F1 2026: Singapore Grand Prix Preview and Predictions
The F1 2026 triple-header comes to an end in Singapore as the grid crosses the border over from Malaysia.
After a chaotic and eventful Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, Formula One will return to racing under the lights at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
With seven races left, the 2026 F1 season is well into its business end, with both championships up for grabs and multiple teams and drivers still in the fight to move up the standings.
For the 2026 Formula One Singapore Grand Prix, here we present our preview and predictions.
Russell down and out?
A technical issue for George Russell in Sepang rendered him unable to see the chequered flag for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Russell hit DNF at the worst possible time in the championship battle, just when it looked like he was keeping his hopes alive. Now, he is 84 points behind his teammate and championship leader, Kimi Antonelli. Russell’s gap to third-placed Lewis Hamilton has also come down to a mere 22 points.
Russell has been nowhere near his teammate and has struggled for consistency. He has also had three races where he has retired. Right when it looked like he was finding some momentum, with back-to-back podiums in the Netherlands and Italy and a win in Azerbaijan, Russell’s championship hopes have taken another big hit.
A power unit failure means Mercedes have to look internally as to what caused the issue. Moving forward, for the remaining races, Russell needs to not only pull himself up but also hope that there is some luck on his side. The title still looks far too distant for him, but we expect him to bounce back in Singapore, a track where he has historically done well.
Pole prediction: Kimi Antonelli / George Russell
Race winners prediction: Mercedes / Ferrari
Can Hamilton write his name into the record books in Singapore?
While Russell has been struggling, one driver who has been showing promise is Hamilton. The veteran, like his compatriot, hasn’t had the best of luck, but he has been consistently staying close to the podium places.
Hamilton returned to the podium in Sepang for the first time since Silverstone and is now 22 points behind second-placed Russell in the championship standings. Hamilton now has a good chance to overtake Russell and finish second in the Drivers’ championship if he can manage a strong finish to the season.
After an incredible recovery drive in Sepang, where he fell to P17 from P2 in the opening lap and was a minute behind the race leader, Hamilton showed his pure talent and experience, pulling off a bold strategy to finish third on the podium. He’s now heading to Singapore, a venue where he has won four times previously and also put in one of the all-time great qualifying sessions in 2018. Hamilton’s last win in Singapore came in 2018 as well; he is the second-most successful driver here behind Sebastian Vettel, who at the Marina Bay Street Circuit five times.
Ferrari are the most successful constructors in Singapore, having won five times through Vettel. Hamilton will be looking to add to his four wins to tie with Vettel and bolster the Scuderia’s record at a track where both he and his team have been successful.
A recent uptick in Ferrari’s fortunes means that Hamilton will be in the mix for the win in Singapore. On a circuit which demands a lot from the drivers physically, Hamilton will have an edge over many of his counterparts, given not only his incredible talent but experience as well. On top of that, it’s a Sprint weekend in Singapore, which means Hamilton has the chance to close the gap to Russell with more points on offer.
McLaren falling off?
Reigning Constructors’ champions McLaren went into the summer break with a win as Lando Norris finished first in Hungary. Norris then resumed the season with a win in the Netherlands, coming out of the summer break well, which gave McLaren some hope of joining Mercedes and Ferrari at the front.
That hope was short-lived, though, as since then the team have had a rough couple of races with only one podium in the following four outings, including a double non-points finish in Azerbaijan.
McLaren “just weren’t quick enough” is what Oscar Piastri said after the Bahrain Grand Prix, and while the likes of Red Bull are making ground to put their names in the mix for the race wins at the front, McLaren can’t afford to fall off right at the end of the season. Red Bull are now 18 points behind McLaren in the Constructors’ championship, while Ferrari keep moving further ahead in second place.
Street circuits have been strong tracks for the Woking-based team, and while a win looks a bit too far-fetched, McLaren should be in the mix for a podium as they aim to finish the season on a high and lock in that third place in the Constructors’ standings.
F1 Singapore Grand Prix 2026: Race details
Circuit: Marina Bay Street Circuit
Venue: Downtown Core and Kallang, Marina Bay, Singapore
Practice Session 1 time: 14:00 IST, October 9, 2026
Sprint Qualifying time: 18:00–18:44 IST, October 9, 2026
Sprint: 14:30 IST, October 10, 2026
Qualifying time: 18:30 IST, October 10, 2026
Main race time: 17:30 IST, October 11, 2026
Where to watch: F1 TV Pro / FanCode
