George Russell took the chequered flag at the Singapore GP on Sunday as McLaren finally secured the Constructors’ Championship, but the latter was not without its drama.
Russell’s victorious night felt like redemption after a final-lap crash two years ago during a chase for the podium.
This time around, the Mercedes driver converted pole position into a commanding win.
No plain sailing for Russell
The weekend had actually got off to a shaky start for Russell, with the Brit saying he “wasn’t feeling comfortable” on Friday.
However, things clicked by Q3 and he then looked fully in control of the main race as he held off Max Verstappen to cross the line with a clear margin.
Russell was quick to credit his team, calling their performance “amazing” and admitting he didn’t quite understand where the sudden burst of pace came from.
“We don’t really know where this performance came from, but I’m really happy,” he said.
The 27-year-old added: “It feels amazing, especially after what happened a couple of years ago. That was a bit of a missed opportunity, but we more than made up for it today.”
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McLaren turmoil overshadows Constructors’ triumph
Elsewhere, McLaren’s night was a strange mix of triumph and tension.
The team sealed their second-straight Constructors’ Championship and 10th overall, yet the mood in the pits was far from harmonious.
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collided on Lap 1 after Norris clipped the back of Verstappen’s car and brushed his team-mate to move into third place.
Piastri’s sharp radio reaction – “That wasn’t very teamlike, but sure” – summed up the unease.
McLaren brushed it off as a “racing incident”, but it was the latest in a string of awkward flashpoints between the pair.
Ultimately, Norris defended his move as “good racing”, while Piastri promised to review it calmly afterwards.
With six rounds left, both remain in the Drivers’ Championship fight, but McLaren’s biggest threat might not be Ferrari or Red Bull – it could be their own garage.
As the paddock heads to Austin for the United States Grand Prix, the team’s unity will be tested like never before.
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