F1 2026: Singapore Grand Prix Qualifying Recap

Max Verstappen goes back-to-back with pole in Singapore

Max Verstappen has picked up back-to-back poles as the Dutchman picked up pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix 2026 beating the Ferrari paid of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli will be starting fourth while George Russell qualified sixth but will take an engine penalty.

Here’s a quick recap of the Singapore Grand Prix 2026 qualifying session.

Q1 – Hadjar’s damage sees him not take part while usual suspects knocked out

The front runners including the McLaren pair of Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri along with Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton exchanged the top spot for the fastest time early on in Q1. While everyone was out putting in their quickest times, Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar was one name missing as his retirement from the Sprint due to a mechanical issue continued to bother him as he stopped on track and wasn’t able to put in a proper time. 

The Ferraris went even quicker with Hamilton’s 1:32.680s being the fastest time of the session while the Cadillac pair, Lance Stroll, Arvid Lindblad and Esteban Ocon were struggling in the drop zone as the clock ticked off. Ocon and Lindblad put in strong final laps to get themselves out of the drop zone that left Fernando Alonso and Alex Albon joining the rest in failing to make it out of Q1.

Drivers eliminated in Q1

Fernando Alonso
Alex Albon
Lance Stroll
Sergio Pérez
Valtteri Bottas 
Isack Hadjar

Q2 – Hamilton continues to set the pace as Ferrari dominates again

Ferrari kicked off Q2 right from where they left off in Q1 as the Ferrari man was on top once again with his 1:31.529s besting Kimi Antonelli’s early time of 1:32.165s which was the benchmark for the majority of the session. Verstappen showed some pace early on as well, coming close to Antonelli but wasn’t able to catch the current championship leader. While the likes of Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren and Verstappen were at the front, the Haas and Alpine duos were struggling in the drop zone along with Williams’ Carlos Sainz and the remaining Audi of Gabriel Bortoleto. 

As the flag fell on the session, Gasly squeezed himself into Q3 with a flying final lap which meant that Nico Hülkenberg fell into the drop zone with both Haas drivers, Carlos Sainz, Bortoleto and Franco Colapinto.

Drivers eliminated in Q2

Nico Hülkenberg
Ollie Bearman 
Esteban Ocon
Carlos Sainz
Gabriel Bortoleto
Franco Colapinto

Q3 – Verstappen pips the Ferrari to steal pole in Singapore

Max Verstappen set the benchmark  for the final portion of qualifying as the Red Bull star put in a 1:31.373s with his first time which saw Leclerc come closest at 1:31.661s, 0.288s slower than the four time champion. Hamilton’s first time saw him go 0.123s slower than Verstappen as the Dutchman was untouched after the first runs.

As the cars came out for their second and final runs, most of the drivers failed to improve their opening runs apart from Leclerc, come 0.054s slower than Verstappen first time and with Verstappen himself not improving but not being challenged either by anyone else, Verstappen held on to his provisional pole with Leclerc pipping his own teammate to start on the front row.

Starting grid for the Singapore Grand Prix 2026 (before penalties applied):

1. Max Verstappen
2. Charles Leclerc
3. Lewis Hamilton
4. Kimi Antonelli
5. Lando Norris
6. George Russell*
7. Oscar Piastri
8. Pierre Gasly
9. Liam Lawson
10. Arvid Lindblad
11. Nico Hülkenberg
12. Ollie Bearman 
13. Esteban Ocon
14. Carlos Sainz
15. Gabriel Bortoleto
16. Franco Colapinto
17. Fernando Alonso
18. Alex Albon
19. Lance Stroll
20. Sergio Pérez
21. Valtteri Bottas 
22. Isack Hadjar

*set for engine penalty