News Summary
- The 2026 Singapore GP takes place at Marina Bay from October 9-11 and features the fifth sprint weekend of the season
- Sunday’s 62-lap race starts at 20:00 local time, 13:00 in the UK and 08:00 ET in the US and Canada
- Apple TV carries Formula 1 in the US, while Sky Sports shows the weekend in the UK and Ireland
Formula 1 heads straight from Sepang to Marina Bay for the 2026 Singapore GP, which takes place from Friday, October 9 to Sunday, October 11 and features a sprint for the first time.
That changes the usual weekend format significantly. Drivers have only one hour of free practice on Friday before heading directly into sprint qualifying. Saturday features the 21-lap sprint before qualifying sets the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
The race starts at 20:00 local time in Singapore on Sunday, equivalent to 13:00 in the UK, 08:00 ET in the United States and Canada and 17:30 in India.
Singapore arrives immediately after a dramatic race at Sepang. Max Verstappen gave Red Bull Ford its first Formula 1 victory, but Singapore will provide a very different test of whether Red Bull’s breakthrough represents a genuine change in the competitive order.
2026 Singapore GP: full F1 schedule
The official Formula 1 timetable has FP1 beginning at 16:30 local time on Friday, followed by sprint qualifying at 20:30. Saturday’s sprint starts at 17:00 before Grand Prix qualifying at 21:00.
| Session | Singapore | UK | US/Canada ET | India |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FP1 — Fri, Oct 9 | 16:30 | 09:30 | 04:30 | 14:00 |
| Sprint Qualifying — Fri, Oct 9 | 20:30 | 13:30 | 08:30 | 18:00 |
| Sprint — Sat, Oct 10 | 17:00 | 10:00 | 05:00 | 14:30 |
| Qualifying — Sat, Oct 10 | 21:00 | 14:00 | 09:00 | 18:30 |
| Grand Prix — Sun, Oct 11 | 20:00 | 13:00 | 08:00 | 17:30 |
For viewers on the US and Canadian West Coast, the Grand Prix begins at 05:00 PT on Sunday.
Singapore GP times in Australia and New Zealand
The evening schedule at Marina Bay means Australian and New Zealand viewers get considerably later start times.
| Session | Sydney/Melbourne | Perth | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|---|
| FP1 | 19:30 Fri | 16:30 Fri | 21:30 Fri |
| Sprint Qualifying | 23:30 Fri | 20:30 Fri | 01:30 Sat |
| Sprint | 20:00 Sat | 17:00 Sat | 22:00 Sat |
| Qualifying | 00:00 Sun | 21:00 Sat | 02:00 Sun |
| Grand Prix | 23:00 Sun | 20:00 Sun | 01:00 Mon |
The race therefore starts at 23:00 AEDT in Sydney and Melbourne, 20:00 AWST in Perth and 01:00 NZDT on Monday in New Zealand.
How to watch the Singapore GP in the US
Formula 1 has a new broadcasting home in the United States in 2026.
Apple TV carries every practice, qualifying, sprint and Grand Prix live in the US under the five-year agreement that began this season. F1 TV Premium is also available to US viewers through an Apple TV subscription. That means American viewers can watch Sunday’s Singapore GP from 08:00 ET / 05:00 PT.
How to watch the Singapore GP in the UK and Ireland
Sky Sports F1 provides live coverage of the complete Singapore GP weekend in the UK and Ireland, including FP1, sprint qualifying, the sprint, qualifying and Sunday’s race.
The Grand Prix begins at 13:00 BST on Sunday, with Sky Sports’ race build-up beginning earlier in the day. Channel 4 provides highlights in the UK.
How to watch the Singapore GP in Canada, Australia, India and New Zealand
Formula 1’s official broadcast information lists TSN and RDS in Canada, while Australian viewers can follow the Singapore GP through Fox Sports, Foxtel and Kayo.
In India, Formula 1 is available through FanCode and TATA Play FanCode Sports, while Sky NZ holds the New Zealand broadcast rights.
F1 TV also provides live Formula 1 coverage in supported territories, with availability varying by country.
Singapore adds another challenge for Mercedes
The sprint format is particularly significant for Mercedes because the team arrives at Marina Bay with several technical questions.
After its major Sepang upgrade failed to produce the expected improvement, Mercedes is considering comparing different W17 specifications in Singapore. With only FP1 available before sprint qualifying, however, engineers have very little time to conduct meaningful back-to-back testing.
George Russell faces an additional complication. His retirement at Sepang exhausted his available engine allocation, meaning Russell faces a Singapore grid penalty after Mercedes was forced to change its original power-unit plan.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli, meanwhile, arrives with an 84-point advantage over Russell after finishing second in Malaysia.
The Singapore GP takes place over 62 laps of the 4.927km Marina Bay Street Circuit, covering a race distance of 305.337km.
GRANDE PRÊMIO follows all the latest Formula 1 news throughout the Singapore GP weekend.
F1 today: FAQ
Why did F1 cars lose power before the Bahrain GP in Malaysia?
The FIA identified a combination of low engine speed, low grip, wet-weather energy management settings and Sepang’s sector configuration. It distributed a software update before the race and announced a full review with teams and power unit manufacturers.
Can Kimi Antonelli win the F1 championship in Singapore?
No. Antonelli leads George Russell by 84 points, but even a Singapore Sprint and Grand Prix double would not secure the title. Austin on 25 October is his earliest possible opportunity, depending on his results and those of the remaining contenders.
When is the next F1 race, and is Singapore a Sprint weekend?
The next race is the Singapore Grand Prix on 11 October, with track activity beginning on Friday, 9 October. It is a Sprint weekend: Sprint qualifying takes place on Friday, followed by the Sprint and Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday.
What time does the 2026 Singapore GP start?
The Singapore GP starts at 20:00 local time on Sunday, October 11. That is 13:00 in the UK, 08:00 ET in the US and Canada, 17:30 in India, 23:00 in Sydney and Melbourne and 01:00 Monday in New Zealand.
