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F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE: Formula 1 action returns to Singapore on Friday evening, as drivers take to the track at the Marina Bay Street Circuit to decide their positions in Sprint Qualifying.
Due to the Sprint format of the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix weekend, drivers only had one practice session, in which George Russell set the fastest time, with Charles Leclerc second and Lando Norris third.
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The focus now shifts to Sprint Qualifying, where teams will have to find the right combination between tyre performance, car balance and lap execution in limited track time. Singapore’s tight street circuit makes qualifying challenging, as precision is essential to achieve maximum speed near the walls.
Also Read: F1 Singapore Grand Prix FP1 LIVE Updates: Sprint Qualifying and Results
F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE Updates
The latest session developments, lap times, driver positions, and important incidents from Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying will be updated here.
19:14 — F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE: Verstappen Secures Sprint Pole
Max Verstappen has secured pole position for Saturday’s Singapore GP Sprint, with George Russell set to join him on the front row. Sprint Qualifying ends after a disrupted session that featured Sergio Perez’s crash, a red-flag stoppage and a timing-system issue. The action resumes on Saturday, October 10, with the Sprint at 2:30 PM IST, followed by Grand Prix Qualifying at 6:30 PM IST.
19:09 — F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE: Verstappen Takes Sprint Pole
Max Verstappen has secured pole position for Saturday’s Singapore GP Sprint, with George Russell joining him on the front row. The Red Bull driver has come through SQ3 to claim the top spot, setting up a front-row battle with Russell at Marina Bay.
19:07 — F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE: Leclerc Takes Provisional Pole
Charles Leclerc has surged to the top of the SQ3 timesheets, moving into P1 as the fight for Sprint pole intensifies at Marina Bay. Lewis Hamilton has slotted into third place, splitting the McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
19:05 — F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE: Norris Leads as Verstappen Faces Possible Issue
Lando Norris leads Oscar Piastri after the first four drivers set their flying laps in SQ3. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen appears to be experiencing a potential issue with his Red Bull, raising questions over his chances in the fight for Sprint pole.
19:00 — F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE: SQ3 Gets Underway
The green flag is out for SQ3 at Marina Bay, with the final 10 drivers beginning the eight-minute shootout for Sprint pole position. Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris are among the contenders as the battle for the top spot enters its decisive phase.
18:57 — F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE: Top 10 Advance to SQ3
Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, George Russell, Max Verstappen, Isack Hadjar, Kimi Antonelli, Oscar Piastri, Liam Lawson and Pierre Gasly have secured places in SQ3. The final eight-minute shootout will decide the Sprint pole position at Marina Bay.
18:55 — F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE: Six Drivers Eliminated in SQ2
Franco Colapinto, Nico Hulkenberg, Oliver Bearman, Gabriel Bortoleto, Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon have been eliminated from Sprint Qualifying after SQ2. The remaining 10 drivers will advance to SQ3 to fight for pole position for Saturday’s Singapore GP Sprint.
18:53 — F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE: Russell Under Pressure as SQ2 Ends
The chequered flag has fallen in SQ2, and George Russell is in danger of elimination after dropping to 10th place. The Mercedes driver locked up his front-right tyre on a flying lap and will have to wait for the final classification to confirm whether he progresses to SQ3.
18:51 — F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE: Leclerc Holds SQ2 Lead
Charles Leclerc remains at the top of the SQ2 timesheets with a 1:32.457, leading Lewis Hamilton by just 0.105 seconds. The Ferrari driver has the early advantage as the battle to reach SQ3 continues at Marina Bay.
18:47 — F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE: Leclerc Leads Hamilton in SQ2
Charles Leclerc tops the early SQ2 timesheets with a lap of 1:32.457, holding a 0.105-second advantage over Lewis Hamilton. Meanwhile, Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas and Carlos Sainz will be investigated after the session for allegedly failing to follow Race Director instructions.
18:43 — F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE: SQ2 Resumes After Timing Glitch
Sprint Qualifying has resumed at Marina Bay, with drivers back on track for SQ2 after a delay caused by an FIA timing-system issue. Arvid Lindblad, Lance Stroll, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas and Carlos Sainz are confirmed out after SQ1.
18:38 — F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE: FIA Explains SQ2 Delay
The FIA has confirmed that a timing-system issue caused the delay to SQ2, with some lap times initially failing to register. The problem has now been resolved, and the current timings are considered correct. However, officials are still investigating whether the remainder of Sprint Qualifying can proceed.
18:32 — F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE: SQ2 Start Delayed
The start of SQ2 has been delayed following the conclusion of SQ1. Arvid Lindblad, Lance Stroll, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas and Carlos Sainz are confirmed to be eliminated after timing-screen errors were resolved.
18:27 — F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE: Verstappen Leads as Six Drivers Are Eliminated
Max Verstappen topped the SQ1 timesheets despite getting only one attempt after the earlier red-flag interruption. Lance Stroll, Gabriel Bortoleto, Alex Albon, Valtteri Bottas, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez failed to advance to SQ2 and have been eliminated from Sprint Qualifying.
18:17 — F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE: SQ1 Resumes After Red Flag
Sprint Qualifying 1 has resumed at Marina Bay following the red flag triggered by Sergio Perez’s crash. With limited time remaining in the session, drivers will be pushing to set competitive lap times and avoid elimination. Separately, Perez will not face an investigation for driving his Cadillac in an unsafe condition.
18:15 PM IST — F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE: SQ1 Restart Delayed Until 6:16 PM
SQ1 is scheduled to restart at 1:46 PM BST (6:16 PM IST) following the red flag caused by Sergio Perez’s crash. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen has been noted by the stewards for overtaking Lewis Hamilton under yellow flags. The incident is under investigation, with any further decision awaited.
18:10 PM IST — F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE: Perez Crash Triggers Red Flag
Sergio Perez has hit the wall at Marina Bay, leaving debris on the track and forcing race control to deploy red flags during SQ1. With only six minutes remaining on the clock, drivers will have limited time to set competitive laps once the session resumes.
18:07 PM IST — F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE: Red Flag Interrupts SQ1
A red flag has been deployed during SQ1 at the Singapore Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying, bringing the session to a halt. The reason for the stoppage has not yet been confirmed in the available update.
18:03 PM IST — F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE: Antonelli Reverts to Old Front Wing
Mercedes has reverted Kimi Antonelli to the older front wing specification for Sprint Qualifying after testing the updated version during Free Practice. George Russell and Antonelli were also the first drivers to head out on track as SQ1 got underway at Marina Bay.
18:01 PM IST — F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE: SQ1 Gets Underway
Green flags are out at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, and SQ1 is officially underway for the Singapore Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying. Drivers have 12 minutes to set competitive lap times, with the six slowest cars set to be eliminated at the end of the opening session.
17:57 PM IST — F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE: Format and Tyre Rules Explained
Singapore is hosting a Sprint weekend for the first time, with Sprint Qualifying divided into three knockout sessions: SQ1 (12 minutes), SQ2 (10 minutes) and SQ3 (8 minutes). The six slowest cars are eliminated after each of the first two sessions, setting the grid for Saturday’s Sprint.
Drivers must use medium tyres in SQ1 and SQ2, while soft tyres are mandatory for the final SQ3 pole shootout. The top eight finishers in Saturday’s Sprint will score championship points, with eight points awarded to the winner and one point for eighth place.
F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE: What to Expect
George Russell took top position in the opening practice session with a lap time of 1:32.274. Charles Leclerc was about 0.2 seconds behind him, while reigning champion Lando Norris set the third-fastest time. Max Verstappen also remained competitive in practice, but radio communication issues affected his running.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli finished seventh in practice. Russell also faces an additional weekend challenge, as a power unit penalty means he faces a grid penalty for Sunday’s Grand Prix. The result of Sprint Qualifying will determine the starting order for Saturday’s Sprint, so every lap will be crucial for the teams.
F1 Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying LIVE: Session Details
- Date: Friday, October 9, 2026
- Session: Sprint Qualifying
- Start Time: 6:00 PM IST
- Scheduled End: 6:44 PM IST
- Circuit: Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore
- Track Length: 4.927km
- Live Coverage: FanCode and F1 TV, subject to regional availability
Also Read: F1 Singapore Grand Prix 2026 Preview: Antonelli Leads Title Fight as Russell Faces Grid Penalty
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