Formula 1 is preparing for an intense day with Max Verstappen occupying the pole in the sprint race of the Singapore GP, achieving the best time in the qualifying session at Marina Bay for the first time.
The Red Bull driver set a time of 1m31.156s in his only attempt at SQ3, surpassing George Russell by 0.120s. The Ferrari driver, Charles Leclerc, closes the podium with the third-best time, followed by Oscar Piastri from McLaren and his teammate, Lando Norris, as well as Lewis Hamilton.
The championship leader, Kimi Antonelli, settled for seventh position, nearly seven-tenths behind Verstappen. Completing the top 10 are also Liam Lawson, Isack Hadjar, and Pierre Gasly.
After the qualifying session, Verstappen was subject to an investigation for a possible yellow flag infringement, but ultimately no penalty was imposed on him, keeping him at pole for Saturday’s race.
Schedules and weather forecast
On Saturday, fans will be able to enjoy the sprint race at 5:00 PM SGT before the qualifying for Sunday’s GP, which will start at 9:00 PM SGT. The time details vary by region, with sessions scheduled for the UK at 10:00 AM BST and 2:00 PM BST respectively, and for viewers in the United States at 5:00 AM ET and 9:00 AM ET.
As for the weather forecast, Saturday is expected to have a high risk of rain, as showers and storms are anticipated, with a 70% chance at the beginning of the sprint race. Temperatures around 29°C and humidity close to 70% may influence track conditions. The situation could improve for qualifying in the evening, although the possibility of isolated showers remains.
Singapore GP weekend schedule
All times are presented in local time in Singapore:
- Friday, October 9 — free practice 1 — 4:30 PM SGT
- Friday, October 9 — sprint qualifying — 8:30 PM SGT
- Saturday, October 10 — sprint race — 5:00 PM SGT
- Saturday, October 10 — qualifying — 9:00 PM SGT
- Sunday, October 11 — Singapore GP 2026 — 8:00 PM SGT
Information on the Marina Bay circuit
The Marina Bay street circuit is characterized by its low-speed corners, with walls close to the racing line, as well as intense heat and humidity, requiring great precision and endurance from the drivers.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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