Verstappen Takes Pole In Singapore, Ferraris Right Behind

Max Verstappen claimed pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix with a 1:31.373. Having already won Saturday’s sprint, the Red Bull driver is closing in on a perfect weekend at Marina Bay. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was second, just 0.054 seconds behind, and his team mate Lewis Hamilton was third, 0.123 seconds off.

Qualifying started 30 minutes late after rain delayed the sprint earlier in the day. Hamilton was the fastest driver in the first two segments, and his 1:31.766 in Q2 put him four tenths clear of Antonelli. But in Q3, Verstappen took over. The Dutchman set a 1:31.373 on his first run to take provisional pole. Most drivers failed to improve on their final attempts. Hamilton also could not find more time, and Leclerc jumped his team mate to take a front-row spot. With pole secure, Verstappen abandoned his final lap.

It was a difficult session for Mercedes. Kimi Antonelli was fourth and George Russell sixth, although Russell will start Sunday’s race from the back of the grid because of a power unit penalty. McLaren’s Lando Norris was fifth and Oscar Piastri seventh. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad completed the top ten.

The worst news of the day came for Red Bull’s other driver, Isack Hadjar. A gearbox problem prevented him from setting a single timed lap in Q1, leaving him without a qualifying time. Fernando Alonso, Alex Albon, Lance Stroll and Cadillac drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas were also eliminated in the first segment.

The Singapore Grand Prix starts on Sunday at 15:00 Turkish time, with rain and thunderstorms forecast for the race.