---
title: "Hamilton takes pole under the lights – Qualifying Report"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2014/09/20/hamilton-takes-pole-under-the-lights-qualifying-report/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Connor McDonagh"
section: "F1 News"
published: "2014-09-20T14:22:39Z"
modified: "2014-09-20T14:22:39Z"
---

# Hamilton takes pole under the lights – Qualifying Report

[![lh](https://www.f1update.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/lh1-300x200.jpg)](https://www.f1update.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/lh1.jpg)A late lap from Lewis Hamilton saw him snatch pole position from Nico Rosberg by 0.007 at the Singapore Grand Prix. The two Red Bull’s will line-up third and fourth whilst Fernando Alonso starts in his traditional fifth position. Felipe Massa was on provisional pole position however was bumped down as the top five improved their respective laps. Kimi Raikkonen was seventh ahead of Bottas, Magnussen and Kvyat – all of whom set their quickest laps on the super-soft tyres.

The first part of qualifying was mayhem in terms of changes in the running order. Due to the substantial time difference between the option and prime tyres, it forced everyone to switch to the faster super-soft tyres. Surprisingly, Raikkonen and Alonso were fastest in Q1 showing their fast practice speed was genuine. Red Bull opted to complete one qualifying run on the super-soft tyres and got through comfortably. Felipe Massa left it late and improved to P11 albeit a second off his former team-mate.

The second segment of qualifying however was more straight forward for the pole position protagonists. Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso topped Q2 whilst Williams struggled on their initial runs – admittedly on scrubbed tyres. Despite a significant upgrade package this weekend, McLaren struggled, in particular Jenson Button who was knocked out of Q2 whereas his younger team-mate progressed. Similarly, Jean-Eric Vergne was out-paced by his younger team-mate whilst Hulkenberg will line-up 13th. At the end of the session, Romain Grosjean vented his anger over the team radio stating: “I cannot believe it! Bloody engine! Bloody engine! We break our balls for this?”

In Q3, Felipe Massa was the first man out and he set his personal best of the weekend with a 1:46.067 which surprisingly enough for provisional pole. The Mercedes duo made mistakes on their respective laps which meant after their first laps they were only fifth and sixth. However, when it came to the final runs, Lewis Hamilton set a blistering lap despite locking up a turn one to take pole position. Nico Rosberg was second ahead of Daniel Ricciardo (who had been on provisional pole but was later displaced by Rosberg and later Hamilton), Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso. On his out-lap, Kimi Raikkonen was forced to come into the pits meaning the Finn did not set a final lap thus will start seventh.

A close and fascinating qualifying sets up what could be a fascinating race under the lights in Singapore.