Hamilton says Singapore's single practice session and Sprint format make preparation key for Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton says preparation matters more than ever at the Singapore Grand Prix, where teams get only one practice session before Sprint Qualifying at Marina Bay.
- 1
- 8 October 2026
What Happened
Lewis Hamilton met the media in the Scuderia Ferrari HP hospitality in Singapore on Thursday ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix. The British driver touched on the unique challenge posed by Marina Bay, where teams will have just one practice session before Sprint Qualifying. With so little track time, he explained, preparation and simulation work will be even more important than usual.
“More often than not, we arrive with a decent baseline. The challenge is extracting the most from the car without going in the wrong direction with very small changes. In Singapore everyone is in the same situation with only one practice session, so it's about trying to start from the right place and making the most of the opportunities you have.”
Hamilton also spoke about the particular demands of racing under the lights at Marina Bay. A long-time supporter of night races, he praised the atmosphere they create and suggested they can be particularly effective at venues where daytime temperatures are extremely high. He acknowledged that the Singapore schedule requires drivers to adapt their routines but said he enjoys the challenge. Looking ahead to the weekend, he commented on the possibility of wet weather, a familiar feature of races in Singapore, noting that rain is often forecast but does not always arrive and that changing conditions would simply add another element to an already demanding event.
“It's something different and it pushes you to manage your preparation carefully. Sleep, recovery and all the details become even more important here, but that's part of what makes this event unique.”
“It's a difficult circuit and the Sprint format makes things even more challenging. But it's the same for everyone. You arrive from the previous race, adapt to a completely different track and get straight into competitive sessions. That uncertainty is exciting and we're looking forward to getting started.”
Reflecting briefly on last weekend's race, Lewis said that fighting his way through the field had reminded him of his early karting days and underlined how much he still enjoys tackling difficult conditions.
“I love racing when there's an extra challenge involved. Those are often the moments where drivers can make the biggest difference, and that's what makes this sport so rewarding.”
Previously from Ferrari N.V.
Ferrari is back in action at the Singapore Grand Prix, and this year Marina Bay hosts its first F1 Sprint weekend. It is also the final Sprint weekend of the season, which is why teams face a single practice session before competitive running.
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Ferrari N.V.'s official releases.
Why this matters
Singapore's weekend runs to the Sprint format, leaving teams just one practice session before competitive running, so drivers must lean on preparation and simulation instead of track time. Add a demanding street circuit, the chance of rain and a schedule that tests drivers' routines, and the weekend becomes a test for Hamilton and the whole Scuderia Ferrari HP team.
Terms in This Story
- Sprint format
- A race weekend format that replaces the standard schedule with a shorter Sprint race and only one practice session before competitive running.
- Sprint Qualifying
- The session that sets the starting grid for the weekend's Sprint race.
- Marina Bay
- The street circuit in Singapore that hosts the Singapore Grand Prix.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.