Max Verstappen Extends His Smile With a Mini Pole in Singapore as Fernando Alonso Confirms Positive Vibes

Max Verstappen was the quickest in the final Sprint qualifying of the 2026 season. The Dutch driver clinched the mini-pole thanks to a brilliant last lap that banished all doubts. A 1:31.156 that makes Verstappen the clear favorite to win the sprint race.

In the title fight, Kimi Antonelli continues a modest stretch of his season, but it could be enough to accumulate the points needed. The Italian will start seventh in the Sprint, quite a gap from his main rival, George Russell, who lines up on the front row. Antonelli’s strong card weighs on Sunday.

Fernando Alonso logró superar la SQ1 en Singapur

Max Verstappen claimed the final mini-pole of the season in Singapore. The four-time world champion will start first in the final Sprint of 2026 thanks to a last lap that cleared away every omen. Verstappen flirted with elimination in Q2, but in the end he remains the heavy favorite for the victory.

Alongside him on the front row will be George Russell, who now has to push almost to desperation to win the title. The Brit will start second, needing to attack to capitalize on another lackluster Friday from Kimi Antonelli. The World Championship leader has only managed to place seventh on the Sprint grid.

The advantage for Antonelli is that Russell will have to start from the back on Sunday after an engine change, which virtually guarantees him losing points at yet another Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton, the third contender for the title, could only qualify sixth, just ahead of Antonelli, leaving little margin for him to close the gap.

Little disappointment for McLaren, who were expected to perform well at this circuit, but only managed to place Oscar Piastri fourth and Lando Norris fifth. Both drivers will start even behind Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari, third. They will need to improve significantly for the second half of the weekend.

Liam Lawson managed to place his Racing Bulls in eighth position, which is a milestone considering he qualified ahead of the other Red Bull, that of Isack Hadjar, ninth. The last participant in SQ3 was Pierre Gasly, who will start from tenth with his Alpine hoping for some points.

Fernando Alonso has managed to pass Q1, which confirms that the Aston Martin in Singapore has a bit more punch than in earlier races. Still, Alonso will start fifteenth, with all energy focused on Sunday’s long race. As for Carlos Sainz, he was second-to-last, just ahead of the accident-dented Sergio Pérez.

Sprint Formula 1 Singapore GP 2026 – Clasificación de resultados

Images | Audi, Red Bull