“Superior” George Russell brings a special tribute to his unique senior Lewis Hamilton after a disappointing victory during the F1 race of the Singapore GP in 2025
Singapore-In the glowing heat of the Marina Bay Street Circuit, George Russell won a dominant victory on Sunday evening in the Grand Prix of Singapore, the eighteenth round of the Formula 1 season 2025. The British Mercedes-Coureur started a comfort, finish and led the entire race and race and race race and race race and race race and race race and race and race race and race race and race race and race race and race Norris. But despite the joy of victory, a shadow hung over the stage ceremony: a heartbreaking tribute to his former teammate and mentor Lewis Hamilton, who had a dramatic race full of bad luck and punishment. Russell called his victory ‘Bitterszoet’ and Eerde Hamilton with the words: “Lewis is superior, he is the only one who reaches this level. This is for you, senior.”
The race in Singapore, a nocturnal spectacle under the iconic skyline, was a prey for Mercedes. Russell, who took his second victory of the season after Canada earlier this year, demonstrated the superior pace of the silver arrow on the demanding street circuit. From the start he took over the lead from Verstappen, who was able to force fierce moisture from the second starting position but could not force any mistakes. Behind them a fierce battle within McLaren, where championship rivals Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris already came into contact on the opening round. Piastri, the current leader in the championship with 336 points, accused Norris of ‘Onfair’ racing after a collision at bend 1, which led to frustration within the team that at the same time secured the constructors’ title secured with 650 points – exactly twice as much as Mercedes at 325.
For Russell, the race was a master class in control. “I felt the car perfectly from the outset,” he said post-race in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports. “The upgrades that we introduced have really made the difference here. But honestly, this doesn’t feel like a pure victory. Lewis … he deserves better.” Hamilton, who made the switch to Ferrari in 2025 in an attempt to conquer his eighth world title, experienced a nightmare. Started from sixth place after a solid qualification, the seven -time champion fought forward, but a late brake failure threw a spanner in the works. In the final rounds, with defective front brakes, he had to cross the track limits several times to drag the car over the line. A five -second penalty followed, which pushed him from seventh to eighth place behind Fernando Alonso.
The tension between the two British – Russell and Hamilton – has been a fascinating subplot in F1 for years. Russell, the young, who became Hamilton’s teammate at Mercedes in 2022, grew into a worthy successor. Hamilton, with his unparalleled experience and charisma, was not only a senior, but a mentor. “Lewis taught me everything about mentality, about how you come back from defeats,” Russell said earlier this season. In 2025, with Hamilton at Ferrari and Russell as Mercedes leader in addition to the debuting Kimi Antonelli, that dynamic evolved into a relationship of mutual respect. But Singapore accentuated the gap: while Russell juicing the line cheering, Hamilton struggled with a car that abandoned him.
The tribute came during the stage ceremony, where Russell, bathed in sweat and champagne, lifted his trophy and suddenly stopped. With tears in his eyes he devoted the victory to Hamilton. “This is for you, Lewis. You are superior, the only one who constantly reaches this level. After everything you have done for me, this victory feels disappointing without your shine.” The crowd in the stands burst into applause, and even Verstappen, normally the stoic, nodded in agreement. Hamilton, who looked at the ceremony from the Ferrari garage, later responded via the team bus: “George is a phenomenon. I am proud of him, but this hurts. Next race in Austin we fight back.”
The race itself was a rollercoaster of emotions and incidents. McLaren’s internal drama stole the show: Piastri finished fourth, but his anger about Norris’s attack – who took time – led to accusations of team inequality. “McLaren did not choose a side, but this was Unfair,” Piastri snarled. Norris, who became third and his disadvantage on Piastri reduced to 22 points, tried: “Racing is racing.” Verstappen, second with 273 points, stays in the title fight, but complained about Traffic in the Quali. Antonelli’s fifth place for Mercedes was a highlight for the Italian Rookie, which closed his debut in Singapore with praise from team boss Toto Wolff.
Broader, Singapore marks a turning point in the season. With four races to go – Austin, Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi – Piastri leads the championship, but Norris breathes in his neck. Russell climbs to fourth place with 237 points, while Hamilton drops to the sixth with 127. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, sixth in the race, remains an outsider with 173 points. The Constructors’ Title for McLaren is a triumph for Zak Brown and Andrea Stella, who are now aiming for a third consecutive crown.
Yet Russell’s tribute lingers. In a sport full of egos and rivalry, it shows the human side of F1. Hamilton, who is struggling with adjustments to the Ferrari this year, gets a moral boost. “Lewis is not just a champion, he is a legend who lifts others,” said Russell. Next stop: the Circuit of the Americas, where the rivalry gets new fire. But for now, in the afterpath of Singapore, respect dominates. A disappointing victory for one, a heart -warming gesture for the other – that is the essence of this unique band.
