Max Verstappen Takes First Singapore GP Pole as Leclerc Falls 0.054s Short

Singapore, October 10, 2026: Max Verstappen claimed his first-ever Singapore Grand Prix pole position after edging Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by just 0.054 seconds in a closely contested qualifying session for the 2026 FIA Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. The Red Bull driver clocked a fastest lap of 1:31.373 to secure his second pole position of the weekend, having also topped Sprint Qualifying.

Leclerc secured second place for Ferrari with a lap of 1:31.427, while team-mate Lewis Hamilton completed the top three after leading both Q1 and Q2. Hamilton’s best effort of 1:31.496 left him 0.123 seconds behind Verstappen, setting up an intriguing contest among Red Bull and Ferrari for Sunday’s race.

Verstappen’s opening run in Q3 proved decisive as several front-runners struggled to improve during their final attempts. Leclerc found additional time to move ahead of Hamilton but narrowly missed out on pole, leaving the Monegasque driver to settle for a place alongside Verstappen on the front row.

Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli qualified fourth with a lap of 1:31.562, 0.189 seconds off pole position. McLaren’s Lando Norris secured fifth in 1:31.712, followed by Mercedes team-mate George Russell in sixth with a time of 1:31.747.

Russell, however, faces a grid penalty following an engine change, potentially affecting his starting position for the Singapore Grand Prix.

Oscar Piastri qualified seventh for McLaren in 1:31.860 after improving by more than three-tenths of a second on his final attempt. The Australian’s qualifying result followed a difficult Sprint earlier in the day, during which he and team-mate Norris were involved in a collision.

Pierre Gasly delivered a late improvement to qualify eighth for Alpine with a lap of 1:32.225. Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad completed the top 10, recording times of 1:32.369 and 1:32.781 respectively.

Hamilton Leads Early Before Verstappen Strikes in Q3

Qualifying took place in humid conditions at Marina Bay, with several drivers encountering difficulties during the opening segment.

McLaren initially set the pace, with Norris posting a lap of 1:33.047 to edge Piastri by just 0.029 seconds. Verstappen and Hamilton followed as the leading contenders began establishing their positions.

Hamilton subsequently raised the benchmark to 1:32.429, with Leclerc joining him at the top of the timesheets to give Ferrari a one-two in Q1. Mercedes’ Antonelli also showed strong pace, although one of his laps was deleted for exceeding track limits.

The session was interrupted by several technical and driving difficulties. Haas driver Esteban Ocon locked up at Turn 13 and reported a braking problem before reversing back onto the circuit. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll also encountered trouble at Turn 7.

Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar endured another frustrating session after retiring from the Sprint. The Frenchman reported that his engine had switched off after running deep, before managing to restart the car and return to the pits. A further mechanical problem prevented him from recording a representative qualifying lap.

Fernando Alonso was the highest-placed Aston Martin driver, but his 17th-place finish was insufficient to progress beyond Q1. Williams’ Alexander Albon qualified 18th, ahead of Stroll in 19th. Cadillac drivers Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas occupied 20th and 21st, respectively, while Hadjar finished last without a recorded time.

Hamilton Sets the Pace in Q2

Hamilton continued Ferrari’s strong showing in Q2, taking the lead with a lap of 1:31.766 after Antonelli had initially set the benchmark at 1:32.165.

The seven-time world champion improved further on his second run, recording 1:31.529 to remain fastest in the segment. Verstappen responded with a lap of 1:31.639, although the Red Bull driver reported difficulties with his gear shifts.

Norris and Leclerc comfortably secured their places in the final qualifying segment, while the battle for the remaining Q3 positions intensified during the closing minutes.

Gasly produced one of the strongest late improvements of the session, finding approximately six-tenths of a second on his final attempt to secure progression. Lawson and Lindblad also advanced for Racing Bulls, completing the top 10 qualifiers.

Audi’s Nico Hülkenberg narrowly missed out on Q3, finishing 11th with a lap of 1:32.784. Haas drivers Oliver Bearman and Ocon qualified 12th and 13th, respectively, while Carlos Sainz placed 14th for Williams.

Gabriel Bortoleto was 15th for Audi, ahead of Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, who clipped the barrier at Turn 17 during his final lap.

Verstappen Holds Off Ferrari Challenge

The decisive moment came early in Q3 when Verstappen delivered his pole-winning lap of 1:31.373. Hamilton responded with a strong effort, particularly through the middle sector, but his 1:31.496 was not enough to dislodge the Red Bull driver.

Antonelli initially recorded 1:31.562 to take provisional third, while Leclerc remained in contention heading into the final runs.

The Ferrari driver subsequently improved to 1:31.427, moving ahead of Hamilton and securing second place on the grid. However, neither Verstappen nor Hamilton found enough time to improve their respective positions, allowing the Dutchman’s opening effort to stand.

The result gives Verstappen his first Singapore Grand Prix pole position and another boost after his Sprint Qualifying success. Ferrari, meanwhile, secured two cars in the top three, with Leclerc and Hamilton both positioned to challenge for victory.

With Russell facing a grid penalty and McLaren’s Norris and Piastri qualifying fifth and seventh, the starting order could create further strategic opportunities at the demanding Marina Bay circuit.

The 2026 Singapore Grand Prix promises a competitive battle at the front, with Verstappen aiming to convert pole position into victory while Ferrari looks to capitalise on its strong qualifying performance.

2026 Singapore Grand Prix qualifying results

FIA Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix · Marina Bay Street Circuit

Note: Gaps are measured against Verstappen’s pole time. Russell’s starting position is subject to the reported engine-change penalty; the final grid will depend on the official classification and penalty confirmation.