Overview
- The 17th round of the 2026 season runs Oct. 9–11 as the last Sprint weekend, which replaces a second practice with Sprint qualifying and a Saturday Sprint race that awards points.
- Franco Colapinto was chosen for the drivers' media session and said Alpine 'has a very fast car' after recent upgrades as he aims to score at Marina Bay for the first time.
- Sergio 'Checo' Pérez returns to the circuit where he won in 2022 now driving for Cadillac with the team still developing through its debut F1 season and using the Sprint to seek extra points and data.
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli leads the championship with 320 points while George Russell will start from the back after an engine-change penalty, a change that reshapes Mercedes' race strategy this weekend.
- Marina Bay's tight walls, night heat and high likelihood of Safety Car periods make qualifying position and strategy decisive and increase physical strain on drivers during the race week.