Singapore GP qualifying delayed after rain and safety car extend sprint race

Qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix has been delayed after rain and a multi-car safety car period extended Saturday’s sprint race beyond its scheduled window at Marina Bay Street Circuit, the FIA confirmed.

A downpour struck the circuit approximately 15 minutes before the sprint was due to start, forcing officials to push the race back by 30 minutes while marshals cleared standing water from the track. The session eventually got under way at 5:30pm local time instead of the planned 5pm.

Further time was added when a safety car was deployed following a crash involving George Russell, with Lance Stroll, Franco Colapinto and Isack Hadjar also caught up in incidents. The additional laps behind the safety car extended the race by around five laps, and the chequered flag was not waved until 6:16pm local time.

Max Verstappen took the sprint victory ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

Qualifying had been scheduled for 9pm local time, but Formula 1’s sporting regulations stipulate that the session cannot begin fewer than three hours after the conclusion of the sprint. With the sprint finishing at 6:16pm, that window could not be met under the original schedule.

The FIA announced the session would be delayed accordingly, with an updated timetable to be confirmed.