George Russell crashes out of Singapore Sprint from the lead after touching white line in the wet

From the Newshound archive · first published 10 October 2026 · last updated 11 October 2026.

George Russell admitted to a "very silly mistake" after binning his Mercedes from the lead of the Singapore Sprint, dipping a rear wheel onto a painted white line at the final corner and spinning into the pit wall. His car then rolled back across the track, narrowly avoided by the remaining 21 drivers in what could have been a catastrophic accident. Russell will now start Sunday's full Singapore Grand Prix from the back of the grid due to a separate engine penalty.

Russell had sensationally passed pole-sitter Max Verstappen off the line before his title hopes unravelled spectacularly within a single lap.

Verstappen went on to win the sprint, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli was promoted to fourth after McLaren team-mates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collided on the final lap.

'I went a little bit wide, touched the white line — the number one rule in the rain is don't touch the white line,' Russell said.