Sports · Motorsport · 1 day ago
Verstappen takes Singapore sprint pole ahead of Russell
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen qualified fastest for Saturday’s sprint race at the Singapore Grand Prix.
He clocked one minute 31.156 seconds at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, 0.120 seconds quicker than Mercedes driver George Russell.
Charles Leclerc was third, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli qualified seventh.
Russell can start the sprint on the front row, but a 40-place penalty for Sunday’s Grand Prix is expected to send him to the back of that race’s grid.
Qualifying was disrupted when Cadillac driver Sergio Perez hit a barrier, causing a red flag, and a system glitch delayed the next session.
Verstappen was investigated for passing Lewis Hamilton under yellow flags, but reports differed on whether the stewards had reached a decision.
The sprint race is scheduled for Saturday.
Max Verstappen took pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix sprint race with a fastest lap of 1 minute 31.156 seconds.
George Russell qualified second, 0.120 seconds behind Verstappen, and will start alongside him on the front row for the sprint.
Charles Leclerc was third, followed by McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
Verstappen was investigated for passing Lewis Hamilton under yellow flags in the first qualifying session; ABC Australia and Crash.net report that he avoided a penalty after officials accepted his explanation.
A crash by Sergio Perez caused a red flag in the first session, and a timing glitch delayed the start of the second session.
Russell faces a 40-place grid penalty for Sunday’s grand prix because of additional power-unit elements, but the penalty does not affect his sprint starting position.
- Who
- Max Verstappen, George Russell and other Formula 1 drivers
- What
- Verstappen secured pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix sprint race
- When
- Friday, October 9, 2026
- Where
- Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore
- Why
- Verstappen set the fastest time in sprint qualifying
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
But I did not expect this, so, of course, very happy to be first.
Who knows what was best, but pretty satisfied with the P2.
The FIA acknowledges that this unfortunate human error had an impact on the performance of certain cars based on the timing of their run and their position around the lap,
I thought we had another lap. I didn't know it was just one lap.
Sergio Perez hit a barrier, damaging his front wing and bringing out a red flag.
Verstappen passed Lewis Hamilton under yellow flags and was investigated by the stewards.
A timing glitch delayed the session; the FIA later said the timing issue had been resolved.
Verstappen set the fastest time of 1 minute 31.156 seconds to take sprint pole, 0.120 seconds ahead of Russell.
ABC Australia and Crash.net reported that Verstappen avoided a penalty after the stewards accepted his explanation.
- Verstappen's pole time
- 1 minute 31.156 seconds
- Gap to Russell
- 0.120 seconds
- Third place
- Charles Leclerc, 0.243 seconds behind Verstappen
- Russell's Sunday penalty
- 40-place grid penalty
- Perez's qualifying position
- 20th
Sources
Singapore GP 2026: Verstappen pips Russell to sprint pole
Verstappen pips Russell to sprint pole at Singapore F1 grand prix
Max Verstappen details ‘unexpected’ Singapore GP Sprint pole
Verstappen beats Russell's old-spec Mercedes to Singapore sprint pole
Verstappen edges Russell for Singapore Sprint pole
Max Verstappen beats George Russell in old Mercedes to Singapore GP sprint pole
Verstappen beats Russell to pole but faces investigation for yellow flag incident | Formula 1
Verstappen on pole for sprint race at Singapore GP
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