Max Verstappen took the pole position for the 2026 Singapore GP after a dominating victory in the sprint race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton had the pace to challenge the Dutchman, but couldn’t put a clean lap together, and will start P3. Charles Leclerc will start alongside Verstappen on the front row.
After a damp sprint race on the intermediate tires, the rain gods heard the fans, and the track was dry for the main race qualifying. However, it was a green track, and as the rubber got laid, the lap times improved significantly.
The Q1 session was all about being out on track at the right time and punching in the laps. Traffic did become a problem for some in the first qualifying session. Early into the session, Lance Stroll and Esteban Ocon locked up and brushed the barriers.
Red Bull managed to fit a new power unit in Isack Hadjar’s car after the sprint race gremlins. However, the qualifying ended in heartbreak for the French-Algerian driver, as issues with the gearbox prevented him from completing a single lap.
Both Aston Martins, the Cadillacs, Hadjar and Alex Albon were eliminated in Q1. The Q2 session was back to regular business, with the remaining top team drivers making it to Q3, along with the two Racing Bulls and Pierre Gasly. Lewis Hamilton topped Q2 and was the favorite to take pole.
In Q3, Max Verstappen took the provisional pole position with Lewis Hamilton fighting the SF26 during the banker run, managing a time less than two tenths away from the Dutchman.
Max Verstappen failed to improve on his final Q3 runs, with reportedly some downshift problems. Lewis Hamilton continued his struggles with the handling of the SF26, and also failed to improve. Charles Leclerc improved and got up to P2, just half a tenth away from the pole position time. The Mercedes and McLaren occupied P4-P7, with Gasly beating both the Racing Bulls.
George Russell will start the race at the back of the grid following the engine penalty. Fernando Alonso also confirmed after qualifying that Aston Martin will be fitting a new power unit, and he will also start at the back.
Qualifying result for the 2026 Singapore GP
1 Max Verstappen 1:31.373s
2 Charles Leclerc +0.054s
3 Lewis Hamilton +0.123s
4 Kimi Antonelli +0.189s
5 Lando Norris +0.339s
6 George Russell +0.374s
7 Oscar Piastri +0.487s
8 Pierre Gasly +0.852s
9 Liam Lawson +0.996s
10 Arvid Lindblad +1.408s
Eliminated in Q2
11 Nico Hulkenberg 1:32.784s
12 Oliver Bearman 1:32.908s
13 Esteban Ocon 1:33.323s
14 Carlos Sainz 1:33.526s
15 Gabriel Bortoleto 1:33.658s
16 Franco Colapinto 1:33.787s
Eliminated in Q1
17 Fernando Alonso 1:34.223s
18 Alexander Albon 1:34.289s
19 Lance Stroll 1:34.946s
20 Sergio Perez 1:35.123s
21 Valtteri Bottas 1:35.984s
22 Isack Hadjar no time
Starting Grid for the 2026 F1 Singapore GP
P1 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
P2 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
P3 Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
P4 Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
P5 Lando Norris (McLaren)
P6 Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
P7 Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
P8 Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
P9 Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
P10 Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)
P11 Oliver Bearman (Haas)
P12 Esteban Ocon (Haas)
P13 Carlos Sainz (Williams)
P14 Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
P15 Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
P16 Alex Albon (Williams)
P17 Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
P18 Sergio Perez (Cadillac)
P19 Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)
P20 Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
P21 George Russell (Mercedes) [Grid drop for engine penalty]
P22 Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) [Grid drop for engine penalty]
