Ahead of Russell and Leclerc
Max Verstappen took top spot in Sprint Qualifying for the 2026 FIA Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, beating Mercedes’ George Russell by 0.120 seconds as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished third at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
The Red Bull driver posted a lap of 1:31.156 in the final segment to secure first place ahead of Saturday’s Sprint, following a closely contested qualifying session. However, his result remained subject to a stewards’ investigation into an alleged yellow flag infringement during SQ1.
Leclerc finished 0.243 seconds behind Verstappen, with Oscar Piastri fourth for McLaren, just 0.055 seconds adrift of the Ferrari driver. Lando Norris took fifth ahead of Lewis Hamilton, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli qualified seventh. Liam Lawson was eighth, with Isack Hadjar and Pierre Gasly completing the top 10 after having their SQ3 lap times deleted.
The opening segment was interrupted when Sergio Pérez hit the barriers and damaged his Cadillac’s front wing. As he attempted to return to the pits, debris was left on the circuit and the session was red flagged with six minutes remaining.
Only a handful of drivers had completed representative laps before the stoppage, with Hamilton leading on 1:33.748. Verstappen’s apparent pass on the Ferrari under yellow flags was subsequently referred to the stewards for investigation after the session.
With limited time available following the restart, the closing minutes brought a succession of improvements as drivers sought to secure places among the leading 16.
Verstappen eventually set the quickest time, a 1:33.477, to finish 0.018 seconds ahead of Leclerc. Russell was third, followed by Hamilton and Audi’s Nico Hülkenberg. Hadjar, Norris and Piastri also progressed, with the latter recovering after abandoning his first attempt.
Arvid Lindblad missed the cut in 17th place, ahead of Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll. Alexander Albon was 19th for Williams, followed by Pérez and Valtteri Bottas in the two Cadillacs. Carlos Sainz finished last in the second Williams.
Verstappen established the initial SQ2 benchmark on the mandatory Medium tyres with a lap of 1:32.724. Ferrari then moved ahead, Hamilton improving on the Red Bull driver’s effort before Leclerc lowered the target to 1:32.457.
Russell faced a more difficult passage through the second segment. A lock-up at Turn 13 compromised an attempt to improve, and gains from Hadjar and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto subsequently pushed him outside the top 10.
The Mercedes driver responded on his final run, climbing to fourth and displacing Colapinto, who ended the session 11th. Hülkenberg was eliminated in 12th, ahead of Oliver Bearman, Gabriel Bortoleto, Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon.
With Soft tyres required for the eight-minute final segment, McLaren and Mercedes headed out first. Norris set the early pace with a 1:31.587, ahead of Piastri, while Russell and Antonelli initially trailed the McLaren pair.
Leclerc then edged ahead by 0.019 seconds with a lap of 1:31.568. Hamilton was competitive through the opening sector but lost time later in the lap, recording a 1:31.702 that would leave him sixth.
Leclerc subsequently improved to 1:31.399, but Verstappen’s sole SQ3 attempt proved decisive. A strong opening sector laid the foundations for the Dutchman to move clear, with his advantage maintained through the remainder of the lap.
Russell’s late improvement to 1:31.276 secured second place, splitting Verstappen and Leclerc. Piastri also improved, taking fourth with a 1:31.454, while Norris retained fifth on his earlier effort.
Behind Hamilton, Antonelli’s 1:31.849 left the championship leader 0.693 seconds off the fastest time. Lawson completed the timed runners in eighth with a 1:32.341, while deleted laps left Hadjar and Gasly without times in the final segment, placing them ninth and 10th respectively for Saturday’s Sprint.
2026 FIA Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix – Sprint Qualifying
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Red Bull Ford 11: 31.156 - -
2 George Russell Mercedes 1'31.276 0.120
3 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1'31.399 0.243
4 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 1'31.454 0.298
5 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 1'31.587 0.431
6 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1'31.702 0.546
7 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1'31.849 0.693
8 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford 1'32.341 1.185
9 Isack Hadjar Red Bull/Red Bull Ford - - -
10 Pierre Gasly Alpine/Mercedes - - -
11 Franco Colapinto Alpine/Mercedes 1'33.249 2.093
12 Nico Hülkenberg Audi 1'33.420 2.264
13 Oliver Bearman Haas/Ferrari 1'33.423 2.267
14 Gabriel Bortoleto Audi 1'33.466 2.310
15 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Honda 1'33.734 2.578
16 Esteban Ocon Haas/Ferrari 1'34.368 3.212
17 Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford 1'35.136 3.980
18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Honda 1'35.662 4.506
19 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 1'36.130 4.974
20 Sergio Pérez Cadillac/Ferrari 1'36.760 5.604
21 Valtteri Bottas Cadillac/Ferrari 1'36.868 5.712
22 Carlos Sainz Williams/Mercedes 1'37.376 6.220
