2026 Singapore Grand Prix: Schedule, Sprint Format and Championship Preview
The 2026 Singapore Grand Prix takes place from 9 to 11 October 2026 at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. It is round 17 of 23 on the Formula 1 calendar, and it is a sprint weekend. If you want the dates, session times, and the title picture in one place, this guide covers all three.
Kimi Antonelli arrives as championship leader. Mercedes teammate George Russell is second. Russell also won this race last year, so he enters as the defending winner at Marina Bay.
For another race preview from the season, read our Formula 1 preview from Monza.
Table of Contents
- Singapore Grand Prix 2026 at a Glance
- Full Race Weekend Schedule and Session Times
- Marina Bay Street Circuit Facts
- How the Sprint Weekend Works
- Championship Standings Before Singapore
- Key Drivers and Teams to Watch
- Storylines for the Singapore Weekend
- Singapore Grand Prix History and Previous Winners
- How to Watch the Singapore Grand Prix
- What to Expect at Marina Bay
- FAQ
- Related Articles
Singapore Grand Prix 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2026 |
| Dates | 9-11 October 2026 |
| Venue | Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore |
| Round | 17 of 23 |
| Race distance | 62 laps, 305.337 km |
| Format | Sprint weekend |
| Race start | Sunday 11 October, 20:00 Singapore time |
| Defending winner | George Russell (Mercedes) |
| Prize money | Information is not currently available. |
Full Race Weekend Schedule and Session Times
Singapore time is UTC+8. The UTC column shows international standard time, so you can convert it to your own time zone. UK times come from the published weekend schedule and are in British Summer Time (UTC+1).
| Session | Date | Singapore | UTC | UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practice 1 | Friday 9 October | 16:30 | 08:30 | 09:30 |
| Sprint Qualifying | Friday 9 October | 20:30 | 12:30 | 13:30 |
| Sprint | Saturday 10 October | 17:00 | 09:00 | 10:00 |
| Qualifying | Saturday 10 October | 21:00 | 13:00 | 14:00 |
| Grand Prix | Sunday 11 October | 20:00 | 12:00 | 13:00 |
Practice 1 is the only practice session of the weekend. Teams then go straight into Sprint Qualifying with very little running to prepare. Check the official Formula 1 site before the weekend in case times change.
Marina Bay Street Circuit Facts
Singapore held the first night race in F1 history in 2008. The circuit uses closed public roads around Marina Bay. It is 4.927 km long with 19 turns, and the race runs over 62 laps.
- Lap record: 1:33.808, set by Lewis Hamilton in 2025
- First Grand Prix: 2008
- Surface type: Temporary street circuit
- Lighting: Night race under floodlights
Walls sit close to the racing line, and the track gives drivers little room to recover from mistakes. That is why Safety Cars have shaped many past races here.
How the Sprint Weekend Works
Singapore hosts its first Sprint weekend in 2026. A sprint adds a second race on Saturday, and the format changes how teams use the weekend.
- Friday has one practice session, then Sprint Qualifying.
- Sprint Qualifying sets the grid for Saturday's Sprint.
- The Sprint awards points to the first eight finishers.
- Normal Qualifying on Saturday sets the grid for the Grand Prix.
- Winning the Sprint does not give pole position for Sunday.
Sprint points run from eight for the winner down to one for eighth place. The Grand Prix pays 25 points to the winner, then 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1.
Teams get one hour of practice before they must commit to a setup. Drivers who learn the track quickly gain an edge. Rookies and drivers with less Marina Bay experience have less time to catch up.
If you also follow motorcycle racing, our MotoGP basics guide explains how that series works.
Championship Standings Before Singapore
Antonelli leads the standings, and the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia on 4 October widened his lead. Verstappen took his first win of the year, and Russell's late retirement stretched Antonelli's lead over him from 66 points to 84. Antonelli finished second in that race. Sepang also has a long racing history, which you can read about in our report on the 2013 Malaysian MotoGP round at Sepang.
Before Sepang, the top of the table read Antonelli 302 points, Russell 236 and Hamilton 199, with Norris on 186 and Leclerc on 179. Verstappen was sixth on 163. Updated totals after Malaysia will be on the official Formula 1 site.
| Position | Driver | Team | Points before Malaysia |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 302 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | 236 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 199 |
| 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 186 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 179 |
| 6 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 163 |
| 7 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 120 |
Russell won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku before the Malaysia race. For an earlier race on a Baku-style street layout, see our 2022 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix report.
Antonelli cannot clinch the title in Singapore. A lead of 84 points is smaller than the points still available, which total 33 at Marina Bay (sprint plus race) and 25 per Grand Prix for the six rounds after it, based on the published calendar. The championship will run beyond this weekend.
Key Drivers and Teams to Watch
Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes). He is 20 years old and leads the table. In Baku, he recovered to fifth from 16th on the grid, which shows his racecraft in disrupted races.
George Russell (Mercedes). He won in Baku for his third victory of 2026 and holds the Marina Bay winner's record from last year. A power unit problem ended his Malaysia race while he was running third behind the Safety Car.
Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari). Hamilton set the current lap record here in 2025. He finished third in Malaysia and sits third in the standings.
Max Verstappen (Red Bull). He took pole position and the win in Malaysia, his first of the season. It was the first pole of 2026 for a car without a Mercedes engine. Singapore will show whether Red Bull's upgrades work on a street circuit.
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri (McLaren). Norris won this race in 2024. McLaren sits third among constructors, and Norris is fourth in the drivers' table.
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari). Leclerc took pole here in 2022 and finished fourth in Malaysia.
Storylines for the Singapore Weekend
Antonelli versus Russell. Both drivers share a team, so any fight between them plays out on identical machinery. The 84-point gap means Russell needs wins and an Antonelli slump to reopen the title race.
Red Bull's form. After Verstappen's win, the question is whether the speed from Sepang carries over to a track with very different demands. Isack Hadjar finished on the podium in Baku and is eighth in the standings.
Sprint format debut. No team has raced a sprint at Marina Bay before. Strategy, tyre wear and setup choices all become harder to judge with only one practice session.
Safety Car risk. Close walls and tight corners often bring the Safety Car out. Teams plan pit stops around that possibility.
Predictions are not results. Treat all of the above as areas to watch, not confirmed outcomes.
Singapore Grand Prix History and Previous Winners
Fernando Alonso won the first night race in 2008 for Renault. Sebastian Vettel holds the record for most driver wins at the event with five.
| Year | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull |
| 2023 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari |
| 2024 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 2025 | George Russell | Mercedes |
In 2022, Perez won despite a five-second time penalty. Carlos Sainz took pole and then the win in 2023. The 2024 win was McLaren's second at Marina Bay, following 2009. The 2025 race was the first Singapore Grand Prix without a retirement, and the first to crown a World Constructors' Champion.
How to Watch the Singapore Grand Prix
Live coverage is available through Formula 1's official broadcast partners in each country. In the UK, Sky Sports F1 shows the race live. Check Formula 1's official broadcaster list for your region before race day. The race starts at 12:00 UTC.
What to Expect at Marina Bay
Friday and Saturday carry real points this weekend, so every session matters. Watch Sprint Qualifying for early signs of who has found pace with limited practice. Watch Saturday's Sprint for tyre management over a short distance. On Sunday, expect a 62-lap race under floodlights, where a Safety Car can change the order quickly.
Mercedes leads the championship, Red Bull arrives with fresh momentum, and Ferrari and McLaren stay close behind. How those teams manage the new sprint weekend will decide much of the outcome. For another Grand Prix preview, see our 2026 Aragon Grand Prix preview.
FAQ
When is the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix?
It runs from 9 to 11 October 2026. The race is on Sunday 11 October.
Where is the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix held?
It takes place at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore.
What time does the Singapore Grand Prix start?
The race starts at 20:00 Singapore time on Sunday 11 October. That is 12:00 UTC and 13:00 in the UK.
Is the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix a sprint weekend?
Yes. It is the first Sprint weekend at this event. The Sprint is on Saturday 10 October.
Who won the Singapore Grand Prix in 2025?
George Russell won for Mercedes.
Who leads the 2026 F1 championship?
Kimi Antonelli leads Mercedes teammate George Russell by 84 points after the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
How long is the Marina Bay circuit and how many laps is the race?
The circuit is 4.927 km long. The race covers 62 laps, or 305.337 km.
What is the Singapore Grand Prix prize money?
Information is not currently available.