Why Verstappen has never won in Singapore | Singapore Grand Prix 2026

Singapore Grand Prix: Mercedes split-spec gamble, Verstappen’s unfinished business and McLaren’s straight-line fix Autosport’s Jake Boxall-Legge is reporting from the ground in Singapore as Formula 1 arrives at Marina Bay for the latest round of the season. With the sprint format returning, teams face a very different challenge under the Singapore lights — and Mercedes has already made a significant call by splitting its car specifications between George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. Russell will revert to the older Mercedes package, while Antonelli continues with the newer specification, giving the team a valuable opportunity to compare the two concepts across a very different circuit from Sepang. Jake also looks at why Red Bull and Max Verstappen have something to prove in Singapore, the lessons Mercedes can take from Malaysia, and why the unusual sprint weekend format makes FP1 more important than usual. There is also the latest on McLaren’s straight-line speed concerns, with the team introducing changes to its fuel system components, plus a look at Valtteri Bottas’ 350km cycling journey from Malaysia to Singapore. And, because it’s Thursday in the paddock, Jake puts Audi’s Singapore Grand Prix ice creams through a rigorous — if slightly less scientific — taste test. Chapters: 00:00 Thursday night in Singapore 00:39 Mercedes splits its car specifications 01:27 What Mercedes learned in Malaysia 03:03 Why Red Bull has unfinished business in Singapore 04:10 Why FP1 matters more during the sprint weekend 04:49 McLaren targets its straight-line speed deficit 05:28 Bottas’ 350km ride from Malaysia to Singapore 06:11 Audi’s Singapore GP ice cream 08:28 Looking ahead to Friday practice and sprint qualifying Subscribe to Autosport for the latest F1 news, analysis and exclusive paddock reporting. #F1 #SingaporeGP #Formula1 #Autosport #MercedesF1 #RedBull #McLarenF1 FOLLOW us online: Website: https://www.autosport.com/ Facebook: http://facebook.com/AUTOSPORT Twitter: https://twitter.com/autosport Instagram: http://instagram.com/autosport