News Summary
- George Russell qualified second for the Singapore sprint, just 0.120s behind pole-sitter Max Verstappen.
- Kimi Antonelli finished seventh, 0.573s slower than Russell, as Mercedes continued running different aerodynamic specifications.
- Russell also topped FP1 with the older W17 package, but Mercedes has yet to establish whether its latest upgrade is genuinely slower.
George Russell delivered another strong performance with Mercedes’ older aerodynamic specification during Singapore GP sprint qualifying, finishing second and 0.573s ahead of championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who continued with the team’s updated W17 package.
The Briton set a 1:31.276 in SQ3, missing pole position to Max Verstappen by just 0.120s. Antonelli qualified seventh with a 1:31.849, behind both Ferraris and McLarens, extending the contrast between the two Mercedes drivers after Russell had already topped Friday’s only free-practice session.
The results provided Mercedes with another important comparison between its two aerodynamic configurations, following the uncertainty surrounding the upgrade introduced at Sepang.
Russell confirms old Mercedes’ competitiveness in qualifying
Mercedes decided to split its specifications at Singapore after struggling to determine whether its latest development package had delivered the expected improvement in Malaysia.
Russell returned to the previous configuration, while Antonelli retained the updated W17, allowing engineers to compare both versions on the same circuit.
The experiment produced an immediate result in FP1, where Russell set the fastest time with a 1:32.274. Antonelli finished seventh, although their different tyre choices made a direct comparison unreliable.
Sprint qualifying offered a more meaningful opportunity to evaluate the cars under competitive conditions.
Russell advanced through SQ1 and SQ2 before producing a strong final lap, securing a place alongside Verstappen on the front row of Saturday’s sprint.
His 1:31.276 was just 0.120s away from pole, while Antonelli finished behind Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton.
The difference between the Mercedes drivers was 0.573s, substantially larger than the gap separating Russell from Verstappen.
Wolff admits upgraded W17 is harder to drive
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff had already identified differences in the behaviour of the two specifications after FP1.
The Austrian explained that the upgraded W17 appeared more difficult to drive, while the previous configuration offered greater stability and grip.
“There is a similar pattern: the new car seems a little more complicated to drive. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s slower, because there are positive aspects to it, but perhaps we still haven’t found a way to combine everything and get the package right,” Wolff explained.
“The old car is a little more stable and has more grip, but we’re talking about just one free-practice session. We need more time to reach definitive conclusions.”
As GRANDE PRÊMIO reported after FP1, Mercedes is attempting to identify which elements of the old and new packages work best before determining its development direction.
The sprint qualifying result adds another set of competitive data, although differences in lap execution, tyre preparation and driving performance still need to be considered before attributing the entire gap to the aerodynamic specifications.
Antonelli faces an important sprint from seventh
Antonelli arrives at Singapore with 320 championship points, 84 ahead of Russell, and remains the favourite to secure the 2026 Drivers’ Championship.
However, Saturday’s sprint presents an opportunity for Russell to reduce that advantage.
The Briton will start alongside Verstappen on the front row, while Antonelli faces a more difficult task from seventh, behind several drivers capable of fighting for podium positions.
A sprint victory would give Russell eight points, while seventh place is worth two. If both drivers finish where they qualified, Russell would recover five points, with second place earning seven.
Russell’s engine penalty for Sunday’s Grand Prix does not affect his sprint starting position, making Saturday’s shorter race particularly important for his remaining championship hopes.
The complete Singapore GP schedule, including sprint and broadcast information is available in GRANDE PRÊMIO‘s weekend guide. GRANDE PRÊMIO follows the latest Formula 1 news throughout the Singapore GP weekend.
Singapore GP 2026: F1 schedule and start times
The 2026 Singapore GP takes place from October 9-11 at Marina Bay, featuring a sprint weekend with five Formula 1 sessions. See the start times for the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, India, Australia and New Zealand.
| Session | UK (BST) | US/Canada (ET) | India (IST) | Australia (AEDT) | New Zealand (NZDT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, October 10 | |||||
| Sprint | 10:00 | 05:00 | 14:30 | 20:00 | 22:00 |
| Grand Prix qualifying | 14:00 | 09:00 | 18:30 | Sun 00:00 | Sun 02:00 |
| Sunday, October 11 | |||||
| Grand Prix | 13:00 | 08:00 | 17:30 | 23:00 | Mon 01:00 |
All times are local to each listed region. Australia refers to Sydney/Melbourne time (AEDT), New Zealand to Auckland/Wellington (NZDT), and ET to New York/Toronto. Dates are the same as Singapore unless otherwise indicated.
For additional details, see the complete Singapore GP schedule and how to watch. GRANDE PRÊMIO follows the latest Formula 1 news throughout the Singapore GP weekend.
F1 today: FAQ
What time is Singapore GP sprint qualifying today?
Sprint qualifying starts at 20:30 Singapore time on Friday, October 9, equivalent to 13:30 BST in the UK, 08:30 ET in the United States and Canada, and 18:00 IST in India. The session determines the starting grid for Saturday’s sprint.
Who was fastest in Singapore GP FP1?
George Russell topped FP1 with a 1:32.274, driving Mercedes’ older W17 aerodynamic specification. Charles Leclerc finished second, 0.198s behind, followed by Lando Norris in third. Kimi Antonelli was seventh with the upgraded Mercedes, while Gabriel Bortoleto finished 16th.
Why is George Russell using the old Mercedes at the Singapore GP?
Mercedes is comparing its previous W17 specification with the aerodynamic upgrade introduced at Sepang. Russell is using the older package, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli retains the new version. Russell led FP1, but differences in tyre compounds and run programmes mean the result alone does not establish which specification is faster.
Why is George Russell using the old Mercedes in Singapore?
Mercedes is comparing its previous W17 aerodynamic specification with the upgrade introduced at Sepang. Russell is running the older package, while Antonelli continues with the updated configuration.
