Max Verstappen took the pole position at the 2026 F1 Singapore Sprint Qualifying. Mercedes’ George Russell will start on the front row alongside the Dutchman, with Charles Leclerc completing the Top 3. The two McLarens complete the Top 5 on the grid for the sprint race tomorrow.
The Singapore GP sprint qualifying began at a dusty Marina Bay Street Circuit, with drivers struggling for grip and traction. The SQ1 session was eventful, with Perez crashing into the barrier but managing to get his stricken Cadillac back to the pits.
The debris from the Cadillac brought out the red flag and caused a chaotic ending to SQ1. What made the ending even more chaotic was a glitch with the FIA timing systems.
Max Verstappen was also noted by the FIA for overtaking Lewis Hamilton under double waved yellows, and the same is to be investigated after the session. The two Williams, Cadillacs, Lance Stroll and Arvid Lindblad were eliminated in SQ1.
SQ2 was uneventful, with all four top teams making it to the next session, along with Pierre Gasly and Liam Lawson. Going into the final sprint qualifying session, Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull all looked to have a shot at the pole position.
Lewis Hamilton pushed his Ferrari a bit too much in SQ3, sliding the rears on his hot lap, and only managed to qualify P6. Max Verstappen set a blistering lap on his final run, and took the pole position with a lap time of 1:31.156.
George Russell, in the Mercedes without the Malaysia upgrades, managed to get up into P2, less than two tenths behind the Dutchman. Let’s have a look at the starting grid for the 2026 F1 Singapore GP.
2026 F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying Results
SQ3
1 Max Verstappen 1m31.156s
2 George Russell +0.120s
3 Charles Leclerc +0.243s
4 Oscar Piastri +0.298s
5 Lando Norris +0.431s
6 Lewis Hamilton +0.546s
7 Kimi Antonelli +0.693s
8 Liam Lawson +1.185s
9 Isack Hadjar track limits
10 Pierre Gasly track limits
Eliminated in SQ2
11 Franco Colapinto +1.003s (+0.094s off SQ3)
12 Nico Hulkenberg +1.174s
13 Ollie Bearman +1.177s
14 Gabriel Bortoleto +1.220s
15 Fernando Alonso +1.488s
16 Esteban Ocon +2.122s
Eliminated in SQ1
17 Arvid Lindblad +1.659s (+0.088s off SQ2 )
18 Lance Stroll +2.185s
19 Alex Albon +2.653s
20 Sergio Perez +3.283s
21 Valtteri Bottas +3.391s
22 Carlos Sainz +3.899s
Starting Grid for 2026 F1 Singapore GP Sprint
P1 Max Verstappen (Red Bull) [Under investigation by FIA for double waved yellow infringement]
P2 George Russell (Mercedes)
P3 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
P4 Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
P5 Lando Norris (McLaren)
P6 Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
P7 Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
P8 Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
P9 Isack Hadjar (Red Bulls)
P10 Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
P11 Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
P12 Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)
P13 Oliver Bearman (Haas)
P14 Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
P15 Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
P16 Esteban Ocon (Haas)
P17 Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
P18 Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
P19 Alex Albon (Williams)
P20 Sergio Perez (Cadillac)
P21 Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)
P22 Carlos Sainz (Williams)
Read More: Arvid Lindblad shares his expectations from the F1 Singapore GP on his first visit to the track
