’s 4.1s separating them, then another 2.7s to Lawson in seventh. Lap 2/62 Antonelli chases Hamilton, while Hulkenberg has passed Bearman. Lawson is now eighth and, back at the front, Verstappen extends the gam from 0.4 to 0.6.

Lap 1/62 Leclerc is away quickly and is he passing Verstappen? Not quite, the door expertly shut, and the 1-2-3 is the same now as was when we started, while Norris couldn’t sneak by Antonelli. Lights out and away we go! If Antonelli outscores Russell by 12 points today, he can win the championship in Austin, Texas, the week after next.

Off goes the formation lap; Verstappen, Leclerc, Antonelli, Norris and Piastri are on softs, with Hamilto,n Gasly and Russell on mediums. The engines fire up, the grid fully clears, and speed is almost upon us, Verstappen, by the way, has never won this race. The grid is emptying as we prepare to get going, and our experts are backing Verstappen.

If he comes out of the first corner in front, he’ll be hard to catch. Lando Norris thinks he has a shot, though the Ferraris will be tough. I’d be surprised, but we shall see. Antonelli has an issue with his car – the brakes aren’t getting information, so it’s a sensor problem, apparently, and they’re taking stuff apart to replace it, on the grid, Those mechanics are earning their money today.

Anthem time… Now Brundle tells Alonso he’s starting from the pitlane – presumably in case he was unaware, he’s good like that. Alonso airs him, I can’t think why. Eileen Gu is in attendance. I can’t lie, I love her – and she’s coming soon to as Joy of Six near you – and I think Martin Brundle is charmed too, turning away because Antonelli is going past, then returning to apologise for not saying goodbye.

Gu was, I’m sure, absolutely bereft. Zak Brown of McLaren confirms he has had a stern one with his drivers after they go in each other’s way yesterday. “I didn’t say please,” he laughs. “It’s an order.” Our race comprises 62 laps and the relatively long track means it’ll last roundabout two hours.

It’s hot, too, meaning a proper physical struggle for our drivers. Hamilton thinks he’s got a good car and has a good chance to put pressure on Verstappen. If he gets one of his starts, he can win this from the front. Yet another way in which The Clash were visionaries.

1 Mercedes 🇩🇪 556pts 2 Ferrari 🇮🇹 405 3 McLaren 🇬🇧 316 4 Red Bull 🇦🇹 298 5 Racing Bulls 🇮🇹 90 6 Alpine 🇫🇷 68 7 Haas 🇺🇸 27 8 Audi 🇩🇪 17 9 Williams 🇬🇧 12 10 Aston Martin 🇬🇧 7 11 Cadillac 🇺🇸 0 1 Kimi Antonelli 🇮🇹 Mercedes 325 pts 2 George Russell 🇬🇧 Mercedes 236 3 Lewis Hamilton 🇬🇧 Ferrari 221 4 Charles Leclerc 🇲🇨 Ferrari 191 5 Lando Norris 🇬🇧 McLaren 188 6 Max Verstappen 🇳🇱 Red Bull 188 7 Oscar Piastri 🇦🇺 McLaren 128 8 Isack Hadjar 🇫🇷 Red Bull 96 9 Liam Lawson 🇳🇿 Racing Bulls 65 10 Pierre Gasly 🇫🇷 Alpine 41 11 Arvid Lindblad 🇬🇧 Racing Bulls 38 12 Franco Colapinto 🇦🇷 Alpine 27 13 Oliver Bearman 🇬🇧 Haas 20 14 Gabriel Bortoleto 🇧🇷 Audi 10 15 Nico Hülkenberg 🇩🇪 Audi 7 16 Esteban Ocon 🇫🇷 Haas 7 17 Fernando Alonso 🇪🇸 Aston Martin 7 18 Carlos Sainz 🇪🇸 Williams 7 19 Alexander Albon 🇹🇭 Williams 5 20 Yuki Tsunoda 🇯🇵 Racing Bulls 1 Yet to score: Lance Stroll 🇨🇦 Aston Martin Valtteri Bottas 🇫🇮 Cadillac Sergio Pérez 🇲🇽 Cadillac Qualifying 1 Max Verstappen 🇳🇱 Red Bull 1:31.373 2 Charles Leclerc 🇲🇨 Ferrari 1:31.427 3 Lewis Hamilton 🇬🇧 Ferrari 1:31.496 4 Kimi Antonelli 🇮🇹 Mercedes 1:31.562 5 Lando Norris 🇬🇧 McLaren 1:31.712 6 George Russell 🇬🇧 Mercedes 1:31.712 7 Oscar Piastri 🇦🇺 McLaren 1:31.860 8 Pierre Gasly 🇫🇷 Alpine 1:32.225 9 Liam Lawson 🇳🇿 Racing Bulls 1:32.369 10 Arvid Lindblad 🇬🇧 Racing Bulls 1:32.781 Q2 eliminations 11 Nico Hülkenberg 🇩🇪 Audi 1:32.784 12 Oliver Bearman 🇬🇧 Haas 1:32.908 13 Esteban Ocon 🇫🇷 Haas 1:33.323 14 Carlos Sainz 🇪🇸 Williams 1:33.526 15 Gabriel Bortoleto 🇧🇷 Audi 1:33.658 16 Franco Colapinto 🇦🇷 Alpine 1:33.787 Q1 eliminations 17 Fernando Alonso 🇪🇸 Aston Martin 1:34.223 18 Alexander Albon 🇹🇭 Williams 1:34.289 19 Lance Stroll 🇨🇦 Aston Martin 1:34.946 20 Sergio Pérez 🇲🇽 Cadillac 1:35.123 21 Valtteri Bottas 🇫🇮 Cadillac 1:35.984 22 Isack Hadjar 🇫🇷 Red Bull no time 1 Max Verstappen 🇳🇱 Red Bull 1:31.373 2 Charles Leclerc 🇲🇨 Ferrari 1:31.427 3 Lewis Hamilton 🇬🇧 Ferrari 1:31.496 4 Kimi Antonelli 🇮🇹 Mercedes 1:31.562 5 Lando Norris 🇬🇧 McLaren 1:31.712 6 Oscar Piastri 🇦🇺 McLaren 1:31.860 7 Pierre Gasly 🇫🇷 Alpine 1:32.225 8 Liam Lawson 🇳🇿 Racing Bulls 1:32.369 9 Arvid Lindblad 🇬🇧 Racing Bulls 1:32.781 10 Nico Hülkenberg 🇩🇪 Audi 1:32.784 11 Oliver Bearman 🇬🇧 Haas 1:32.908 12 Esteban Ocon 🇫🇷 Haas 1:33.323 13 Carlos Sainz 🇪🇸 Williams 1:33.526 14 Gabriel Bortoleto 🇧🇷 Audi 1:33.658 15 Franco Colapinto 🇦🇷 Alpine 1:33.787 16 Alexander Albon 🇹🇭 Williams 1:34.289 17 Sergio Pérez 🇲🇽 Cadillac 1:35.123 18 Valtteri Bottas 🇫🇮 Cadillac 1:35.984 *19 George Russell 🇬🇧 Mercedes 1:31.712 Starting from the pitlane *Isack Hadjar 🇫🇷 Red Bull no time *Fernando Alonso 🇪🇸 Aston Martin 1:34.223 *Lance Stroll 🇨🇦 Aston Martin 1:34.946 * Dropped to the back of the grid for taking new elements Also going on: Sport loves hyperbole, but sometimes, that hyperbole is true: we stand on the cusp of history.

At some point soon, perhaps this month, we will bathe in the light of the F1’s youngest world champion, when Kimi Antonelli gets the 100 points he needs to lift this year’s driver championship. When you’re bousting cars around twisty tracks at 225mph, stuff can happen – and we don’t even know how many more races there’ll be this season – but even so, it’s surely coming.

Antonelli starts this race from fourth on the grid, suboptimal but for the fact that a huge penalty for taking a new power unit leaves George Russell, his closest challenger, in P21. And, though Lewis Hamilton, the only other driver still with a shot of thwarting him, goes from third, with only one race-win this season, it seems inconceivable that he suddenly hits the kind of streak that closes a 104-point gap in four or five races.

Max Verstappen, meanwhile, is doing his best to redeem a miserable season – in a sense, he’s already started next. His Red Bull is beginning to purr and, having first won yesterday’s sprint, he subsequently secured pole; if he gets away well, he’ll take some catching.

Lights out: 8pm local, 1pm BST