Singapore Grand Prix sprint and qualifying preview as George Russell faces engine penalty

Russell to fight back from back of grid

George Russell needs to throw everything he can at stopping – or just delaying – Kimi Antonelli’s title charge. That won’t be easy from the back of the grid.

The Briton was third, with Mercedes teammate Antonelli ahead of him in second, when his power unit packed in during the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, leaving him with a penalty this week for an engine change. He made a good start on Friday by setting the fastest time in practice and must hope to make an impact in the final sprint race of the season as well as qualifying.

Russell and his rivals will have an unusual daylight race on the streets of the city state, before the typical night race on Sunday. Philip Cornwall steers the live blog, with Giles Richards reporting.

Title picture after Sepang

Max Verstappen’s victory from pole, with fastest lap, at last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia came 16 races into F1’s new rules era and exceeded expectations for those who doubted the British-based team could match Mercedes and Ferrari by building one of the most complex power units in motorsport history from scratch.

Sepang was also the first pole of 2026 achieved by a car not powered by a Mercedes engine. Mercedes have won 11 of the 16 races, Ferrari and McLaren two each. Audi and returning Honda are still far off the pace. There is hope then for the Red Bulls that the corner has been turned after months of frustration.

Daniel Harris tracks the action, lap by lap, with Giles Richards reporting.