Max Verstappen wins first Singapore Grand Prix as Antonelli extends advantage

Singapore had been missing from Max Verstappen's collection of Grand Prix victories. On October 11, the 29-year-old Dutch driver changed that, winning there for the first time in his career, according to nu.nl.

He arrived with momentum. nu.nl reported that Verstappen had won the Bahrain Grand Prix the previous week, then added victory in Singapore's Saturday sprint.

The sprint win on October 10 set up a weekend that ended with Verstappen taking both races, according to nu.nl.

At the start of Sunday's Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc threatened the Red Bull driver, L'Équipe reported. But Verstappen held the lead and controlled the race from there.

Verstappen led from start to finish on October 11, according to Telegraaf. BBC Sport described the result as his second dominant Grand Prix victory within a week.

Leclerc finished second for Ferrari, with Kimi Antonelli third, L'Équipe reported. According to Fanpage, Ferrari changed Leclerc's strategy on the way to securing second place.

Verstappen leaves Singapore with a first victory at the event and consecutive Grand Prix wins. Il Post reported that his dominant performance confirmed a strong run of form.

Antonelli's podium also had a significant championship consequence. His third-place finish left him 102 points ahead of nearest challenger George Russell with six rounds remaining, according to Express & Star.

The remaining six rounds will determine whether Russell can reduce Antonelli's 102-point advantage. That is the championship position reported by Express & Star after Singapore, while Verstappen's consecutive victories add another competitive thread to the closing races.