The Singapore Grand Prix will host Round 17 of the 2026 Formula 1 season this weekend, marking the last leg of a triple header sequence of races.<\/p>\n
As the Sprint format makes its final appearance of the campaign, Free Practice 1 and Sprint Qualifying will take place on Friday, October 9, followed by the Sprint and Qualifying on Saturday, October 10, and the Grand Prix itself on Sunday, October 11.<\/p>\n
Vital statistics<\/p>\n
First Grand Prix \u2013 2008
\nTrack Length \u2013 4.927km
\nLap record \u2013 1m 33.808s, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, 2025
\nMost pole positions \u2013 Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton (4)
\nMost wins \u2013 Sebastian Vettel (5)
\nTrivia \u2013 Due to the physical demands of the climate and circuit, drivers can lose as much as 3kg in body weight over the course of a race in Singapore
\nPole run to Turn 1 braking point \u2013 198 metres
\nOvertakes completed in 2025 \u2013 58
\nSafety Car probability \u2013 67%*
\nVirtual Safety Car probability \u2013 33%*
\nPit stop time loss \u2013 22.44 seconds<\/p>\n
*From the last six races in Singapore<\/p>\n
The driver\u2019s verdict<\/p>\n
Jolyon Palmer, former Renault F1 driver: Marina Bay is a long, complex circuit, and draining as well \u2013 a little bit like Monaco \u2013 with plenty of bumps. It\u2019s all about the low-speed and having decent turn-in without losing the rear or suffering snaps of oversteer.<\/p>\n
There are still 19 corners after the removal of the Turns 16-19 section, which has become a long straight, and towards the end of the lap you\u2019re starting to worry about your rear tyres overheating, particularly if you\u2019ve not been kind to them earlier on.<\/p>\n
Braking is particularly tricky at Turn 7, where it\u2019s easy to run wide. The newer Singapore Sling through Turns 10 and 11 is also one of those ones that can lure you into going too deep, often catching drivers out.<\/p>\n
Coming over the bridge, where you brake to the right and then turn to the left, induces lock-ups, while a lot of traction events mean you\u2019re spiking rear tyre temperatures \u2013 and there\u2019s an emphasis on rear grip here.<\/p>\n
A huge amount of concentration is required for this circuit and Grand Prix. You can lose a few kilos of liquid during the race, so hydration is the order of the day. Monaco might be the only venue with a slower average speed, but Singapore can be an absolute slog.<\/p>\n
Tyre and strategy insight<\/p>\n
\u201cTrack evolution will be significant over the course of the weekend,\u201d reads Pirelli\u2019s weekend preview. \u201cIntermittent rainfall, typical of the equatorial climate, will also influence grip levels and can alter conditions from one session to the next.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs is well known, the race takes place at night, with track temperatures ranging between 30 and 35C. Under these conditions, the tyres tend to operate within their working window without any particular overheating concerns.<\/p>\n
\u201cMechanical stress is not especially high and the expected degradation will mainly be linked to the normal performance drop-off of the rear axle during traction phases. Graining and wear are also not expected to become limiting factors in race management.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor these reasons, from a strategic perspective Singapore remains one of the races in which a one-stop strategy is the preferred option for teams, also considering the time lost in the pit lane and the frequent likelihood of neutralisations. While hard and medium are once again expected to be the reference compounds for the race, this year the soft could receive greater consideration on Sunday from more than one team.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe softest compound in the range has demonstrated at Budapest, Monza and Baku, where it was used, that it allows drivers to maintain a strong pace thanks to limited degradation, while also offering an advantage in terms of grip and confidence behind the wheel. These characteristics could prove even more valuable on a circuit such as Singapore, which is also known for its significant track evolution.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe latest-generation cars also appear to make better use of the softer compounds. Aerodynamic load, more effective temperature management and the formulation of the current compounds allow the softer end of the range to be used for longer and more competitive stints than in the past.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith this in mind, it would come as no surprise to see the red-sidewalled tyre used in Saturday\u2019s Sprint or, more generally, to witness more extensive use of the C5 throughout the weekend, encouraged by the Sprint format itself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Current form<\/p>\n
While Kimi Antonelli<\/a> had to settle for second last time out at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, the Italian saw his lead at the top of the championship<\/a> extend further to a sizeable 84 points following Mercedes<\/a> team mate George Russell<\/a>\u2019s dramatic retirement in the latter stages.<\/p>\n Russell went on to suggest<\/a> that his own prospects for the title may now be over. Ordinarily the Briton might take heart from the fact that the next stop on the calendar is Singapore \u2013 a venue where he claimed both pole position and victory last year \u2013 but bouncing back could prove challenging this time as he is set to take a grid penalty<\/a> at Marina Bay.<\/p>\n The track is one of the few that Max Verstappen<\/a> has never won at, despite coming close with more than one P2 finish. However, after sealing a commanding first triumph of 2026 one week ago in Malaysia, the Red Bull<\/a> driver would arguably be in good stead to reach the top step in Singapore should he and the team bring that level of performance again this weekend.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, Ferrari<\/a> showed promise with a strong recovery drive at Sepang after being amongst those to make the wrong tyre call at the start of the race, while McLaren<\/a> conceded that they were lacking pace<\/a> in comparison to their closest rivals. How will the pecking order amongst the top four play out on the streets of Marina Bay?<\/p>\n In the midfield fight, Racing Bulls<\/a> strengthened their hold on fifth place in the Teams\u2019 Championship<\/a> with another double score \u2013 one that saw Arvid Lindblad<\/a> rise from the back of the grid to P10 \u2013 while closest rivals Alpine<\/a> found themselves further down the order.<\/p>\n There was disappointment for Audi<\/a> and Williams<\/a>, with both missing out on points despite recent upgrades, but Aston Martin<\/a> boosted their tally near the bottom of the table with a P8 finish for Fernando Alonso<\/a> \u2013 a result that will surely give the Silverstone-based outfit a boost after a challenging season.<\/p>\n Iconic moment<\/p>\n Many a memorable moment has played out under the lights of the Marina Bay Street Circuit since it arrived on the F1 calendar back in 2008, but on this occasion we\u2019re taking a trip back to 2019 to relive the final victory of Sebastian Vettel<\/a>\u2019s record-breaking run at the circuit \u2013 which also proved to be his last win in Formula 1.<\/p>\n The four-time World Champion had arrived into the weekend off the back of a disappointing performance at the Italian Grand Prix, where a spin saw him cross the line down in P13 while Ferrari team mate Charles Leclerc<\/a> was victorious.<\/p>\n