Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Singapore Sprint qualifying session with a lap time of 1:31.156 on soft tyres. He edged out George Russell and Charles Leclerc, setting the stage for the Sprint race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. The session took place on October 9, 2026, under the challenging night conditions typical of Singapore.
Verstappen’s pole was confirmed after a stewards’ investigation into a possible yellow flag infringement, which did not result in a penalty. George Russell qualified second, just 0.120 seconds behind Verstappen, while Charles Leclerc took third place. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris completed the top five, with Lewis Hamilton in sixth and championship leader Kimi Antonelli in seventh.
The qualifying format consisted of three segments—SQ1, SQ2, and SQ3—with several drivers eliminated at each stage. Notably, Sergio Perez crashed early in SQ1, causing a red flag. As a result, Perez started the Sprint race from the back row alongside Carlos Sainz. The track presented difficulties due to its bumpy surface and humid weather, factors that drivers had to manage throughout the session.
Verstappen commented on the demanding nature of the Singapore circuit, expressing satisfaction with his performance in securing pole position. The narrow gap to Russell and Leclerc highlights the competitive pace among the leading teams, including Red Bull Racing, Mercedes, and Ferrari. McLaren’s strong showing with Piastri and Norris in the top five also underlined their ongoing competitiveness in the sprint format.
Other drivers who made it through to the later stages included Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli, with the latter maintaining his position as the championship leader. The session’s interruptions and the humid conditions added to the complexity of the qualifying, requiring drivers to adapt quickly to the evolving track situation.
The Sprint race is scheduled for Saturday at 17:00 local time, offering a crucial opportunity for drivers to improve their starting positions for the main Grand Prix. The results from this qualifying session provide a clear indication of the form and challenges faced by the teams and drivers at this stage of the 2026 season.