Sports · Motorsport · 13 hrs ago
Verstappen takes Singapore GP pole after winning sprint
Max Verstappen won Saturday’s sprint race and then took pole for Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay street circuit.
The Red Bull driver beat Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by 0.054 seconds in qualifying, with Lewis Hamilton third.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli qualified fourth for Mercedes, while teammate George Russell will start from the back because of an engine penalty.
Russell also crashed out of the wet sprint after losing control, helping Antonelli extend his lead over him to 89 points.
Antonelli could widen that advantage in Sunday’s race, where overtaking is difficult.
Verstappen is in strong form, but he has never won the Singapore Grand Prix.
The race is scheduled to start at 8 p.m.
local time on Sunday, with hot, humid weather expected and some showers possible.
Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix sprint and then took pole for Sunday’s race with a lap of 1 minute 31.373 seconds.
He beat Charles Leclerc to pole by 0.054 seconds, securing the 50th pole position of his career.
Kimi Antonelli qualified fourth and extended his championship lead over teammate George Russell to 89 points.
Russell crashed out of the sprint and will start Sunday’s Grand Prix from the back of the grid because of an engine penalty.
- Who
- Max Verstappen, Kimi Antonelli and George Russell are among the main drivers involved.
- What
- Verstappen won the sprint and took pole for the Singapore Grand Prix. Antonelli extended his championship lead over Russell.
- When
- Saturday, October 10, 2026; the Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday.
- Where
- Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore.
- Why
- Russell crashed out of the sprint after losing control on a white line in wet conditions. His engine penalty will also put him at the back of Sunday’s grid.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Miscalculation. Came through the corner had more battery deployment than I thought, pushed me a little bit wider than I hoped and went onto the white line. Silly mistake. Big consequences.
We don't accelerate off the line. Up until now we always have terrible starts so we need to understand what's going on there.
Russell took the lead at the start of the wet sprint, then spun and crashed into the barriers on the opening lap.
Verstappen took the sprint win after Russell’s crash.
Verstappen set the fastest time in qualifying to take pole, ahead of Leclerc by 0.054 seconds.
The Singapore Grand Prix is scheduled to take place.
- Sprint winner
- Max Verstappen
- Pole lap
- 1 minute 31.373 seconds
- Pole margin
- 0.054 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc
- Career poles
- 50 for Verstappen
- Championship gap
- Antonelli leads Russell by 89 points
- Russell’s Sunday starting position
- Back of the grid due to an engine penalty
Sources
Singapore Grand Prix LIVE! Max Verstappen targets first win in Singapore
F1 Singapore GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Verstappen seals sprint win, takes pole in Singapore as Antonelli extends title lead
Max Verstappen takes F1 Singapore GP pole from Leclerc after sprint win
F1, Verstappen è inarrestabile a Singapore: sua anche la pole position. Bene le due Ferrari, Antonelli in seconda fila | La griglia di partenza
Verstappen continues form with Singapore pole
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