Max Verstappen celebrated his 250th Formula 1 start by taking the chequered flag at the Singapore Grand Prix, his 73rd career victory.
Boots that turned heads
Before the weekend began, Red Bull Racing posted an image of Verstappen’s new race boots on Instagram. The navy‑base shoes feature a pink floral motif, with the team’s Red Bull and Oracle insignia superimposed. The post amassed nearly half a million likes, sparking fan debate over whether the flower resembled Singapore’s national orchid or Malaysia’s hibiscus.
Race footwear must satisfy FIA fire‑resistance and pedal‑feel standards, so design freedom is limited to colours and branding. Despite these constraints, Verstappen’s boots have become a conversation point, especially when fans wonder if he ever drives without a custom pair.
Sprint and race drama
The weekend’s sprint was delayed by heavy rain and ended with a high‑speed crash that knocked George Russell out of contention. A collision between the two McLaren cars further reshuffled the field, allowing Verstappen to secure the sprint win and a pole for the main race.
In the final, he refused to relinquish the lead, holding the front from lap one to the check‑point. Charles Leclerc finished second, 7.335 seconds behind, while Kimi Antonelli rounded out the podium in third.
Dominant victory and season context
Verstappen’s triumph was the first for Red Bull Racing in Singapore since 2022 and followed a 73‑race season win spree that reinforced his superiority in the Guia Circuit. After a 2023 season where Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz out‑paced him and a 2024 finish second to George Russell, this win marks a decisive moment for the Dutch driver.
When asked about the pace, Verstappen said, “It had a lot of pace when we needed it on the soft tyre and on the medium, even though the medium for everyone was a bit of a struggle, but it worked out, so of course very happy to win here.”
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