Heartbroken George Russell can't stomach 'horrendous feeling' crashing out in Singapore

On the night when Red Bull's winning streak finally ended, a "heartbroken" George Russell, who believed victory had slipped through his fingers in a frenetic Singapore Grand Prix, struggled to hold back the tears.

Max Verstappen arrived in the city-state on a record run of 10 straight victories, with his Red Bull team unbeaten this season. But Formula 1's all-conquering team were nowhere here - dashing their hopes of becoming the grid's first 'Invincibles'.

Verstappen finished fifth.

Instead, Carlos Sainz was crowned the first non-Red Bull winner of the year.

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The Ferrari driver took the chequered flag just eight-tenths clear of McLaren's Lando Norris, following another fine drive by the British star, with Lewis Hamilton third for Mercedes.

Russell's bid for victory ended in the wall on the last lap with only nine corners left.

"In the moment you want to curl up in a ball and be with nobody," said Russell as he cleared his throat, his eyes red.

"It is the most horrendous feeling in the world when you are so physically and mentally drained, and you miss out on an opportunity for victory. I made a mistake. It is truly heartbreaking."

Re-live that unbelievable finale!#SingaporeGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/mQZJRbsLT2

Rolling the strategy

At a circuit where overtaking is almost impossible, Mercedes rolled the strategy dice by putting both Russell and Hamilton on fresh tyres on lap 45 of 62.

Russell left the pits 17.5 seconds behind Sainz. On Lap 53, he swatted Ferrari's Charles Leclerc aside, and victory - which would have been only the second of his career - looked possible.

Sainz, on old tyres, was eight seconds up the road. Norris was nibbling at the