Motorsports
Dutch Drama Awaits as F1 Returns to Zandvoort
Zandvoort, Netherlands – After a month-long summer break, Formula One roars back this weekend at the seaside track of Zandvoort, where the Dutch Grand Prix promises drama on and off the asphalt. With 10 races left, the championship fight is tighter than ever, and storylines are plenty. Here are five things to watch.
McLaren’s papaya puzzle
McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri head into Zandvoort as clear front-runners. Norris won here last year, while Piastri leads the standings by just nine points. The team’s so-called “papaya rules” allow the pair to race freely, with one condition: don’t hit each other. That pact already failed once in Canada. With tensions rising, the big question is whether McLaren will let them keep dueling or lean toward a clear No. 1 driver.
Verstappen’s redemption bid
For once, Max Verstappen is not the man to beat at his home race. Last year, the reigning champion endured a nightmare weekend, spinning in practice, losing pole to Norris, and finishing way off the pace. Adding insult, Norris cheekily mocked Verstappen’s usual “simply lovely” radio call. Now, the Dutchman faces the roar of his orange-clad fans with hopes of a miracle drive to turn the tide.
Hamilton’s Ferrari blues
Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari has been anything but smooth. The seven-time world champion stunned many by calling himself “completely useless” in Hungary before the break. At 40, speculation about retirement is growing, though Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur insists he has the team’s full support. Fans will be watching closely to see if a summer reset reignites Hamilton’s spark.
Silly season gossip
The break may have cooled engines, but it fired up the rumor mill. George Russell’s contract with Mercedes is still unsigned, fueling speculation despite his confidence that a deal is only a matter of time. Elsewhere, teams remain cautious about major changes ahead of next year’s regulations, but Zandvoort’s paddock chatter will be buzzing.
Zandvoort’s chaos factor
The dunes of Zandvoort always deliver unpredictability. Last year’s heavy rain caused crashes, including Logan Sargeant’s near-total wreck in his Williams. This weekend’s showers could play into Verstappen’s wet-weather skills. Dutch fans, already famous for their sea of orange, will make the most of it – especially since this is Zandvoort’s penultimate F1 appearance.
The stage is set: tight battles, simmering rivalries, and the roar of the orange army. Zandvoort rarely disappoints.
Honda Philippines’ 16-year-old talent Alfonsi Daquigan swept Round 5 of the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup at Mandalika, taking Race 1 and Race 2 to become the first Filipino rider to win an ATC race and then back it up on the same weekend. The October 4 to 5 event at Indonesia’s Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit capped a statement performance from the young Filipino.
Daquigan overcame a double long-lap penalty in Race 1 and still crossed the line first. The Sunday rematch was cleaner and just as decisive as he sealed the double, moving up to third in the overall standings after Round 5.
Honda Philippines said the result reflected Daquigan’s discipline, consistency, and drive as he battled the best youth riders across Asia while carrying the flag on the international stage.
George Russell delivered a stunning performance under the Marina Bay lights, taking victory at the Singapore Grand Prix, the 18th round of the 2025 Formula One World Championship. The win came ahead of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, while McLaren officially clinched the Constructors’ Championship with six races to spare.
Race Results (62 laps, 306.143 km – Marina Bay Circuit)
- George Russell (GBR, Mercedes) — 1:40:22.367
- Max Verstappen (NED, Red Bull) — +5.430
- Lando Norris (GBR, McLaren) — +6.066
- Oscar Piastri (AUS, McLaren) — +8.146
- Kimi Antonelli (ITA, Mercedes) — +33.681
- Charles Leclerc (MON, Ferrari) — +45.996
- Fernando Alonso (ESP, Aston Martin) — +1:20.667
- Lewis Hamilton (GBR, Ferrari) — +1:25.251
- Oliver Bearman (GBR, Haas) — +1:33.527
- Carlos Sainz (ESP, Williams) — +1 lap
- Isack Hadjar (FRA, Racing Bulls) — +1 lap
- Yuki Tsunoda (JPN, Red Bull) — +1 lap
- Lance Stroll (CAN, Aston Martin) — +1 lap
- Alex Albon (THA, Williams) — +1 lap
- Liam Lawson (NZL, Racing Bulls) — +1 lap
- Franco Colapinto (ARG, Alpine) — +1 lap
- Gabriel Bortoleto (BRA, Sauber) — +1 lap
- Esteban Ocon (FRA, Haas) — +1 lap
- Pierre Gasly (FRA, Alpine) — +1 lap
- Nico Hülkenberg (GER, Sauber) — +1 lap
World Championship Standings (After Singapore GP)
Drivers
- Oscar Piastri (AUS) — 336 pts
- Lando Norris (GBR) — 314
- Max Verstappen (NED) — 273
- George Russell (GBR) — 237
- Charles Leclerc (MON) — 173
- Lewis Hamilton (GBR) — 125
- Kimi Antonelli (ITA) — 88
- Alex Albon (THA) — 70
- Isack Hadjar (FRA) — 39
- Nico Hülkenberg (GER) — 37
- Fernando Alonso (ESP) — 36
- Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) — 32
- Lance Stroll (CAN) — 32
- Liam Lawson (NZL) — 30
- Esteban Ocon (FRA) — 28
- Pierre Gasly (FRA) — 20
- Yuki Tsunoda (JPN) — 20
- Gabriel Bortoleto (BRA) — 18
- Oliver Bearman (GBR) — 18
Constructors
- McLaren — 650 pts (Champions)
- Mercedes — 325
- Ferrari — 298
- Red Bull — 290
- Williams — 102
- Racing Bulls — 72
- Aston Martin — 68
- Sauber — 55
- Haas — 46
- Alpine — 20
George Russell wins in Singapore as McLaren locks in constructors’ crown six races early
George Russell stormed to victory at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday night, delivering Mercedes its first win of the season as McLaren sealed the Formula One constructors’ championship with six rounds to spare.
Russell started from pole and held firm against Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, pulling away in the later laps to win by 10 seconds. It was a sweet redemption for the British driver, who famously crashed out of the race two years ago while chasing victory.
“It feels amazing, especially after what happened a couple of years ago,” said Russell. “We don’t really know where this performance came from, but I’m really happy. A one-hour, 45-minute race here in Singapore is never easy with the heat and humidity, but we brought it home.”
McLaren’s double podium finish, with Norris in third and Oscar Piastri in fourth, was enough to secure back-to-back constructors’ titles for the Woking-based team—its 10th overall. The combined 27 points from Norris and Piastri matched Red Bull’s 2023 record for the earliest team championship win.
“They’ve driven brilliantly all season,” said McLaren CEO Zak Brown. “You can’t win the constructors’ without two awesome drivers. We let them race hard, clean, and to win.”
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for McLaren. At the start, Norris aggressively dived past teammate Piastri at turn one, brushing wheels in a fiery opening exchange. Piastri, who leads the drivers’ standings, fumed over team radio: “So are we cool with Lando just barging me out of the way? That’s not fair.”
The team refused to issue team orders, leaving Piastri visibly frustrated, though Norris insisted afterward, “It was good racing.”
Verstappen finished second for Red Bull, wrestling with gearbox downshift issues that made the race “more difficult than I hoped.” Despite the struggles, the Dutchman remains third in the title fight, 63 points behind Piastri.
Further down the order, Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli finished fifth, ahead of the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton dropped to eighth after a late-race brake issue and a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits, allowing Fernando Alonso to slip into seventh. Oliver Bearman and Carlos Sainz rounded out the top ten.
The tropical night race also marked Formula One’s first official “Heat Hazard” designation, requiring teams to provide liquid-cooled vests due to Singapore’s punishing climate. Air temperatures held at 28°C—lower than expected—so some drivers, including Verstappen, opted not to wear them.
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