Lewis Hamilton heads into the Singapore Grand Prix with three significant factors working in his favour as he looks to build on his Sepang podium and challenge for another Ferrari victory in 2026. The seven-time world champion recovered to P3 in Malaysia and now arrives at Marina Bay carrying momentum into a circuit where both his personal record and the characteristics of the SF-26 could prove important.
The Briton has already won for Ferrari in Barcelona this season, while his recovery in Sepang suggested another victory opportunity might not be far away. Without Ferrari’s costly strategy decision in Malaysia, he could have been involved in the fight for the win. With Singapore next on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, there are three clear reasons for optimism.
Lewis Hamilton brings a strong Singapore Grand Prix record
The first is Hamilton’s history at Marina Bay. This weekend will mark the 17th Singapore Grand Prix appearance of his Formula 1 career, and he has already won at the circuit four times. His most recent victory there came with Mercedes in 2018, while his only previous Singapore race as a Ferrari driver ended with a P8 finish last season.
The 2018 weekend remains particularly memorable. Hamilton produced a remarkable Q3 lap to take pole position despite Mercedes having trailed Ferrari for pace during the weekend. The British driver later described the lap as one in which everything unexpectedly came together, while Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff characterised the performance as something special.
That history underlines how comfortable Hamilton can be around Marina Bay. His ability to maximise difficult conditions and extract performance on this circuit gives Ferrari another reason to believe he can be competitive again. Further coverage of his season with the Scuderia is available in the Lewis Hamilton Ferrari section.
Ferrari SF-26 aero strengths could suit Singapore
The second factor is the car itself. For Hamilton to turn his Singapore record into another victory challenge, he will need a package capable of running near the front, and the Marina Bay layout appears well suited to several of the SF-26’s stronger characteristics.
Ferrari’s power unit weakness has been visible this season, with the Italian team losing performance to Mercedes and Red Bull in a straight line. Singapore, however, places greater emphasis on low-speed cornering and aerodynamic performance, two areas in which Ferrari has been particularly strong.
That distinction could reduce the impact of the Scuderia’s straight-line deficit. Red Bull’s speed on the straights may give Max Verstappen less of an advantage than at circuits where outright acceleration is more decisive, while McLaren’s recent upgrades have not delivered the intended effect and Mercedes left Sepang concerned by its own package.
The contrast between Ferrari’s cornering ability and its straight-line performance has become an important characteristic of the SF-26. Readers can compare those differences through the F1 Top Speed Comparison, while broader development analysis is available in the Ferrari technical analysis section.
Wet Singapore conditions could favour Lewis Hamilton
The third factor is the possibility of rain. Singapore is a sprint weekend, which leaves teams with only one practice session to find the correct setup window before competitive running begins. Forecast rain and the possibility of thunderstorms could make that already limited preparation even more difficult.
Hamilton’s Sepang performance provides an encouraging reference if conditions become unpredictable. Although he was on the wrong tyres at the start in Malaysia, once the track became damp he showed exceptional pace and climbed from P18 to P3.
That recovery demonstrated how effectively the seven-time world champion can respond when grip levels change and conditions become difficult. If Singapore produces another complicated wet-weather race, his experience could become an important advantage.
Singapore offers Ferrari another chance to fight at the front
Hamilton therefore arrives at Marina Bay with three elements combining in his favour: a strong personal record at the circuit, an SF-26 whose aerodynamic strengths appear well matched to the layout, and the possibility of changing weather conditions in which he has already shown competitive pace this season.
After the missed opportunity at Sepang, Singapore offers Ferrari another chance to turn its strongest car characteristics into a genuine victory challenge. The Briton key task will be to combine those strengths with a clean strategy and maximise what could be one of the more favourable remaining circuits for the Scuderia.
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