Max Verstappen, Singapore: First win for the ‘Sprint Cannibal’ after 357 days?

The final sprint of the 2026 Formula 1 season will take place at the Marina Bay Circuit in Singapore. To this day, Max Verstappen is no fan of this particular Grand Prix format, which will be held six times this year but as many as ten times in the upcoming 2027 season – even in Monte Carlo.

The 29-year-old Dutchman says: “As a driver, I find the classic format of a Grand Prix weekend more interesting. That’s because I can get much more out of the car in qualifying on Saturday if I’ve had three practice sessions beforehand to fine-tune the set-up.”

“As a Formula 1 driver, I find it unsatisfying to go straight into the final practice session after just one practice session. What’s more, the fans already get an idea of how the Grand Prix will pan out, as the balance of power becomes apparent as early as the sprint race.”

“With the traditional format, on the other hand, most people don’t know how fast the individual cars and drivers were in race trim. They see the qualifying result, but as a driver you can then make up ground or fall back during the Grand Prix. With the Sprint, you don’t have any of that.”

Criticism aside: no driver has been more successful in the alternative format than Max Verstappen. The ‘Sprint Cannibal’ has now secured pole position for the short race eleven times, most recently on 9 October in Singapore. The second-most successful driver on sprint pole is Lando Norris with five.

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Max fares even better in the sprint statistics: 13 wins so far. His nearest rivals in this statistic are Lando Norris and George Russell, with four each.

However, Red Bull Racing star Verstappen has now gone 357 days without a sprint victory; his most recent triumph came in Austin, Texas, in 2025.

On 10 October, Verstappen aims to improve on his outstanding Sprint record. If he turns his sprint pole position at Singapore’s Marina Bay into a victory, it would be his second consecutive F1 triumph (following the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia) and a strong indication that Red Bull Racing will be in with a chance of securing more victories in the future.

Our overview here lists all Formula 1 drivers who have secured sprint pole positions and all winners of the short-format race.

• On pole for the sprint

• Silverstone 2021 – Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes

• Monza 2021 – Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Mercedes

• Interlagos 2021 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing

• Imola 2022 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing

• Red Bull Ring 2022 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing

• Interlagos 2022 – Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas

• Baku 2023 – Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari

• Spielberg 2023 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing

• Francorchamps 2023 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing

• Qatar 2023 – Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren-Mercedes

• Austin 2023 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing

• Interlagos 2023 – Lando Norris (GB), McLaren

• Shanghai 2024 – Lando Norris (GB), McLaren

• Miami 2024 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing

• Spielberg 2024 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing

• Austin 2024 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing

• Interlagos 2024 – Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren

• Qatar 2024 – Lando Norris (GB), McLaren

• Shanghai 2025 – Lewis Hamilton (GB), Ferrari

• Miami 2025 – Kimi Antonelli (I), Mercedes

• Spa 2025 – Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren

• Austin 2025 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing

• Interlagos 2025 – Lando Norris (GB), McLaren

• Qatar 2025 – Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren

• Shanghai 2026 – George Russell (GB), Mercedes

• Miami 2026 – Lando Norris (GB), McLaren

• Montreal 2026 – George Russell (GB), Mercedes

• Silverstone 2026 – Lewis Hamilton (GB), Ferrari

• Zandvoort 2026 – George Russell (GB), Mercedes

• Singapore 2026 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing

• All Sprint winners

• Silverstone 2021 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing

• Monza 2021 – Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Mercedes

• Interlagos 2021 – Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Mercedes

• Imola 2022 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing

• Red Bull Ring 2022 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing

• Interlagos 2022 – George Russell (GB), Mercedes

• Baku 2023 – Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing

• Spielberg 2023 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing

• Francorchamps 2023 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing

• Qatar 2023 – Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren-Mercedes

• Austin 2023 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing

• Interlagos 2023 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing

• Shanghai 2024 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing

• Miami 2024 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing

• Spielberg 2024 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing

• Austin 2024 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing

• Interlagos 2024 – Lando Norris (GB), McLaren

• Qatar 2024 – Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren-Mercedes

• Shanghai 2025 – Lewis Hamilton (GB), Ferrari

• Miami 2025 – Lando Norris (GB), McLaren

• Spa 2025 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing

• Austin 2025 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing

• Interlagos 2025 – Lando Norris (GB), McLaren

• Qatar 2025 – Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren

• Shanghai 2026 – George Russell (GB), Mercedes

• Miami 2026 – Lando Norris (GB), McLaren

• Montreal 2026 – George Russell (GB), Mercedes

• Silverstone 2026 – Kimi Antonelli (I), Mercedes

• Zandvoort 2026 – George Russell (GB), Mercedes

• Singapore 2026 – ???