Norris doubts Singapore sprint will thrill fans but backs himself to capitalise on chaos

Lando Norris has cast doubt on whether Singapore’s inaugural sprint race will deliver the spectacle fans are hoping for, even as he backed himself to thrive under the format’s demanding conditions ahead of the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix weekend.

The Marina Bay Street Circuit hosts a sprint race for the first time this season, leaving teams with just one practice session to learn the track before competitive running begins. With 2026-regulation cars yet to have turned a lap at the circuit, Norris acknowledged the weekend presents a uniquely steep challenge for every driver on the grid.

“I think this kind of track, I mean, I don’t know from a Sprint race if it’s going to be the best Sprint race you’ll ever see,” Norris said. “I don’t think it is. But in terms of just FP1, qualifying and the challenge of getting up to speed quickly on a street circuit with these cars is a big, big challenge. So, from that bit, I look forward to it.”

Despite his reservations about the spectacle, the McLaren driver suggested the truncated schedule could suit his driving style. Norris has consistently performed well in sprint weekends this season, and he believes his ability to find the limit quickly — with minimal track time — gives him an edge over rivals who need more laps to dial in their setup.

“I think a little bit of it is just the fact you don’t have much time to get up to speed, and I think that’s something I can think can be one of my strengths,” he explained. “I think in the end we’re all probably good enough after three sessions to get within a few hundredths of each other, or a tenth, two tenths. I think it’s a bigger challenge to get up to pace and figure out everything within one session. And I think that’s something I’ve always enjoyed.”

The Singapore sprint is the final one of the 2026 season, making it the last opportunity for any driver to bank the maximum 33 points available across a single sprint weekend — a fact that sharpens the stakes considerably in what remains a competitive championship picture.

Norris’s recent sprint record offers some cause for optimism, though it has not been without blemish. At Zandvoort, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc passed him for second in the sprint, with Norris ultimately finishing third as McLaren lacked outright pace. Marina Bay’s notoriously narrow layout and limited overtaking opportunities add further uncertainty to how the abbreviated format will play out on a street circuit that has historically produced processional racing.