Max Verstappen has called for Formula 1 to cease hosting sprint races on circuits that inherently limit overtaking opportunities. His comments follow the recent 20-lap sprint in Singapore, which saw minimal passing action. The Marina Bay Street Circuit hosted its inaugural F1 Sprint weekend on October 10, 2026, marking the final sprint event of the current season.
The 2026 F1 Sprint calendar featured six venues: Shanghai, Miami, Montreal, Silverstone, Zandvoort, and Singapore. Verstappen secured victory in the rain-affected Singapore sprint, overcoming a difficult start and benefiting from George Russell’s early retirement.
The Red Bull driver stated, ‘I think we shouldn’t host a sprint where you can’t pass.’ He emphasised that the format functions effectively on tracks conducive to racing and overtaking, but not in locations where passing is inherently challenging.
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc echoed this sentiment, suggesting that street circuits like Singapore and Monaco are unsuitable for sprint events. Leclerc commented, ‘I don’t think it makes sense to have any sprint races on city tracks in general.’ [Source Text] He advocated for sprints to be held on tracks that facilitate significant racing action. [Source Text]
Lewis Hamilton, who finished second in the Singapore sprint, noted that the rain was the sole factor in making the 20-lap race entertaining. [Source Text] He stated that a dry race would have been ‘probably the most boring race for you to have watched.’ [Source Text]
Hamilton also proposed modifications to the Marina Bay Street Circuit layout to encourage more overtaking. [Source Text] He suggested incorporating a longer straight to enhance its potential as a racing circuit. [Source Text]
The Marina Bay Street Circuit, known for its tight and twisty nature, was previously altered ahead of the 2023 season, reducing its corner count from 23 to 19. A subtle adjustment to the Turn 10 outer wall was implemented for the 2026 event to mitigate incidents.
Verstappen further highlighted the ineffectiveness of the power unit’s overtake mode at the Singapore circuit. This system, introduced with the 2026 regulations, replaces DRS and is designed to provide a chasing car with additional electrical power.
The 2026 power units feature a significantly more powerful MGU-K, capable of deploying up to 350kW. While standard electrical deployment tapers off at 290km/h, overtake mode allows maximum electrical power up to 337km/h. However, drivers must still manage the energy from the car’s battery.
The FIA and Formula 1 have confirmed an expansion of the sprint calendar to 10 events for the 2027 season. This includes the introduction of a sprint race at the Monaco Grand Prix for the first time. Other new sprint venues for 2027 are Bahrain, Australia, Japan, and Abu Dhabi.
The prospect of a Monaco sprint has generated debate due to the circuit’s established reputation for minimal overtaking opportunities. The 2027 calendar, approved by the World Motor Sport Council, will feature 24 Grands Prix across 22 countries.
The Singapore Grand Prix sprint race results on October 10, 2026, were as follows: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) in first, Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) in second, and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) in third. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) finished fourth, followed by Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) in fifth, and Oliver Bearman (Haas) in sixth. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) secured seventh, with Lando Norris (McLaren) taking eighth.
Max Verstappen: ‘The start was horrendous again, so that’s definitely something that we need to improve on, because if you have something like that tomorrow, that’s your race over if nothing crazy happens.’
