Singapore GP race guide: Verstappen on pole, 8pm Malaysia time start on 11 October, tyres, rain and TV

The 2026 Singapore Grand Prix is scheduled to start at 8pm Malaysia time (MYT) on Sunday, 11 October, with Max Verstappen on pole at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. The 62-lap night race closes a weekend that has already featured a rain-hit sprint, and this guide sets out the confirmed grid, Pirelli's tyre expectations, the weather outlook, Marina Bay's safety car record and how fans in Malaysia can watch.

The grid: Verstappen leads the way

Verstappen took his 50th career pole, and first in Singapore, by 0.054 seconds from Charles Leclerc, with Lewis Hamilton third and championship leader Kimi Antonelli fourth. The top ten after penalties is: Verstappen, Leclerc, Hamilton, Antonelli, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Pierre Gasly, Liam Lawson, Arvid Lindblad and Nico Hulkenberg.

George Russell, sixth fastest in qualifying, starts 21st because of a power unit penalty, with Red Bull's Isack Hadjar last after failing to set a time. Antonelli carries an 89-point lead over Russell into the race, and the title cannot be settled in Singapore.

Tyres: one stop expected

Pirelli has brought its three softest compounds: C3 as the hard, C4 as the medium and C5 as the soft, the same choice as last year, and the track has not been resurfaced since. Pirelli expects a one-stop strategy to be the preferred approach, with the hard and medium the main race tyres, though it has suggested the soft could play a bigger role than usual after showing better durability at other circuits this season. The time lost in the pit lane and the chance of safety car interruptions both favour fewer stops.

Weather: rain risk under the lights

Forecasts published during the week pointed to warm, humid conditions on Sunday, with highs of around 33C and a risk of showers or thunderstorms. Rain has already played a part this weekend: a downpour before Saturday's sprint delayed the start by around half an hour and forced the whole field onto intermediate tyres. Because Marina Bay is a slow street circuit, a long wet delay or interruption also brings the two-hour race time limit into play.

Safety car history

Marina Bay has a long record of neutralisations. Every Singapore Grand Prix held from the first race in 2008 through 2023 featured at least one safety car period; 2024 was the first edition without one. This weekend's sprint has already needed it twice, behind the formation laps and after Russell's crash on the opening lap. Close walls and limited run-off mean a single mistake can change the race, which is one reason teams plan their strategies around a possible interruption.

Start time and where to watch in Malaysia

Malaysia and Singapore share the same time zone, so the race is scheduled for 8pm local time in both countries. beIN SPORTS holds the Formula 1 rights in Malaysia, with its race-day build-up listed from 6.30pm MYT. Fans can watch through the beIN SPORTS CONNECT streaming service, or via pay-TV and streaming partners including Astro, Sooka and Unifi TV, depending on their package; beIN advises checking with the operator which plans include its channels.

Key takeaways

• The Singapore Grand Prix is scheduled for 8pm Malaysia time on Sunday, 11 October, over 62 laps.
• Verstappen starts on pole ahead of Leclerc, Hamilton and Antonelli; Russell starts 21st.
• Pirelli expects a one-stop race using the C3, C4 and C5 compounds.
• Forecasts flagged a risk of showers or thunderstorms, after rain disrupted Saturday's sprint.
• 2024 was the only Singapore Grand Prix without a safety car period; in Malaysia, the race is on beIN SPORTS.

FAQ

What time is the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix in Malaysia? The race is scheduled to start at 8pm Malaysia time on Sunday, 11 October.

Where can I watch the Singapore Grand Prix in Malaysia? On beIN SPORTS, via beIN SPORTS CONNECT or through partners such as Astro, Sooka and Unifi TV, depending on your package.

How many laps is the Singapore Grand Prix? The race is scheduled for 62 laps of the 4.927km Marina Bay Street Circuit, a distance of just over 305km.

Sources: Formula1.com, Pirelli via GrandPrix247, beIN SPORTS, Mercedes-AMG F1, Lights Out, GPblog