The Formula 1 closes this Sunday one of its most demanding weekends with the race of the Singapore Grand Prix 2026. After a Saturday marked by rain during the sprint, accidents, and a very tight qualifying, the drivers will face 62 laps of the Marina Bay street circuit, a layout of 4.927 kilometers where the walls, heat, and humidity traditionally make the race one of the toughest in the championship. The start is scheduled for 14:00 hours in mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands, 13:00 in the Canary Islands, equivalent to 20:00 hours in Singapore.
The main favorite will start from the first position. Max Verstappen achieved his first pole in Singapore on Saturday and the 50th of his Formula 1 career, after setting a 1:31.373 and surpassing Charles Leclerc by just 54 thousandths. Ferrari will have a particularly interesting opportunity, as Leclerc will start second and Lewis Hamilton third, while the World Championship leader, Kimi Antonelli, will occupy the fourth place. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will complete the top three rows with the two McLarens.
What time does the F1 Singapore GP start
The race takes place this Sunday, October 11 at 14:00 hours in Spain. The schedule is quite different from the race itself in Marina Bay: Singapore is six hours ahead of mainland Spain at this time of year, so the single-seaters will start there at 20:00 hours, maintaining the tradition of the Grand Prix as a night race. The maximum ordinary duration is expected to be two hours, although neutralizations and red flags may extend the event.
The race comes after the debut of the sprint format in Marina Bay. Verstappen also won the short race on Saturday, in a race affected by rain and by the accident of George Russell, who managed to take the lead before crashing into the barriers. The McLarens of Norris and Piastri also featured in an incident in the final moments, while Antonelli ended up reinforcing his championship lead.
Where to watch the Singapore GP on television and online
In Spain, the Singapore Grand Prix can be watched through DAZN F1, which holds the broadcast of the Formula 1 World Championship. The race can also be followed through DAZN's online platform from mobile phones, computers, smart TVs, and other compatible devices. Coverage will begin before the start with the preview from the circuit and will continue after the checkered flag with the first reactions and analysis.
The official signal of F1 TV Pro is not available in Spain as an independent alternative with the same offering as in other markets, so DAZN remains the main way to follow the championship live in Spanish territory.
Verstappen starts first with the Ferraris behind him
The qualifying left an extremely tight battle. Verstappen took the pole with 1:31.373, Leclerc was 0.054 seconds behind and Hamilton 0.123. Antonelli will start fourth, followed by Norris, Piastri, Pierre Gasly, Liam Lawson, Arvid Lindblad, and Nico Hülkenberg. The Dutchman has before him the opportunity to achieve something that is still not in his record: to win the Singapore Grand Prix, one of the few venues on the current calendar where he has never managed to prevail.
Verstappen arrives after winning Saturday's sprint, although the main race poses a different challenge. Marina Bay offers few clear opportunities for overtaking and track position usually has a huge weight in strategy. Safety cars are also common on a circuit where any mistake can end up against the wall, so tire management, pit stops, and the timing of a possible neutralization can completely change the outcome.
Carlos Sainz will start 13th
Carlos Sainz will start from the 13th position with Williams. The Madrid native had finished 14th in qualifying, but gains a place due to the heavy penalty imposed on George Russell for replacing components of his power unit. The official grid places the British Mercedes driver at the back after receiving a cumulative sanction of 40 positions.
Singapore also holds a special meaning for Sainz. The Spaniard won here in 2023, when he was still driving for Ferrari, in one of the best performances of his career and in the race that year that broke Red Bull's dominance. This time the prospects are more complicated with Williams, especially on a high downforce circuit where overtaking from the midfield is not easy.
Alonso changes the engine and will start from the pit lane
The situation is even more complicated for Fernando Alonso. The Asturian was eliminated in Q1 after suffering power issues in his Aston Martin throughout Saturday and had finished 17th in the classification. Honda and the team later decided to replace the power unit after the driver's complaints, a modification made under parc fermé conditions that forces Alonso to start the race from the pit lane.
Alonso had pointed out that he was particularly losing time on corner exits and the team ultimately opted to install a different engine instead of facing another race with doubts about performance and reliability. The decision sacrifices the starting position but offers the Asturian a power unit in better condition for a race in which he will need incidents, safety cars, and a successful strategy to get closer to the points.
Antonelli arrives as the clear leader of the World Championship
Beyond the victory in Marina Bay, the race can have important consequences for the championship. Kimi Antonelli extended his lead at the top of the World Championship after the sprint and arrives on Sunday with a 89-point margin over George Russell, whose weekend has been further complicated by his accident and the grid penalty. Hamilton and Leclerc are also trying to close the gap while Verstappen continues to recover ground after a more difficult start to the season for Red Bull.
The Singapore event will be the 17th race of the season and will open the decisive part of the calendar, before Formula 1 travels to the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. To follow the race from Spain, the reference is simple: Sunday, October 11, at 14:00 hours, on DAZN F1, with Verstappen from pole, Sainz in the midfield, and Alonso forced to start his comeback from the pit lane.