Mercedes’ George Russell was forced to retire from the wet Singapore GP sprint after a loss of traction in the final corner on lap two.
Storm‑induced chaos sets the scene
A sudden downpour delayed the sprint, turning the opening lap into a slippery scramble. From the grid, Russell seized the advantage by out‑pacing polesitter Max Verstappen into Turn 1, gaining the lead on the damp start.
On the following lap, Russell drifted over the white line inside the braking zone, clipped the pitwall, veered across the track, and slammed into the outer side of the start‑finish straight. The incident prompted an immediate safety‑car deployment, with Verstappen holding the top spot while Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc kept a close distance.
Other collisions and retirements further mar the race
In the middle of the grid, Aston Martin drivers Lance Stroll and Sergio Pérez collided at Turn 4, both exiting the race. Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, troubled by a suspected power‑unit fault, and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto were eliminated from the sprint as well. Racing Bulls long‑time field driver Arvid Lindblad spun and could only finish in 17th, the last place among those still running.
Aftermath and implications
Russell’s exit underscored the peril of tyre choice and wet‑weather reflexes at Marina Bay, while the cluster of retirements widened the battle for podium positions in the championship race that follows. A clean sprint result would have set the tone for the full race, but the rain‑marred event left many competitors scrambling to regain positions.
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