Max Verstappen took pole position for the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix with a 1:31.373, beating Charles Leclerc by 0.054 seconds at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
Lewis Hamilton qualified third in the second Ferrari, 0.123 seconds behind Verstappen, after setting the pace in both Q1 and Q2. It was Verstappen’s first Singapore Grand Prix pole.
Verstappen delivers in Q3
Verstappen established the decisive time on the opening runs in Q3. Hamilton recorded the fastest middle sector on his first attempt but remained 0.123 seconds behind, while Leclerc improved on his final run to take second with a 1:31.427.
Hamilton did not improve on his last lap and retained third on a 1:31.496. Formula 1’s official website reported that Leclerc later attributed his failure to secure pole to a “misjudgement.”
“It was good,” Verstappen said. “Just very close; the margins are very close I think between us throughout the whole of Qualifying. Of course, I’m very happy to be on pole.”
Hamilton leads first two phases
Hamilton topped Q1 with a 1:32.429, placing Ferrari first and second ahead of Leclerc. Fernando Alonso, Alexander Albon, Lance Stroll, Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas and Isack Hadjar were eliminated.
Hadjar did not set a representative time after reporting that his engine had switched off and that he had lost gears. Esteban Ocon and Stroll also had lockups during the opening phase but continued.
Hamilton remained fastest in Q2 with a 1:31.529. Verstappen was second on a 1:31.639 after complaining of poor gear shifts. Nico Hulkenberg, Oliver Bearman, Ocon, Carlos Sainz, Gabriel Bortoleto and Franco Colapinto were knocked out, with Colapinto clipping the wall on his final lap.
Antonelli heads the McLarens
Kimi Antonelli qualified fourth for Mercedes with a 1:31.562, 0.150 seconds from pole. Lando Norris took fifth for McLaren ahead of George Russell and Oscar Piastri.
Pierre Gasly reached Q3 for Alpine and secured eighth. Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad put both Racing Bulls cars into the final phase, qualifying ninth and 10th.
Russell qualified sixth but entered the session with a grid penalty for an engine change. Formula 1 reported that every driver classified behind him would gain a place when the penalty was applied.
Singapore Grand Prix starting grid
1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
2. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
3. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
4. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
5. Lando Norris, McLaren
6. Oscar Piastri, McLaren
7. Pierre Gasly, Alpine
8. Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
9. Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Audi
11. Oliver Bearman, Haas
12. Esteban Ocon, Haas
13. Carlos Sainz, Williams
14. Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi
15. Franco Colapinto, Alpine
16. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
17. Alexander Albon, Williams
18. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
19. Sergio Perez, Cadillac
20. Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac
21. George Russell, Mercedes
22. Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
The grid reflects the reported application of Russell’s engine penalty, with Hadjar also set to start at the rear after his qualifying problems.
Race start time
Round 17 of the Formula 1 season is scheduled to start Sunday, October 11, at 8 p.m. local time in Singapore. That corresponds to 8 a.m. ET in the United States and 12 p.m. GMT.
