Verstappen wins the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix for Red Bull

A pole position became a win for Max Verstappen at the Marina Bay Street Circuit on 11 October, and it was his first Singapore Grand Prix victory. Leclerc and Antonelli were the drivers behind him in the 62-lap race, which was round 17 of the 2026 world championship.

The circuit hosted the race for the 17th time, and the weekend ran from 9 to 11 October. It was also the first Singapore round to use the sprint format, and the sixth and final sprint weekend of the season.

George Russell topped the only free practice session on 9 October, ahead of Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris.

Russell retires from the sprint lead

The sprint started at 17:30 local time on 10 October, half an hour later than planned because heavy rain had left the track wet. It was shortened from 21 laps to 20. After two formation laps, Russell got ahead of Verstappen, who had taken sprint pole, at the first corner.

On lap two, damp patches cost Russell traction on the pit straight. His Mercedes spun, sat briefly on the racing line and hit the wall, ending his sprint. Several other cars were out early too. At turn 16, Sergio Perez (Cadillac) made contact with Lance Stroll (Aston Martin). Hadjar, of Red Bull, quit after falling down the order with power unit trouble, and Franco Colapinto (Alpine) stopped with a communications fault. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) spun to last place and rose back to thirteenth at the finish.

The safety car period ended on lap 6. Alexander Albon (Williams) then hit Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi), and both Bortoleto and Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) retired. Albon himself retired soon after.

Verstappen won the sprint, with Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) second and Charles Leclerc third. On the final lap Lando Norris spun while battling Oscar Piastri, which dropped Norris to eighth and Piastri to fourteenth.

Verstappen takes pole ahead of the Ferraris

Qualifying took place on 10 October and began at 21:30 local time, half an hour after its scheduled start, because the sprint had been pushed back. Verstappen set pole late in the session, ahead of the two Ferrari drivers, Leclerc and Hamilton.

George Russell took a 60-place grid penalty for going over his quota of power unit elements. Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll and Isack Hadjar must start from the pit lane because their cars were changed under parc ferme conditions. Hadjar set no time in qualifying but was allowed to race at the stewards' discretion.

Antonelli led the drivers' championship going into the weekend with 320 points, 84 ahead of his teammate George Russell and 106 ahead of Lewis Hamilton. He finished the race behind Verstappen.

Constructors before the race