P1 with Matt and Tommy - Our 2026 Singapore GP predictions

Episode Date: October 7, 2026

In what will almost certainly be an absolute mess, we’re heading to Singapore for a sprint weekend! So let’s see if Matt can claw back the deficit…Come and see our live tour 'Super Podding' this November! It's a brand new show and there are a few tickets left: http:/tix.to/p1liveFancy even more P1? Well, join our Patreon for just $5 a month! You'll get access to every P1 episode ad-free, extended versions of every 2026 race review, early access to tickets & merch, and access to our Discord server where you can chat with us and other F1 fans! Click here to sign up now: http://patreon.com/mattp1tommyFollow us on socials! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, Twitch, YouTube and TikTokP1 with Matt and Tommy is the world's biggest F1 podcast. Subscribe for new podcasts around every single race throughout the 2026 Formula 1 season! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello everybody and welcome back to the P1 podcast with Matt and Tommy. Singapore Sprint, something we have never experienced before. And I can promise you we will never experience again. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Until we say Monaco and it'll be even worse. Yeah, but here I think they'll do it once and go, why did we do that? That was very silly of us. But hey, maybe we're going to be completely inatt.

surprised. Predictions are going to be off the rails, off the charts, off the walls. I don't know what it is, but Tommy, how are you? Very good. Looking forward to predictions as always. You know, it's a season that keeps changing despite the fact that, you know, we've got a runaway championship leader. The pecking order seems to change between a lot of different teams every week and, yeah, like you say, well, while someone's running away with it, I don't think it really tells the whole picture of how difficult it's been recently, as you'll well know. Absolutely. Now, let's get into a bit of news.

There's not been many days since the last race. So not a huge amount. But one big thing is that there are question marks, quite confident question marks, if you can say it like that, that George Russell, after his power unit issues in Malaysia, may well have to start at the back of the grid for Singapore. Ouch! That's going to be painful for George. George, if that does come true, I think as of recording right now, it's like a maybe.

But I would imagine, considering he was already going to take a power unit change, having this additional issue would mean that it'd have to. But let's see on that one. But I can imagine he doesn't want to, but it's whether he has any of his allocation able to be used at Singapore. Yes, very much seems like it could be on the cards. has also been talk that he might have a double penalty where, you know, because of the way Mercedes are bringing kind of new engine specifications into Austin, that he might also have another one there as well. So we might actually see George Russell starting at the back in,

in the next two races, which is very, very unfortunate. Yes, it's never been more over, I think, for George Russell's championship campaign after especially what happened in Malaysia, Now the next thing to talk about is the fact that the Mercedes upgrade might have actually just downgraded them, nerfed them. Mercedes might have nerfed themselves from Malaysia. I've read reports that Toto that was, Toto was basically expecting a three-tenth gain in Malaysia, and it turned out to be a half a second loss compared to the expectation, which is mad, because it made them faster in certain areas, but slower, I think in low speed. and also down the straits, which is mad to think when they've brought an engine upgrade.

But that's what happened in Malaysia. That's what brought everyone else back into play. So the question mark now is what a Mercedes going to do in Singapore, which they've always historically been, there's been their one track that has been actually quite bad for them whenever they've dominated. Yes, it seems, Singapore seems that track where whoever dominates the season has a bit of a shocker there, doesn't it? you know we had McLaren weren't particularly strong there last year

Max of course famously got knocked out in the in the season that he was dominating and got knocked out of qualifying that time Mercedes as you say would come to this track and not in a truly dominant eras and this was the chance for everyone else to like have a go

but yeah Mercedes it's very unusual that this upgrade we're thinking all right it's never been more more over and maybe actually you know it is championship back on for matches happen after all joking I think he's at he could still be out the championship fight maybe from this race

from literally the spring probably yeah so let's see but anyway the final thing is that the FIA unsurprisingly are investigating the formation lap joke and hopefully we will get some kind of actual did you see that fun footage by the way that was doing the rounds yes that way could see it a bit better and it's so weird because you can literally see the car going to a certain point and it literally looks like when they pass an imaginary line, they just

shut off. Yeah, that's mad. Because Max, yeah, initially happens to Max and then it happens to everyone behind him. So it'd be interesting to see what they actually decide to do moving forward. There was something quite interesting as well. And if you saw this where he said that he had something like this happen in FP1, him in Australia and he told the FAA about it and they didn't listen to him. Standard.

So standard behaviour already. Brilliant. Okay, that's the news. as of recording, done and dusted. Let's now go to the predictions, where it is currently 53-39 to Tommy. The gap has closed by a millimeter after what I thought was going to be

at least a four-point swing, but I've felt that many times this year. Then one thing has happened, and then all the points have gone to Tommy. So it's 14 points, and it's Tommy to go first. Good surprise. Good surprise.

I am going for Fernando Alonso. Yes, he said, very good last time out, of course. He's winning. But he's winning at all. Fernando Alonso is unbelievable around Singapore. When you think of Fernando Alonzo and Singapore, you definitely don't think of a very controversial thing that happened.

It's not the first thing that comes into your mind. What happened, Tommy? And what happened? But let's not forget that he was incredibly strong that weekend anyway to make that happen. He's been brilliant there. So many years. It's a track that should suit Aston,

Martin as well and they've also turned a corner so I'm expecting absolute goat behavior from Fernando Alonso really that the expectation has never been higher is that that chiquet podium that I predicted on the cards now if it's going to be any race it's this one that is a one percent chance now that my crazy prediction comes in that would be but now I think he's going to be really really strong and around this track yeah I think so I think this should in theory suit the characteristics of the Asthmartan more than what we saw in Malaysia. But let's see.

My good surprise! I'm still throwing all my eggs into teams. Ferrari. Oh, okay. Ferrari, I think, of all the places, this might be a track that suits them. I know they finished third and fourth in Malaysia, but like that was a flop turned into a bit of a saving. And obviously Hamilton was amazing.

But I do, I don't know, there's something in my bones that thinks, right, stop flopping them, let's start surprising them. And maybe they'll surprise me. They get a double DNF now, aren't they? They really are. Every time I just thought I'm the wrong side of either a surprise or a flop and it's just the complete opposite, which probably doesn't. Yeah.

Or just P4. Or just P4, which is great. But I've gone for Ferrari. Let's do it. Ferrari won two. right here right now oh okay nice no no no that that's not that's not the terms and conditions for getting a good prediction no no no absolutely not okay Ferrari locked in for me for good surprise let's now head to a big flop now I want I want to say right here right now I swear on my life

I swear on my life I did not see that Russell was starting at the back when I went for this I've gone for a big flop Mercedes that that was what I now George Russell can be measured if he takes the penalty and things like that. We'll measure on whether they're generally flopping. But I do actually think that they will flop around here. Yeah, fair. So, yeah, when I then saw George Russell's potentially starting from the back, I was like, no, I've already put this down and now everyone's going to think I'm jumping on that

because he's going and taking an engine penalty. You might not. They might go to the factory and find a little old engine. They used a few races, gone perfect. There you go, George. Good luck. Yeah, exactly. So yeah, I've gone from Mercedes because,

As I mentioned at the top of this episode, they've not had great races round here. And I thought with the whole question marks around Malaysia and their upgrade as well, let's throw in a little big flop. A little big flop. That sounds weird. But anyway, over to you, Tommy.

Big flop, I have gone for Charlotte Claire. And I've done that because I am basically trolling you because I think it would be hilarious if the only time he doesn't finish P4 and actually comes in, you know, you've gone for Charlotte-Claire and Ferrari for the last like three races as flops, and he's finished P-4 every time. So I think it'd be hilarious if the one time he does have a stinker of a race

is the one I go forward just to like really twist the knife on predictions. I was going to say, I thought you were going to say it would be even sweeter for you to score a point against my favorite driver and it'd be big flop. Like that that's just you know that's perfect for you that's icing on the cake and the cherry so yeah But it could be it could well be P4 again for for Charlotte Claire because oh my word it can't be said enough How bizarre this whole P4 thing is happening is is an Audi P11 type thing now isn't it it really is and as well The just the absolute chaos of the last three races and how different they've been

You know that meme where the the person like steps on a rake and it hits them in the face and then they do the skateboard trick that is that is it that is what ferrari are doing you know that he could like lecler could have brilliant qualifying like bacu he was really strong finished fourth and then qualified fourth went all the way down to 22nd finished fourth like it's so bizarre that this keeps happening but yeah i'm going for for leclair okay let's now go to sprint pole position tommy sprint pole i've gone for Max for Stappen the you wanted Max for Stappen didn't you?

Yeah, I have to change it. I hate you. Yeah, gone for Max. Look, he, he's won a race now so we can bring back optimistic me and then he can DNF and I never predict him again. Oh, I hate you so much. But I think like, I mean, Red Bull

just looking really, really good, particularly in Max's hands now. Okay, interesting. I'm changing it on the fly. Unsurprisingly, I'm going to put sprint pole position, Lewis Hamilton. Okay. Phenomenal Malaysia, Singapore. He has one of the greatest poll apps of all time around here.

I think he'll be very strong. So let's throw it in there. Lewis Hamilton sprint pole. Let's do it. Come on. Come on, Lewis. I mean, come on, Charles. But also for this particular, pretty,

Points. No, I'm back in Lewis round here. I am. So let's go for that. Sprint winner. Max for Stappen. You can jog on Tommy. Let me change.

Get changing right now. Max for Stappen. I think he is going to get sprint pole position. But I couldn't go for it. So instead, sprint winner, I think Max, I think they're going to be very strong once again around here. I am going to go for, well, I had gone for Max for Stappen. And I'm going to change it.

to Antonelli. Why not? What a left field? What a left field prediction. But to be fair, it is weird because like you, I did think about flopping Mercedes or thinking that they wouldn't be

that strong around here. Thought that Monica, of course, and Antenali ended up dominating and winning because it shouldn't be that track that suits them. But no, I'll go for Antonelli. Okay. Antonelli locked in. Pole position for the main race.

Poll position, I have gone for Lewis Hamilton. Have you? Yeah, have, yeah. No changing. I think Hamilton, like Fernando Alonzo is amazing around Singapore. Yeah, it's been a circuit that he's been so strong out throughout his career. And, yeah, wouldn't be surprised to see him do something special again, of course. The last race, he had amazing pace, looked really strong.

And there's been a few races this year where, I think through many different reasons. We've not really seen what Hamilton can actually do. It feels a long time since it's had quite a normal race where we can just actually see his pace and what he can do. So, yeah, gone for Hamilton, poll position. Interesting. Okay, so we're on the similar sort of mindset, aren't we, about Hamilton doing well.

My poll position is Max Verstappen. Do you have gone, Max. Please. What year is it that I'm pleading for Max just happen to win the sprint and get pole position? But yeah, I think Max is a, it's going to be interesting, right? I do firmly believe that Red Bull are going to be quick round here. And I think I saw Laura Mecky say that he reckons that Singapore will be better for them than Malaysia was supposed to be. So they might win by a minute and will have a stinky, stinky race.

But hey, if I score points, then I do not mind as long as Hamilton gets now sprint pole. Thank you very much. But yeah, Max Verstappen, poll position for me. Third place for the main race. Charlecler. He is finally breaking that fourth streak. And he's going to get on the podium. And, yeah, I am going all in on Ferrari being good, strong,

perhaps the second fastest team. So yeah, Charlotte, Clair P3. Come on, baby. P3, I've gone. He's overthinking it. I'm overthinking it. He's overthinking it because he knows that I've got first position on lock. No, no, I did think you'll have my first position actually. Oh, okay.

Interesting, interesting. I'm just thinking whether I'm missing someone that I'm like, I think could do quite well. I feel like it's a risk to ignore them. You're 14 points clear. Yeah, I'm just going to stick with it. No, I'm going to have some. Pierre Gasly. Fernando Lons.

No, P3, I've gone for, I'm going to go for Lando Norris. I hadn't originally had him. in my top three. But I do think, you know, McLaren would, will be stronger here. But I thought that about McLaren, I think that about Ferrari, and I also think Red Bull are going to be strong.

Who knows? But this is the beauty of this season, actually. You know, that we go into weekends and despite it being the top four teams running away with it, it is hard to predict who's fastest, despite the fact that, you know, one guy is nearly like 100 points clear in the challenge.

championship and Mercedes. It feels like our Mercedes have just like walked to the season, but it's hard to predict he's going to be quick. Okay. All right. Well, you're locked in and I'm now going to follow up with, wow, Lando with his speed issues as well. You're just going to drop him in P3 still.

Okay. Yeah, we'll fix it. Well, I'm saying that Sky Sports said yesterday that Lando is uncertain whether they can fix it ahead of Singapore. So let's let's, let's, I mean. No, no, no, no, no. No, no. It's locked.

Okay. But if you want to put that in, that's fine. I'll take it. Okay. Second place, Tommy. Second place, I've gone for Max for Stappen. Gone for Max P2. Of course, he's on this amazing run, isn't he?

Just getting podiums for fun now. I do think you'll challenge for the victory, but yeah, not for P1 this time. Although, of course, as a fan, I hope I'm wrong. Unless I do a seven-point swing, and then all of a sudden, yeah, you're going for Max every time, and I'm like, Max, stop winning, please.

second place I am locking in Lewis Hamilton yeah I've gone for Hamilton ahead of LeCler sadly but you know it will be painful for the predictions but good obviously for my own watching if Charlotte Clare can do better than third but I've gone for second Lewis Hamilton similar points that I've been saying

I think Hamilton's going to be strong round here and if Ferrari can give them a great package which they're going to have to in an hour of practice then we could be cooking. So yeah. Second place, Lewis Hamilton. In first position

for the Singapore Grand Prix in Singapore. Max Verstappen. Come on. I'm going to be wearing my sort of 2000 and whatever it is Red Bull Shirks. It's the only Red Bull merch.

They used to wear ironically to stop him winning. Yeah, now I'm going to wear it because, well, I can't fit into a onesie that he would have signed. so I'm going to instead wear the Red Bull. I might not. I might forget.

Either or, come on, Max. P1, let's go. P1, I've gone for Lewis Hamilton. I think Hamilton's going to win the race. Wow, so we've gone for Hamilton and Vestappen the other way around. Yes, we have. Yeah. Look at us.

Who would have thought? Hamilton, yeah, maybe it's a bit of the hype train from Malaysia, but this track should suit Hamilton, should suit Ferrari. I've said that before. But yeah, I'm expecting big things from Lewis Hamilton this weekend. So I'm going to go for Hamilton P1. All right, locked in, P1. And now we go to P-WAT.

So I think for P-Watt now, and I've seen some comments about it, we have to put a time limit on it. And I think that whoever goes first, the minute you do it, right, and you say the number is a three-second countdown. You have to say someone. And then it goes straight to the second person for three seconds, and that's it. Okay?

So it's you first. So roll the number. Say it out loud and I will scream aggressively in your ear for three seconds. Okay. Three, two, generate. P12. I'm going to go for Holcombberg. P12. So Bortelette is finishing 11th. Wow. Yep, yeah. Perfect. Wow, look at us. Hey, that was really good. Let me just write that one down. Hulk. Perfect. I think that gives it a little bit more urgency, doesn't it? Yeah. Yeah. So well done. Okay, Colopinto versus Holkenberg for P12. One crazy prediction. My one crazy prediction.

And I swear I said this before I thought George was going to get back of the grid. No Mercedes on the podium. No Mercedes. What's so funny. It's like right that and changed it. Did you? Yeah, yeah. Wow.

What, because you thought I was going to put it? Or you thought that? I decided. Yeah, I kind of questioned maybe not. And we have to clarify whether we mean the full weekend here. I'm talking about the main race for this one, which I think is still very fair. Yeah, I think it is still fair. I mean, when was the last time we didn't see any Mercedes on the podium?

It's been an awful long time, I would guess. Probably hungry. Yeah, hungry. It's still crazy. And let's just say, George's penalty is not locked in. So, look, there's plenty of ifs, buts and maybe it's there. Okay. You can have it.

Go on then. Thanks, mate. 14 points behind. I'm getting pity. Getting pity crazy predictions, though. My crazy prediction is that they will not. be one single overtake in the sprint after lap one. After lap one. Okay. All right. What if someone pulls to the side and retires?

That's an overtake, no, no. It has to be an actual overtake. How crazy is that, though, my guy. It's pretty crazy because there's always one, isn't there? There's always something in the minibus. Come on the Lampstrel lockup. That's what we need. Oh yeah, exactly. One mistake and someone's going through. There's power deployment, you know, these days. Well, we didn't say deployment for 22 Yeah, exactly. Okay, fair enough. That is, yes, I mean, please don't. That can't come in, please, come on.

Let's at least have one overtake after lap one. So, yeah, there you go. Hopefully that means if that doesn't come in, then we're in for a banging Sunday as well. Patreon prediction. If you're part of the people on Patreon, you get ad-free listening, you get access to our Discord.

You get loads of benefits. But yeah, access to our Discord means you can then submit a prediction, which we then put into our predictions, and you can help us score a point. So Tommy, who have you guys? gone for? I've gone for Nutsia and it is Alonso

scores points again on the Alonzo hype train. Yeah you really are. You really are yeah, okay. Speaking Team Unk. Team Unk. Speaking of putting eggs all in one basket my one is R&B sheep.

A Ferrari doesn't finish in fourth. Oh wow. Happened six in the last seven. So six in the last seven? Yeah, Ferrari have finished one of the Ferrari's finished in fourth. I knew that was a running joke, but I didn't realize it was that extreme. That's way worse than Audi P11, isn't it? Yeah, crazy.

So yeah, there you go. Is that a sprint or main or? Maine. Yeah, I think we have to, yeah, because it gets a bit. Yeah, I mean, and also becomes much less likely if you have the sprint as well. So give me a chance. So there you go. A Ferrari doesn't finish in fourth.

And to be fair, the data. The Grand Prix, yeah. Yeah, six out of the last seven is Grand Prix. Yeah, of course. So I think it's still crazy enough to include it. There we go. Right, it's time for the family top three. The Bellingham's did close by one point last time out,

with your dad being amazing and just copying my predictions, even though he didn't know them, is 117 to the Gallagher's. And I believe my darling ill fiancé Ellie is ready to take the call. So let's see. She'll just be laying in bed and hopefully not sound too unwell. Let's see. Hello?

Oh no, you do sound slightly unwell. Hi, darling. How are you? Not great. Yeah. Not great. But let's see if, you know, the slightly ill vibes can get you a first second and third correct. So, third place, please, for the Singapore Grand Prix.

And it is a sprint, but it doesn't matter because this is for the main part. Okay. Well, at least I have an excuse if I get them all wrong because, like, you know, I'm not. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, you need to lock in. No excuses. Okay, in third place, I am putting Max for Stepen. Oh, wow, only P3 for Max. I have literally gone all in on Max for Stappen this weekend.

Second place? Oh, God. Lewis Hamilton. Okay, that is what I went for. Okay, you're copying me now. I like that. First place. I'm going to go for George in first.

George! George! George, are you joking? Darling, he might be starting from the back. Well, I don't know that. Well, now you do. Oh, my God, he's doing the last, the first-round Singapore. Why you opening the door?

Imagine if it comes in now, though, what unbelievable prediction that would be. No, well, I can't, I can't influence. Oh, God, we've never been more cooked. Although, to be fair, like, we've scored 11 points. Yeah, also. How many Grand Prix weekends? Yeah, exactly. Realistically, just, we'll just chalk it down as a zero.

and that's fine. Don't worry about it. You're ill and that was a very ill prediction. Thanks. All right. I love you all the same

and I will see you in a bit. All right. I love you. Bye. One of the three. One of the three, you could still get, it could be a two-pointe.

It's true. And if George does win from the back of the grid, there goes my flop and also, yeah, yeah. Right,

give my mum a call. Save Charlotte Claire be one. Yeah, if we can get a George. And then... Budger they go. Hello? Oh, no, that's signal sounded horrendous.

Hello? You can hear me now? Yes, I can hear you now. Hello, Matt's already asked, is it wine o'clock? That's now the running joke of family predictions. Is it Bowls o'clock? No, I'm afraid not, not yet. Oh, okay.

No bowls o'clock, no. No, no bowls tomorrow. Oaky-Dokey. Okay, well, hopefully we can close the gap because we need the Bowls shootout between, you know, the Gallagas and the Bellingham. Yeah, they'll be on the SkySuits. main event.

All right, P3, man, for the Singapore Grand Prix. Okay. Okay. I mean,

I don't mind it. I mean, I don't mind it. You've got very quiet. Excellent. Okay. Yeah. And P1.

George. Yes. Yes. I love it. Oh, no. Oh, that's excellent. Oh, no. Oh, that's so funny.

He's got, he's got, he's very, very likely. that he's going to have a penalty and start last. And we've literally just been laughing because Ellie also said George Russell to win and didn't know either. So, okay, thanks, ma'am. So when we're better now? Only just recently, but it's rumours.

So look, you guys will look like geniuses and we'll have to eat humble pie if you and Ellie are both right. It'll make a great social clip. It will make a great social clip, wouldn't it? All right, thanks, ma'am. Well, I'll see you Saturday. Yeah, see you soon. Bye.

Oh, what are you doing on Saturday then, Tommy? My mum's, well, my mum's coming over from France to visit, see her new granddaughter. Oh, lovely. Not one of mine just for the record. The way that you put that tone was like, I knew. You were like, well, you know, she's coming over from France. Like, sorry, was I akin to this information? Am I invited?

Am I coming round? I just found it straight to you. Like, what's the deal with seeing you? Yeah, everyone will want to know what's on Saturday. You can't, your mum can't go see you on Saturday and everyone listening. Yeah. At least to now know if you're going to be playing bowls. She's flying for Singapore watchby.

She's actually going to do the watch along inside of me. She's flying here to do it. That would be great. She's as much for Charlotte Clare fan as I am. So there you go. I can't believe that. Double Russell. Double Russell.

That is that. Oh my God. Sometimes you just can't. You can't write it? You can't write comedy. It's great. It's great. Well, there you go.

What a way to end this predictions episode. Massively looking forward to, well, hopefully looking forward to a great weekend of action. We'll be live on Twitter. Twitch and YouTube as always for our watch along. If you've never come along and watch, just give it a go, especially if it might be a bit, bit slow. If we've got zero overtakes for the sprint, come and join us.

Come and say hello. Tommy, final thoughts? Final thoughts? Another, another race ready. And yeah, I'm intrigued by Singapore to see how it's going to be in these cars. Because who knows, maybe because I've now predicted that there won't be a single overtake, the sprint's going to be amazing. because Formula One is really, really good.

I don't think by anything other than luck of making really silly choices and then somehow it's going right. Also, your prediction of no overtakes in the sprint, you best believe on the watch long lap three, I see Valtry Bottas steam down the inside of Sergio Perez. You're going to be like watching the timing tower like this, the whole of the session. It's changed!

Yes! What a move from Bobres. us. Although to be fair, he might be hurting quite a bit because he's cycling from Malaysia to Singapore, which is... Was that his punishment for spinning off at the... Yeah, with the Adju-O-T? Your flights cancelled, you're going to have to cycle there. And also, as much as it's awesome to see him doing things that he enjoys, it's like,

tell me you're in a terrible car. Without telling me you're in a terrible car, I will cycle to Singapore. They're just on holiday, I'm made. It's Cadillac. He's just in the five... Chilly. 5.0, exactly. Right, that is it. Thank you, everybody. We'll see you very soon. Let's and I'll take care about it. Bye.

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