Verstappen takes pole for today's Singapore Grand Prix after winning a wet, chaotic sprint
Max Verstappen won Saturday's sprint after a rain delay. Russell took the lead at the start and crashed out on lap 2 (Sky Sports, Formula 1), Hamilton was second, Stroll and Perez crashed on lap 1, and Norris hit Piastri on the last lap (Formula 1, RacingNews365). Qualifying followed a downpour, and Verstappen took pole, his 50th, ahead of Leclerc and Hamilton (Straits Times, ESPN, NU.nl, Formula 1). Verstappen called the sprint start horrendous (Formula 1).
The Singapore race is the city's biggest sporting and tourism event, and this year it runs in haze. A wet track makes strategy and safety-car calls harder.
If you are going, bring a mask, check the weather and expect crowds.
Pole is worth a lot at Marina Bay, where overtaking is hard, but rain and the safety car can reshuffle everything. Watch the start and the first corners.
DailyDrop Singapore edition No. 7 · Morning · SUN., OCT. 11, 2026