Singapur – 10. October 2026
Max Verstappen will start the Singapore Grand Prix from pole position after beating both Ferrari drivers in a close qualifying session at Marina Bay. Despite Lewis Hamilton setting the pace in both Q1 and Q2, it was Verstappen who delivered when it mattered most, securing pole with a 1:31.373.
Charles Leclerc came incredibly close to taking the top spot, finishing just 0.054 seconds behind the Red Bull driver. Hamilton completed the top three, only 0.123 seconds off pole. Ferrari looked like a serious contender throughout the session, but neither driver managed to find enough time on their final attempt to beat Verstappen.
Ferrari looked strong, but Verstappen delivered
Hamilton appeared to have the advantage after leading the first two qualifying segments. However, Verstappen’s first flying lap in Q3 proved good enough to secure pole, putting him ahead of both Ferraris and continuing his strong weekend after taking the top spot in Sprint Qualifying.
With Leclerc starting alongside him and Hamilton directly behind, the opening laps on Sunday could be crucial. Singapore is a demanding circuit where overtaking is difficult, making qualifying particularly important.
Antonelli leads Mercedes as Russell faces a setback
Kimi Antonelli qualified fourth with a 1:31.562, finishing just 0.189 seconds behind Verstappen. While he missed out on the top three, the championship leader remains in a strong position to fight for a podium.
George Russell finished sixth, but his qualifying position is only part of the story. An engine penalty means he is set to start from the back of the grid, turning Sunday’s race into a much bigger challenge for the Mercedes driver.
For Antonelli, this creates an opportunity to score valuable points while his championship rivals battle near the front. The question is whether Mercedes can turn his fourth-place qualifying result into a podium finish.
McLaren and the midfield
Lando Norris qualified fifth, ahead of Oscar Piastri in seventh. After their collision in the Sprint earlier in the day, both McLaren drivers will be looking to put that incident behind them and deliver a cleaner race on Sunday.
Pierre Gasly secured eighth for Alpine, followed by Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad, who completed the top ten.
There was also disappointment for Fernando Alonso, who failed to progress beyond Q1 and qualified 17th. Franco Colapinto finished 16th, while Isack Hadjar endured a particularly difficult session. After retiring from the Sprint, the Red Bull driver suffered further gearbox problems and failed to set a representative qualifying time.
What to expect on Sunday
Verstappen has the advantage heading into the Grand Prix, but Ferrari has shown enough pace to make this an interesting fight. With Leclerc only 0.054 seconds behind pole and Hamilton starting third, the top three are separated by very little.
Antonelli is also in a position to take advantage, while Russell faces the difficult task of recovering from the back of the grid.
After a chaotic Sprint earlier in the day, Singapore has already delivered plenty of drama. Now the focus shifts to Sunday’s Grand Prix, where strategy, track position and the smallest mistakes could decide the outcome.
Paddock Files verdict: Verstappen has secured the position everyone wants, but Ferrari is close enough to make him work for it. And with Antonelli starting fourth and Russell facing a recovery drive, Mercedes has two very different challenges ahead.