Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari, while McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri touched and spun on the final lap as they ran fourth and fifth.
A heavy shower postponed the start by about 30 minutes. The field completed two formation laps behind the safety car before starting on intermediate tyres, with the Marina Bay circuit drying unevenly in places.
George Russell made the better launch from the front row and briefly led Verstappen. His advantage disappeared at the final corner of the opening lap, where he touched a white line, lost control and slid into the pit-lane wall. The crash brought out the safety car and ended Russell’s race.
Verstappen rebuilt his lead after the restart, while Hamilton stayed close but said tyre wear and the difficult overtaking conditions limited his challenge. Leclerc said he struggled with tyre degradation as the track dried. Verstappen also said his start was poor and that the circuit offered little opportunity to pass.
Russell called the crash a miscalculation and said it carried major consequences. He is due to start Sunday’s grand prix from the back of the grid because of engine penalties. Verstappen and Hamilton both said Singapore’s circuit was a poor fit for a sprint because passing was so difficult, with Verstappen arguing that the track needs redesigning.