In Pictures: Singapore 2025
After racing on the shores of the Caspian Sea, Formula 1 once again tackled a street circuit, this time in the city-state of Singapore, just 140 kilometers north of the equator, the imaginary line dividing the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
The move south from Baku brought a sharp change in weather conditions, particularly in humidity and temperature. Humidity typically sits above 70%, while temperatures remain fairly constant year-round, ranging between 24 and 31°C (75–88°F). This combination makes the Singapore weekend one of the most physically demanding on the calendar. Drivers can lose up to three kilograms over the course of the race, their effort compounded by the circuit’s relentless, twisting layout that offers little chance to recover behind the wheel.
Since its debut in 2008, the Singapore Grand Prix has been the first Formula 1 race run entirely at night, with lights illuminating the action under an 8:00 p.m. local start time. The schedule allows teams and drivers to stay largely on European time, minimizing the effects of jet lag.
THE TRACK
Marina Bay remains one of the most demanding circuits in Formula 1. Its 4.940-kilometer layout features 19 corners, reduced from 23 following modifications in 2023 that introduced a 400-meter straight after Turn 16. The surface is typical of city streets, with low roughness, while painted road markings add an extra challenge in wet conditions. Run-off areas are limited, and the barriers remain close, even in sections where the track is relatively wide.
Although there are four DRS zones, overtaking opportunities are scarce. The increase in pit-lane speed from 60 to 80 km/h has shaped strategy, with a one-stop race often proving the only realistic option. Unpredictable factors include safety car deployments and the weather, which near the equator is notoriously unstable. Sudden thunderstorms can strike, washing away rubber and resetting grip levels, dramatically influencing tire performance.
FRIDAY
Both sessions on Friday followed a nearly identical pattern. Eight teams and sixteen drivers ran one set of Hard and one of Soft tires in FP1, then switched to a combination of Medium and Soft in FP2 for qualifying simulations.
George Russell’s day ended early when he crashed at the start of FP2 while still on Mediums, preventing him from completing any laps on the Soft compound.
Oscar Piastri ended the first day of the Singapore Grand Prix on top of the timesheets. The championship leader set a best lap of 1:30.714 in FP2. Three other drivers, from three different teams, also dipped below the 1:31 mark, suggesting a tightly matched field: Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) was second with 1:30.846, Max Verstappen (Red Bull) third with 1:30.857, and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) fourth with 1:30.877.
SATURDAY
George Russell secured pole position for the 16th running of the Singapore Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver earned his seventh career pole, and his second of the season, following his top spot in Montreal earlier in the year, where he went on to win the race. Russell’s best lap, a 1:29.158 set on his second Q3 attempt, was just seven thousandths quicker than his earlier effort, which would have been good enough for pole as well. It marked Mercedes’ fourth pole in Singapore, their first since 2018, and the team’s 143rd overall.
Starting alongside him on the front row was Max Verstappen in the Red Bull, who recorded a 1:29.340. Once again, the Dutchman narrowly missed out on the top spot that has continued to elude him at Marina Bay. The second row featured Oscar Piastri, third for McLaren with 1:29.524, and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, fourth in the other Mercedes with 1:29.537.
SUNDAY
The victory went to George Russell, while McLaren retained the Constructors’ title, the defining headlines from the Singapore Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver converted Saturday’s pole position into a commanding win that never appeared in doubt. He momentarily surrendered the lead during the pit stop phase but quickly regained control after the first corner. It marked the Englishman’s fifth career victory and his second of the season, making him the eighth driver to have his name etched onto the Singapore winner’s trophy. It was also Mercedes’ sixth win at Marina Bay and their 131st overall in Formula 1.
McLaren collected 17 points, thanks to Lando Norris finishing third and Oscar Piastri fourth, securing the team’s second consecutive Constructors’ Championship, its tenth overall. The last time the Woking outfit achieved back-to-back titles was during its dominant run from 1988 to 1991. McLaren now stands alone in second place on the all-time list, behind Ferrari with sixteen.
As for Max Verstappen, his wait for a Singapore victory continues. The Red Bull driver finished second once again, his third runner-up result and fourth podium at Marina Bay, leaving the elusive top step just out of reach.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was voted Driver of the Day by the F1.com fans.
Under the glowing lights of Marina Bay, the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix will be remembered more for its tension than its tempo. It was a slow-paced race, one that lacked the constant wheel-to-wheel action fans might expect, yet it still offered its share of drama, from strategic gambles to near-misses and late-race pressure at the front. As ever, Singapore delivered its unique blend of endurance and spectacle, proving once again that even a subdued night in the tropics can hold its own story in the championship’s long and winding season.
NEXT STOP: CoTA, for the UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX 🇺🇸
Excerpts and media courtesy of Pirelli S.p.A. and official Formula 1 Team Press Offices. All images are credited to their respective copyright holders and used for editorial purposes only.
