Lewis Hamilton turned a frustrating start into a result he could build on in the Singapore Sprint, rising from P6 to P2 after the wet conditions played to his strengths and George Russell’s early retirement opened the door further. For Ferrari, it was another reminder that Hamilton can still make a major difference when the track and the conditions demand control as much as speed.
During Sprint Qualifying, Hamilton had been annoyed by his lack of pace on soft tyres, but the rain changed the picture almost immediately. He made a “mega start”, as he put it, and moved from P6 to P3 on the opening lap before Russell’s crash out pushed him into second place.
Hamilton makes the most of the rain
The key to Hamilton’s recovery was not just a good launch, but the way he handled the tricky conditions at Marina Bay Circuit. He said he loves driving the track in the rain, and that as soon as the heavens opened he felt it was a good day.
That confidence mattered. Wet-weather races can expose hesitation, but Hamilton looked comfortable reading the grip and managing the changing surface. It was the kind of performance that underlined why this circuit has often suited him and why he was targeting a fifth victory there to equal Sebastian Vettel’s record.
Ferrari show they have pace
Hamilton’s own verdict was also important for Ferrari. “I think we showed that we obviously have a good car,” he said, and that will be encouraging after a session in which Charles Leclerc struggled on intermediate tyres as the track dried.
There was still drama behind the leading positions, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris colliding on the last lap while fighting for the final podium place. But at the sharp end, Hamilton was the beneficiary of a race that changed quickly and rewarded the drivers who adapted fastest.
He finished 2.5s behind Max Verstappen, which gave him a clear marker for the rest of the weekend. The bigger takeaway, though, is that Hamilton showed again that when the conditions are difficult, he can turn a messy start into a result that keeps the pressure on the front-runners.
