Following a chaotic and highly contested Sprint qualifying shootout at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, the 2026 Formula 1 championship battle appears closer than ever. Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen ultimately secured the sprint pole position, but he was closely followed by Mercedes driver George Russell in second, Scuderia Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in third, and McLaren's Oscar Piastri in fourth.
For McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, the incredibly diverse starting grid comes with a massive sigh of relief.
