Cover Will Max Verstappen finally win the Singapore Grand Prix? (Photo: @maxverstappen1/Instagram)
Will Max Verstappen finally win the Singapore Grand Prix? (Photo: @maxverstappen1/Instagram)
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From Max Verstappen’s missing trophy to Kimi Antonelli’s title push, these are the drivers who could define Formula 1’s first-ever Sprint weekend at the Singapore Grand Prix
Few racetracks test a Formula 1 driver as harshly as Marina Bay. Concrete walls leave no room for mistakes, the air is hot and humid and a Safety Car, which slows the field after a crash, has appeared in most races here. This weekend adds a twist: the first Sprint, a short Saturday race, in the history of the Singapore Grand Prix, with just one hour of practice beforehand. Pure car speed counts for less than nerve, memory and judgement. That is why the drivers to watch at the Singapore Grand Prix 2026 are not simply the fastest, but those best able to handle this concrete jungle—or be undone by it.
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Max Verstappen: can he finally win the Singapore Grand Prix?
Seventy-two Grand Prix wins across 26 circuits, and still none at Marina Bay. Max Verstappen arrives fresh from a rain-delayed race in Malaysia, where he won from pole after dropping behind both Mercedes at the start—his first win since the 2025 season finale. He is level with Lando Norris with 188 points in the championship standings. Singapore is the only established track on today’s calendar where he has never won; his best is second in 2019. With Red Bull’s car handling bumps better, this “final boss” circuit may finally fall.
Lewis Hamilton: can the four-time winner deliver Ferrari magic?
Lewis Hamilton has won here four times and holds the official lap record (1:33.808) on the current layout. He arrives after a fine recovery drive to third in Sepang, 4.919 seconds behind Verstappen and ahead of Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc. Singapore’s slow corners suit his Ferrari, which loses speed on long straights but grips well when turning. Third in the standings with 214 points, he is chasing a second Ferrari victory after Barcelona, and few drivers read Marina Bay after dark as shrewdly.
Carlos Sainz Jr: could the tactician spring a Singapore upset?
Carlos Sainz Jr delivered one of Singapore’s most memorable recent drives in 2023, calmly controlling the gap to Lando Norris behind him to fend off charging Mercedes cars and win. Now leading Williams through a difficult season with a slower car, he finds a track where grip, braking and smart decisions matter more than outright speed. If a Safety Car shuffles the order, few drivers read a street race better, and a points finish would be a genuine coup for the ninth-placed Williams team.
Kimi Antonelli: can the 20-year-old championship leader tame the walls?
Eight wins in 2026, including a commanding victory on the streets of Monaco, have put a maiden World Championship within the Mercedes prodigy’s sight. Kimi Antonelli took second in Sepang, 2.307 seconds behind Verstappen, and teammate George Russell’s late engine failure stretched his lead to 84 points. Yet the short Sprint weekend is a stern test: with only one hour of practice, he must quickly master the 2026 cars’ adjustable wings and battery management. A strong weekend could push his lead beyond 100 points.
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Isack Hadjar: is Red Bull’s breakout street fighter a podium threat?
Promoted from Racing Bulls to partner Verstappen, Isack Hadjar has made street circuits his playground in 2026, taking third in both Monte Carlo and Baku after qualifying in the top five each time, results that helped earn a Red Bull contract extension through 2027. At 22, he now faces a new test: 62 laps of heavy braking and bumpy kerbs in tropical heat will challenge his recovering wrist. But his sharp pace into corners and composure make him a genuine podium wildcard.
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After more than a decade in lifestyle media, Clifford has mastered the art of writing seriously about things that are fun—and writing fun things about people who take themselves very seriously. At Tatler Asia, he helped steer its flagship lists, Tatler’s Most Influential and Asia’s Most Stylish. And today, he leads T-Labs, Tatler Asia’s content innovation hub, where he continues the noble pursuit of lifestyle storytelling, spinning stories on wealth, entertainment, necessary style, Hallyu, Hollywood, beauty and more for audiences across Asia.
