Singapore GP 2026 driver ratings: Verstappen gets a perfect 10 as Antonelli strengthens title lead

Max Verstappen delivered a commanding performance at the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix, earning a perfect 10/10 rating after completing a weekend to remember at Marina Bay. The Red Bull driver secured pole position, won the sprint race and converted his Grand Prix pole into victory, underlining his growing momentum as the Formula 1 season approaches its decisive stages.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was the closest challenger across the weekend and earned a strong 9/10 rating, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli received 8.5/10 after securing another important podium for Mercedes. However, the weekend also exposed mistakes, reliability concerns and missed opportunities for several drivers, particularly at McLaren and Williams.

The Singapore Grand Prix took place from October 9 to 11, 2026, with Verstappen taking the chequered flag 7.335 seconds ahead of Leclerc. Antonelli completed the podium, finishing 24.573 seconds behind the winner. The result marked Verstappen’s first Singapore Grand Prix victory and his second consecutive Grand Prix win.

Singapore GP 2026 driver ratings: The biggest winners and losers

Max Verstappen – 10/10

Verstappen was the standout performer in Singapore. He took pole position, won the sprint and controlled the Grand Prix from the front. His pace, tyre management and composure made the difference on a demanding street circuit where even a small mistake can change the outcome.

The Dutchman also benefited from George Russell’s sprint crash and McLaren’s late sprint collision, but his own execution was outstanding. With another victory added to his campaign, Verstappen has moved from sixth to fourth in the drivers’ standings, giving Red Bull renewed momentum.

Charles Leclerc – 9/10

Leclerc was arguably the strongest challenger to Verstappen throughout the weekend. Third in the sprint and second in the Grand Prix represented a valuable return for Ferrari. Although he could not match the Red Bull’s overall pace, he stayed close enough to take advantage of opportunities and secured an important podium.

Kimi Antonelli – 8.5/10

Antonelli continued to demonstrate the consistency required of a championship contender. He finished fourth in the sprint and secured third place in the Grand Prix despite brake concerns and occasional difficulties with track limits. His ability to remain competitive under pressure helped extend his championship advantage over Mercedes team-mate Russell to 102 points.

Lando Norris – 6.5/10

Norris showed reasonable pace in the Grand Prix, finishing fourth, but the sprint collision with team-mate Oscar Piastri damaged his overall weekend. McLaren lost a valuable opportunity to collect more points, and the incident raised questions about how the team should manage its drivers when both are fighting for position.

Oscar Piastri – 7/10

Piastri was considered the victim in McLaren’s sprint collision and responded with a determined Sunday drive. A slow puncture forced him into an additional stop, but he recovered to finish fifth after passing Lewis Hamilton. His seventh-place qualifying result left him with too much ground to make up, although his race pace was encouraging.

Lewis Hamilton – 7.5/10

Hamilton produced one of Saturday’s strongest performances, charging from sixth to second in the sprint before qualifying third for the Grand Prix. He remained in contention for a podium on Sunday, but his tyre strategy and failure to take the available pit stop opportunity during the Virtual Safety Car period contributed to a sixth-place finish. Ferrari could have achieved an even better result with a cleaner execution.

Midfield performances: Lawson and Hulkenberg impress

Liam Lawson – 8.5/10

Lawson was one of the weekend’s biggest success stories. Fifth in the sprint, ninth on the Grand Prix grid and seventh in the main race demonstrated his ability to deliver consistent results. He collected points in both races and strengthened his reputation as a driver capable of making the most of Racing Bulls’ opportunities.

Nico Hulkenberg – 8/10

Hulkenberg delivered another reliable performance for Audi. Seventh in the sprint and eighth in the Grand Prix gave his team a valuable points haul. He also kept Russell behind during the closing stages, showing impressive defensive discipline against a faster rival.

George Russell – 7/10

Russell had the speed to challenge at the front, setting the pace in practice and qualifying strongly for the sprint. He took the sprint lead with an excellent start but crashed out on the opening lap, turning a promising opportunity into a costly mistake. His recovery from 19th on the Grand Prix grid to ninth was impressive, but the sprint incident prevented a higher rating.

Isack Hadjar – 8/10

Hadjar’s weekend was compromised by mechanical problems rather than a lack of speed. His sprint ended early, while reliability issues prevented him from setting a qualifying time. Starting from the pit lane, he recovered to finish tenth and score a point. Given the circumstances, it was a commendable recovery drive.

Pierre Gasly – 7/10

Gasly qualified eighth and was Alpine’s strongest performer across the weekend. He narrowly missed out on points in both races, but his qualifying pace offered encouragement. Alpine still lacked the race performance needed to convert that speed into a more substantial result.

Oliver Bearman – 7.5/10

Bearman produced a strong sprint performance, making a smart move on Gasly before finishing sixth and collecting three points. His Grand Prix was less productive, with 12th in qualifying followed by 12th in the race. Nevertheless, his Saturday performance was a clear positive for Haas.

Esteban Ocon – 6/10

Ocon finished tenth in the sprint and 13th in the Grand Prix. He struggled to match Bearman’s overall impact and never seriously threatened to outscore his team-mate. It was a relatively quiet weekend for the Frenchman.

Carlos Sainz – 5.5/10

Starting the sprint from the pit lane made Sainz’s task difficult from the outset. He subsequently qualified 14th and finished the Grand Prix in the same position. Williams lacked the pace to challenge for meaningful points, leaving the Spaniard with little to celebrate.

Arvid Lindblad – 5.5/10

Lindblad showed promising qualifying speed by reaching Q3, but his race performances were inconsistent. After spinning and dropping towards the back in the sprint, he slipped from 10th to 15th in the Grand Prix. The potential was visible, but execution remained an issue.

A difficult weekend for Aston Martin, Cadillac and Williams

Fernando Alonso – 5/10

Aston Martin had hoped the Singapore circuit would suit its car, but Alonso could manage only 17th in qualifying and finished 16th in the Grand Prix. He struggled to make meaningful progress throughout the weekend, leaving the team short of the performance it had anticipated.

Sergio Perez – 4.5/10

Perez endured a frustrating weekend for Cadillac. Contact with Lance Stroll ended his sprint almost immediately, while a 20th-place qualifying result left him facing a difficult recovery. He eventually finished 17th, well outside the points.

Alex Albon – 4/10

Albon’s weekend included a sprint incident involving Gabriel Bortoleto and Valtteri Bottas, followed by retirement. Qualifying 17th offered little encouragement, and another retirement late in the Grand Prix completed a disappointing outing for Williams.

Valtteri Bottas – 4/10

Bottas was caught up in the same sprint collision and qualified 21st for the main race. Reaching the finish on Sunday was a small positive, but he ended the event three laps behind Verstappen, highlighting Cadillac’s lack of competitiveness.

Lance Stroll – 4.5/10

Stroll’s sprint ended on the opening lap following contact with Perez. He qualified 19th but later retired from the Grand Prix with a clutch problem. It was a weekend in which he had little opportunity to build momentum.

Franco Colapinto – 5/10

Colapinto struggled to put together a clean weekend. He retired early from the sprint, hit the wall on his final qualifying lap and then encountered a suspected driveline or gearbox-related issue during the Grand Prix. Reliability and mistakes combined to limit his chances.

Gabriel Bortoleto – 5/10

Bortoleto’s sprint retirement followed the three-car accident involving Albon and Bottas, an incident in which he had limited control over the outcome. His 15th-place qualifying result was less convincing, and another early retirement on Sunday brought a frustrating weekend to an end for Audi.

Verstappen sets the standard in Singapore

Verstappen was the clear driver of the weekend, combining speed with the control needed to win on a demanding street circuit. Leclerc delivered Ferrari’s strongest possible challenge, while Antonelli’s podium further strengthened his position in the championship.

Lawson and Hulkenberg also deserve recognition for turning consistent performances into valuable points. At the other end of the ratings, the sprint collisions, technical failures and costly mistakes experienced by several drivers proved how quickly a Formula 1 weekend can unravel.

With Antonelli holding a 102-point advantage over Russell, the championship picture is increasingly favourable for the young Mercedes driver. Verstappen’s back-to-back victories, however, suggest Red Bull could still play a significant role in the remaining races.

Stay tuned to ROKOCRICKET for more Formula 1 news, race reports, driver ratings and championship updates. Subscribe and share your opinion in the comments: Was Verstappen’s Singapore performance the best drive of the weekend, or did Lawson deserve more recognition?