Ferrari secured a double podium in the Singapore Grand Prix Sprint, with Lewis Hamilton finishing second and Charles Leclerc third after a race dominated by the difficult management of intermediate tyres. The result was positive for the Scuderia, but the 21-lap contest also offered valuable clues about how the SF-26 behaves as a wet circuit gradually dries.
For Ferrari, the Sprint represented more than an opportunity to score points. With another qualifying session still to come, the short race could provide useful information about whether changes to the car’s set-up might be required. The conditions transformed that evaluation completely, however, as rain created a demanding tyre-management exercise at Marina Bay.
Ferrari starts strongly before Safety Car changes the race
The cars lined up on the grid in wet conditions, forcing Race Control to delay the start. The Safety Car completed several reconnaissance laps before the formation lap finally began around half an hour later. Both Ferraris were fitted with Pirelli intermediate tyres, marked by the green sidewall.
Visibility and grip were limited, and both Ferrari drivers reported that some parts of the circuit were still carrying significant amounts of water. A standing start was eventually chosen. The pit wall communicated the necessary steering-wheel setting changes for the launch and braking, while second gear was to be used for clutch release in an effort to limit wheelspin.
Lewis Hamilton produced an excellent start and took third place at Turn 1, with Charles Leclerc immediately behind. The second sector was already significantly drier, while the first and third sectors remained wet.
The race changed on Lap 2 when George Russell spun at the final corner and crashed into the barriers, heavily damaging his Mercedes. The Safety Car was deployed, freezing the running order and promoting the two Ferraris into second and third.
Ferrari faces difficult intermediate tyre management
Under double yellow flags, the entire field was required to travel through the pit lane, although Ferrari chose not to stop either car. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc therefore remained second and third as further disruption followed, including another retirement involving an Alpine.
Racing resumed on Lap 7 with the two SF-26s chasing Max Verstappen. Hamilton repeatedly moved away from the conventional racing line to search for wetter sections of asphalt and cool his intermediate tyres, which were expected to remain on the cars until the chequered flag.
A pit stop would have carried a significant position penalty, making tyre preservation increasingly important as the circuit dried. Ferrari’s pit wall also instructed the drivers to cool the tyres wherever possible. The complete tyre sequences and stint behaviour from Formula 1 races can be explored through the F1 Tyre & Stint Analysis.
Lewis Hamilton stays closer to Max Verstappen
Lewis Hamilton initially tried to remain close to the rear of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, but the Dutch driver began to open a small advantage with ten laps remaining. Radio communication at Ferrari increasingly focused on preserving the intermediates for the remainder of the race.
The engineers identified specific corners where the drivers needed to avoid pushing too hard in order to protect the tyres. Turns 9 and 10 were particularly demanding, with traction zones placing additional stress on the intermediates.
Max Verstappen was also managing his tyres, but his pace remained slightly stronger. As the track became almost completely dry, switching to slicks with only a handful of laps remaining would have been too costly. Nobody made the first move, and the entire leading group stayed on intermediates.
At one stage, Max Verstappen held a four-second advantage over Lewis Hamilton, while the Ferrari number 44 was around two seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc. The differing performances of the two Ferrari drivers can also be followed throughout the season with the Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton season comparison.
Hamilton gains 13 seconds on Leclerc over final 13 laps
Lewis Hamilton reduced the gap to Max Verstappen during the closing laps, while Charles Leclerc encountered greater difficulty managing his tyres and came under pressure from the two McLarens behind.
That threat disappeared on the final lap when the two McLaren drivers collided. Max Verstappen went on to win the Sprint, while Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc completed Ferrari’s double podium in second and third.
The most notable internal Ferrari comparison came over the final 13 laps, during which Lewis Hamilton gained 13 seconds on his team-mate. His stronger management of the intermediate tyres proved decisive in creating that margin, underlining one of the clearest performance differences between the two SF-26s during the wet-to-dry Sprint.
For Ferrari, the P2-P3 result delivered strong points while also exposing an important area to understand before the rest of the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix weekend.
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