Verstappen wins Singapore Grand Prix as Antonelli closes in on title

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after winning the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix. (AP)

SINGAPORE, Oct 11 (AP): Silenced by a broken radio, Max Verstappen let his driving do all the talking on the track.

Verstappen raced hard into the first corner, then cruised to his second consecutive Formula 1 win at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday.

Verstappen had been concerned about his Red Bull car’s “horrendous” starts and was slow off the line again from pole, but managed to squeeze Charles Leclerc to the inside heading into the first corner and held the lead.

Leclerc was second as Verstappen followed up on his first victory of the season in Malaysia last week with a sprint race win on Saturday. It was his first career Grand Prix win in Singapore on his 10th attempt.

“It’s taken a while,” Verstappen admitted, adding his start was “just good enough.”

After the start, Verstappen’s main concern seemed to be a broken radio that left Red Bull unable to hear him. Race engineer GianPiero Lambiase resorted to asking Verstappen questions he could answer yes or no to by pressing his radio transmission button.

Leclerc was second for his first podium finish since July, and behind him, there was action as Kimi Antonelli overtook Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton for third to increase his lead.

Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate George Russell came through the field to ninth after starting at the back.

That means Antonelli could now become F1’s youngest-ever champion as soon as the next race, the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 25.

“I know it’s very close. I know it’s there, but I just need to make sure that I keep doing the best I can,” Antonelli said. “This weekend, I haven’t particularly driven that well. I felt like I could have done a better job.”