The Singapore Grand Prix held last weekend, one of the most exciting and spectacular races in each season’s calendar, once again delivered on its reputation.
As one of the most demanding and dramatic events each season, the 2025 event had some surprises, especially when it comes to the podium, considering how the season was progressing up until that point.
Running under the floodlights at the Marina Bay Circuit, the track offers a unique test of driver stamina, car reliability, and strategic nuance. Some fared better than others this time around, both during free practice, qualifying and the race itself.
In 2025, George Russell converted his pole position into a dominant, faultless victory, leading from start to finish to claim Mercedes’ second win of the season. Max Verstappen held on to second place, defending under pressure from Lando Norris, who claimed the final podium spot.
Behind Norris, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished fourth, a result that fell short of expectations given his championship position and it could prove costly in his ultimate goal, the Driver’s Championship?
It remains to be seen. Read on to learn what the Singapore race taught us this season, as well as to get the latest Formula 1 expert picks and predictions for the rest of the season.
Race overview
One immediate takeaway is that Mercedes, long troubled by consistency issues and performance deficits, appears to have unlocked something. They had a more meaningful, more technical performance for the famous stop‑start, heat stress circuit.
Russell’s race was clean and controlled, with no dramatic battles or risky gambles. He managed his tires well and kept the margin with poise. That suggests that the W16 package may be more competitive, or at least less compromised, in conditions that stress cooling, traction, and chassis balance instead of pure high-speed downforce.
Welcome back, Mercedes technical team; we missed you!
The pacing behind Russell was equally instructive. Verstappen, even when pushed, showed the kind of defensive resilience that keeps him in title contention. It is not over until it is over. He is a four-time defending champion, after all.
Norris, meanwhile, was aggressive, particularly in his early manoeuvre on Piastri. He almost forced a reshuffle in the podium order. That said, he ultimately could not get the best of Verstappen, which raises questions about McLaren’s margin over Red Bull in terms of outright car pace or strategic options in head-to-head duels. Red Bull has been the more dominant constructor for years, and it shows in critical situations like this one.
Now, how about the would-be champion if the season ended today? Piastri’s misfortunes in Singapore deserve particular scrutiny. And alas, the season is a long way from over. His early contact with Norris on the opening lap unsettled his race, and beyond that, a slower than ideal pit stop added to the damage.
For a driver leading the championship, a fourth-place finish is not disastrous, but it is a huge warning. When intra team rivalry usurps race craft, the consequences can undercut title hopes and ruin careers. The stewards deemed the Norris-Piastri incident a racing incident, refusing further penalty. It is not the first or the second time this year, and here’s hoping their rivalry does not ruin both of their title chances.
Lessons to be learned
A broader lesson of the race is how difficult it is to overtake in Singapore. Track position and pit strategy remain paramount, and tactics and preparation win the race more often than pure driving.
Even Norris, who had the pace to pressure Verstappen, could not find a clean route past without risking contact. This reinforces the notion that as the championship battle intensifies, wheel to wheel fights will be as much about timing and opportunism as raw speed.
From a points and championship perspective, the Singapore result tightened the title fight even as it confirmed McLaren’s dominance in the constructors’ standings. With Norris gaining on Piastri, albeit modestly, the internal McLaren conflict now has more weight than ever.
McLaren secured the Constructors’ Championship in Singapore, but the drivers’ battle is far from settled. With Piastri still ahead but closer, and Verstappen lurking and almost entirely back in it, the Singapore race has reshaped the psychological dynamics of the season’s final stretch.
Russell’s performance stood out not just for speed but for composure. He managed tire degradation, traffic, and defensive interludes with maturity, and he drove a race free from error. For a Mercedes team aiming to reassert relevance, that kind of win matters. It sends a message to both rival teams and its own internal hierarchy that Russell is a credible threat in the championship chase.
For Verstappen, second was not victory, but it was damage limitation. In a season where Red Bull has had to claw background, staying consistent and preventing catastrophic point losses is as important as grabbing wins. He continues to personify relentless consistency.
Norris showed grit and tactical aggression, particularly in early race stages. If his move on Piastri was risky, it also confirmed his talent. He is not content to simply tally points but wants to wrestle for places. When push came to shove, he could not topple Verstappen on pace. That suggests McLaren’s edge over Red Bull is perhaps narrower than it would like in head-to-head duels.
Piastri must recognize that he cannot afford to be unsettled by intra team friction. The opening lap contact and a suboptimal pit sequence illustrate how even small lapses can yield big consequences in tight championship contexts. If he wants to bring home the drivers’ crown, he needs steadier hands and calmer reactions across the board, from start to finish.
Latest odds and predictions
The Formula 1 Championship is one of the most popular and exciting sporting events each year, but it is also a great opportunity for the fans of sports wagering to make their bets and test their predictions. If you want to bet on Formula 1 in the ongoing 2025 season, the best time is now, as we are entering the final stretch where things can get interesting and where championships can be won or lost.
With the Singapore Grand Prix behind us and the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in front of us on October 19, there are plenty of bets to be made.
The latest odds still favour the McLaren duo to win the title at the end of the season. Oscar Piastri leads the odds race with 1.44 and is followed by Lando Norris with 3.50. However, Max Verstappen has been catching up in recent weeks, and with a few more wins, provided that the McLarens do not show out, he can fully get back in it.
For now, he is third with 7.50 odds to make it five titles in a row. Now, those were the outright bets, markets that offer you to bet on the ultimate winner. But what about the upcoming USA Grand Prix?
The USA Grand Prix could be one of the last few deciding factors in the season. A simple look at the odds proves it, as the current leader in points, Oscar Piastri, is only the third favourite by the bookies.
His team colleague, Lando Norris, and the defending champion Max Verstappen share the first place with 3.00 odds. Piastri gets 3.50. George Russel and Charles Leclerc are fourth and fifth with 13.00 odds each. Lewis Hamilton is behind them with 21.00 odds.
Betting on the winning constructor could be a nice wager to boost your total odds. McLaren is the safest option with 1.72 odds, followed by Red Bull Racing with 2.85. If you bet on, say, Norris to win and add the McLaren bet, that would mean 3.00 x 1.72 = 5.16 odds. A $10 bet with those odds would yield a $51.6 win.
If you manage to include a top 3 bet, it could be a nice payday as it would add 1.36 odds for Norris or Verstappen, or 1.44 for Piastri. In this scenario, Norris winning would mean you get a cool $70 for a $10 wager.
Current Formula 1 standings
Following the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix, the Formula 1 standings are more interesting and competitive than they were earlier in the season. The recent fumbles by the McLaren pair were not enough to change the top two spots in the Drivers’ Championship, but the point differential will give fans a tighter and more exciting finish to the season.
There are still plenty of chances for surprises and sudden turns of events in the final few races, but can they actually result in someone other than a McLaren winning the title? Let us consult the standings.
Oscar Piastri is still in front with 336 points coming from 7 wins and 14 podiums. Behind him is his teammate and biggest rival for the title, Lando Norris, with 314 points, 5 wins, and 14 podiums. The pair has been very dominant to open the season, but in the last few races, they have experienced some issues. This has benefited the defending champion, Max Verstappen most. He is currently at 273 points and has 4 wins and 9 podiums.
With 6 more F1 Grand Prix events before the season’s end, can we see a turnaround? A 63-point differential between the third and the first driver can be overcome. All it takes is a few mistakes, the likes of which we have seen lately. George Russell of Mercedes is currently fourth with 237 points, 2 wins, and 8 podiums. Rounding up the top five is Charles Leclerc, who has 173 points and 5 podiums.
With the Constructors’ Championship, things have been clear for most of the season. It is McLaren who will win it this year as they currently have an enormous advantage over Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull. Their tally is 650 points, 12 wins, and 28 podiums.
Mercedes is second with 325 points, 2 wins, and 9 podiums. Ferrari is at 298 points and 5 podiums, and Red Bull has 290 points with 4 wins and 9 podiums. While the team trophy is safe and sound, check back soon with Stake.com for updated odds and predictions regarding the driver’s title race.
