Singapore Grand Prix: Verstappen Wins Chaotic Sprint and Takes Sunday Pole

Max Verstappen began the Singapore weekend by beating George Russell to sprint pole on October 9. The margin was 0.12 seconds, according to NDTV Profit, while Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli qualified seventh.

That result initially carried a question mark. Sky Sports reported that Verstappen was under investigation for passing Lewis Hamilton under yellow flags during sprint qualifying. The supplied coverage does not state the investigation's outcome, but subsequent reports confirm he won the sprint from pole.

Russell also arrived with a separate problem for the main race. Panorama reported that an engine change penalty would send him to the back of the Grand Prix grid.

Rain delayed the sprint on October 10, the BBC reported. Once racing began, the wet street circuit produced a chaotic contest, with nine cars retiring, according to ABC.

Russell was among those who failed to finish. The42 reported that he crashed out, adding another setback to his weekend.

Verstappen finished ahead of Ferrari's Hamilton and Leclerc. Championship leader Antonelli took fourth, according to ANSA. Al Jazeera described Verstappen's victory as his first win of any kind in Singapore.

Later on October 10, Verstappen took pole for Sunday's Grand Prix ahead of Leclerc and Hamilton, BBC Sport reported. It was his 50th career pole, according to Franceinfo.

Antonelli qualified fourth, Fanpage reported. Ferrari therefore placed both cars directly behind Verstappen, although its wait for a first full pole of 2026 continued, according to Sky Sports.

The latest supplied coverage, dated October 11, has Verstappen starting Sunday's main race from pole, with Leclerc second and Hamilton third. Sky Sports lists that order in its live coverage; no Grand Prix result is provided.

The sprint win and Grand Prix pole are separate achievements. Verstappen has now won a sprint in Singapore, but he is still seeking his first full Grand Prix victory there, according to nu.nl.

The next test is Sunday's race at Marina Bay, scheduled for 62 laps and a 20:00 local start, according to Infobae. Ferrari's two cars start immediately behind Verstappen, while Antonelli begins fourth.

The start is a particular concern for Verstappen. nu.nl reported that he sees it as a potential obstacle to converting pole into his first Singapore Grand Prix victory. Russell, meanwhile, faces the main race after both his sprint retirement and the reported engine change grid penalty.