1. Sprint race: Verstappen wins as Russell throws it away
Saturday's sprint started in wet conditions — and exploded on lap one. George Russell beat pole-sitter Verstappen off the line and grabbed the lead, but put a wheel on a painted line at the end of the opening lap, spun across the track and buried his Mercedes in the barrier. Verstappen inherited the lead and cruised home for the sprint win, backing up his victory in Malaysia a week earlier.
| Pos | Driver | Team | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | Sprint win |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +— |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +— |
| 4 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +2 on final lap |
| 5 | Lando Norris | McLaren | — |
| DNF | George Russell | Mercedes | Crashed from lead, lap 1 |
| DNF | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | Hit by Norris, final lap |
The drama didn't stop there. On the final lap, Lando Norris lunged down the inside of teammate Oscar Piastri, misjudged it badly and sent the Australian spinning into the barrier. Antonelli swept through the chaos to take fourth — and with it, two crucial championship points.
📉 Title picture after the sprint
Antonelli's fourth place stretched his championship lead over Russell from 84 to 89 points. With Russell starting Sunday's race at the back, the 20-year-old could take another giant step toward becoming F1's youngest-ever champion.
2. Qualifying: pole number 50 for Verstappen
Qualifying started 30 minutes late after the sprint chaos — and ended with Verstappen on top again. His 1:31.373 was just 0.054s clear of Charles Leclerc, with Lewis Hamilton third and Antonelli fourth. Norris will start fifth.
| Grid | Driver | Team | Q3 time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:31.373 |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.054 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | — |
| 4 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | — |
| 5 | Lando Norris | McLaren | — |
| 7 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | — |
| 8 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | — |
| 9 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | — |
| 10 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | — |
Russell was classified sixth in qualifying but starts at the back after taking new power unit components following his sprint shunt. He'll be joined at the back by Isack Hadjar, whose Red Bull suffered an engine shutdown in qualifying — a miserable day for Red Bull's second garage after Hadjar also retired from the sprint. Out in Q1: Alonso, Albon, Stroll, Pérez and Bottas.
3. Sunday race: UK & Europe start times
| Session | UK (BST) | Europe (CEST) | Pakistan (PKT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Race — Sun 11 Oct | 13:00 | 14:00 | 17:00 |
62 laps of the Marina Bay street circuit under the lights. Remember: this site never links unofficial streams — watch via your country's official F1 broadcaster or the free highlights on the official F1 channels.
🔮 Our prediction
Winner: Verstappen. He's been untouchable all weekend — sprint pole, sprint win, pole — and Marina Bay rewards track position above almost everything. Podium: Leclerc, Antonelli. Ferrari's race pace looked genuinely strong in the sprint, and Antonelli keeps converting chaotic races into big points. Watch for: Russell's recovery drive from the back — if anyone can slice through this field, it's him — and whether McLaren can keep both cars out of each other's way for 62 laps.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the Singapore GP 2026 sprint race?
Max Verstappen won the wet Saturday sprint. George Russell led briefly after beating Verstappen off the line but crashed at the end of lap one; Lewis Hamilton finished second and Charles Leclerc third.
Who is on pole for the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix?
Max Verstappen claimed his 50th career pole with a 1:31.373, just 0.054s ahead of Charles Leclerc. Lewis Hamilton starts third and championship leader Kimi Antonelli fourth.
What time does the Singapore GP 2026 start in the UK and Europe?
Sunday 11 October at 12:00 UTC — 13:00 UK time (BST), 14:00 in most of Europe (CEST), 17:00 in Pakistan.
Why does George Russell start at the back?
Russell qualified sixth but takes new power unit components after his sprint crash, sending him to the back of the grid. Isack Hadjar joins him there after an engine issue in qualifying.
🔗 See also
- Singapore GP 2026 Race-Day Preview — New! — Verstappen on 50th pole, start times, strategy & prediction
- Singapore GP 2026 Preview — weekend schedule, standings & storylines
- Formula 1 2026 Hub — full calendar & live standings
- Live Scores — follow the action live