F1 2026 | Singapore Grand Prix | Free Practice 1 | October 9, 2026
George Russell has topped the only practice session of the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix Sprint weekend with a lap of 1:32.274. Charles Leclerc finished second for Ferrari, ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris, as the teams began preparing for a demanding weekend around the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
With just one hour of practice before Sprint Qualifying, the teams had little time to understand their setups, evaluate tyre performance and adapt to Singapore's bumpy street circuit. Mercedes also used contrasting car specifications, adding another technical storyline to an already intriguing opening session.
Singapore hosts its first F1 Sprint weekend
The 2026 Singapore Grand Prix marks the first time Marina Bay has hosted a Formula 1 Sprint weekend. The format gives teams one practice session on Friday before Sprint Qualifying, followed by the Sprint and Grand Prix Qualifying on Saturday.
That compressed schedule makes every lap valuable. Drivers must learn the track conditions, refine their braking references and find confidence over the circuit's bumps without the usual additional practice sessions.
The narrow street circuit offers limited room for error. A small mistake under braking can cost a driver several tenths or force them to use an escape road. Finding a clean lap while managing traffic is particularly important during qualifying simulations.
George Russell leads with a 1:32.274
Russell set the fastest time of the session with a 1:32.274, putting Mercedes at the top of the opening timing sheet. His performance is particularly interesting given the power-unit penalty affecting his Grand Prix prospects.
A strong practice lap does not automatically translate into pole position or a winning race strategy. Sprint Qualifying will provide a more meaningful comparison once drivers push under competitive conditions, and the Sprint itself will test tyre management and race pace.
FP1 at a glance
Fastest driver: George Russell
Fastest lap: 1:32.274
Second: Charles Leclerc
Third: Lando Norris
Key technical story: Mercedes' contrasting W17 specifications
Singapore GP 2026 FP1 results: Top six
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:32.274 |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.198s |
| 3 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +0.273s |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +0.499s |
| 5 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +0.564s |
| 6 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | +0.732s |
Source: Official Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix 2026 FP1 results. Gaps are relative to Russell's fastest lap.
Mercedes' W17 upgrade dilemma
Mercedes' decision to run different specifications on its two cars was one of the session's key technical stories. Russell used an older-specification W17, while Kimi Antonelli continued with the updated aerodynamic package.
Comparing the two configurations can help the team understand whether the recent upgrades are delivering the expected performance. Engineers need to separate the effects of aerodynamic balance, tyre preparation, track evolution and driver confidence before drawing conclusions.
Russell's fastest lap is encouraging, but one session is not enough to establish which specification is definitively superior. Different fuel loads, tyre conditions and run plans can influence the result. The comparison becomes more useful when supported by longer runs and detailed telemetry.
Ferrari and McLaren show encouraging pace
Charles Leclerc leads Ferrari's charge
Leclerc finished second, just 0.198 seconds behind Russell. His position gives Ferrari a promising starting point, although the team will need to maintain that pace through Sprint Qualifying and assess how its car behaves over longer runs.
Hamilton was fourth, putting both Ferrari drivers inside the top four. That gives the team useful data as it prepares for the competitive sessions ahead.
McLaren keeps the pressure on
Norris finished third, with Piastri fifth. The McLaren pair remain close enough to the front to be part of the Sprint Qualifying conversation.
Straight-line speed, traction out of slow corners and confidence over the kerbs will all matter at Marina Bay. The final practice classification is only a snapshot, but McLaren has placed both cars within the leading five.
Verstappen and Red Bull: More than the position suggests
Verstappen finished sixth, 0.732 seconds off the fastest time. However, his lap was set on the medium tyre, whereas several leading drivers used soft tyres for their late qualifying simulations. That distinction means the raw timing gap does not tell the whole story.
Red Bull will also need to understand how its car handles Singapore's uneven surface. Ride quality, mechanical grip and confidence through the braking zones can be especially important on a circuit where barriers leave little room for mistakes.
Lock-ups, traffic and a difficult street circuit
The session featured several drivers exploring the limits under braking. Lock-ups and excursions into the run-off areas illustrated how difficult it can be to judge grip and stopping distances around Marina Bay.
Nico Hülkenberg also stopped near the pit exit after reporting a problem with the gearbox. The incident interrupted the flow of running and added to the teams' limited preparation time.
Singapore's bumps create another challenge. Drivers need to balance a car that is compliant enough to absorb the surface with one that remains stable under braking and responsive through direction changes.
What should we watch in Sprint Qualifying?
- Russell's one-lap pace: Can he repeat his practice performance when the pressure increases?
- Mercedes' specification comparison: Will the data support the direction of its upgrade programme?
- Ferrari's consistency: Can Leclerc and Hamilton maintain their competitive pace?
- McLaren's response: Can Norris and Piastri close the gap to the front?
- Verstappen's tyre-adjusted pace: Will Red Bull's performance on a different compound translate into a stronger qualifying result?
- Traffic and track limits: Can the drivers complete clean laps on a circuit where small mistakes are costly?
Singapore GP 2026: Weekend schedule
All times below are local Singapore time (SGT).
| Date | Session | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, October 9 | Free Practice 1 | 16:30 |
| Friday, October 9 | Sprint Qualifying | 20:30 |
| Saturday, October 10 | Sprint | 17:00 |
| Saturday, October 10 | Grand Prix Qualifying | 21:00 |
| Sunday, October 11 | Singapore Grand Prix | 20:00 |
Schedule based on the official Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix 2026 timetable. Check the official schedule for any changes.
Our verdict: Russell leads, but the fight is wide open
Russell has delivered the strongest single lap of Singapore's only practice session, but the timing sheet leaves plenty of questions unanswered. Leclerc and Norris are within three tenths, while Hamilton and Piastri are also within striking distance.
Mercedes' contrasting car specifications make its performance particularly interesting, and Verstappen's medium-tyre lap means his sixth-place result deserves context. Sprint Qualifying will provide the next important indication of the competitive order.
Frequently asked questions
Who topped Singapore GP 2026 FP1?
George Russell topped the only practice session with a fastest lap of 1:32.274.
Who finished second and third in Singapore practice?
Charles Leclerc finished second, 0.198 seconds behind Russell. Lando Norris finished third, 0.273 seconds off the pace.
Why was Mercedes testing different car specifications?
Mercedes used different W17 specifications to compare the updated aerodynamic package with the older configuration and investigate the performance of its upgrades.
Why does Verstappen's sixth place need context?
His fastest lap was set on the medium tyre, while several front-runners used soft tyres for their qualifying simulations. The compounds affect how the times should be interpreted.
When is the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix?
The Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 20:00 Singapore local time.
Read more on Formula1India
- Formula1India homepage
- 2026 F1 championship standings
- Singapore GP 2026 weekend preview
- F1 technical explainers
Editorial note: This article analyses the practice-session classification and the supplied session narrative. Competitive interpretations are analysis, not guarantees of qualifying or race performance. Race classifications and penalties can change.
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