Singapore GP qualifying delayed by 30 minutes after rain-hit Sprint

Qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix has been delayed by 30 minutes after heavy rain disrupted Saturday’s Formula 1 schedule at Marina Bay. The session will now begin at 21:30 local time, or 15:30 Central European Summer Time, instead of the originally scheduled 21:00 local start.

The change follows a rain-hit Sprint in which Max Verstappen took victory ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. The Sprint itself started half an hour later than planned, and FIA sporting regulations require a minimum three-hour interval between the end of the Sprint and the start of the following session.

Singapore GP qualifying delayed after heavy rain

A heavy shower struck part of the Marina Bay circuit around 15 minutes before the scheduled start of the Sprint. Race Control delayed proceedings by 30 minutes because of poor visibility, while also allowing time for accumulated water to drain from the track and for the necessary safety checks to be completed.

The Sprint therefore began at 17:30 local time instead of 17:00. It finished at 18:16, with Max Verstappen taking the win ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

The complete timings for the weekend can be found in the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix schedule, while the specific demands of the venue are explored in the Marina Bay circuit analysis.

FIA three-hour rule pushes qualifying back by 30 minutes

Qualifying had originally been scheduled for 21:00 local time, corresponding to 15:00 Central European Summer Time. However, the sporting regulations require at least three hours between the end of the Sprint and the beginning of the next session.

The regulation is designed to give mechanics sufficient time to recover after the Sprint, make permitted set-up changes to the cars and repair any damage sustained during the race.

Because the Sprint finished at 18:16 local time, the planned 21:00 qualifying start would not have satisfied that minimum interval. As a result, the session has been moved to 21:30 local time, or 15:30 Central European Summer Time.

The delay adds another change to an already disrupted Saturday at Marina Bay, with Ferrari now preparing for qualifying after Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc finished second and third in the Sprint. More updates from the two drivers are available in the dedicated Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc sections.