Max Verstappen took pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix after beating Charles Leclerc by just 0.054secs in a closely fought qualifying session at Marina Bay.
The Red Bull driver produced a 1:31.373 in Q3, with Leclerc responding with a 1:31.427. Lewis Hamilton was only 0.069secs behind his Ferrari team-mate in third, leaving the top three separated by 0.123secs.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli qualified fourth for Mercedes ahead of Lando Norris, while George Russell was sixth after crashing out of the lead during Saturday’s Sprint.
Oscar Piastri took seventh in the second McLaren, followed by Pierre Gasly and the Racing Bulls pair of Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad.
Verstappen will therefore have both Ferraris immediately behind him after completing a Saturday on which he also won the rain-hit Sprint.
Singapore GP qualifying results
| Pos | Driver | Team | Q3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:31.373 |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:31.427 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:31.496 |
| 4 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:31.562 |
| 5 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:31.712 |
| 6 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:31.747 |
| 7 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:31.860 |
| 8 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:32.225 |
| 9 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:32.369 |
| 10 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | 1:32.781 |
Verstappen edges Ferrari in fight for pole
Hamilton had set the pace in both Q1 and Q2, giving Ferrari reason to believe it could challenge for pole after he topped the opening phase with a 1:32.429 and then improved to a 1:31.529 in Q2.
Verstappen found more in Q3. His 1:31.373 put him 0.054secs clear of Leclerc, while Hamilton’s 1:31.496 was enough for third. It gives Verstappen his second pole of the weekend after he also led Friday’s Sprint Qualifying.
Red Bull’s pace has remained competitive throughout the weekend. Verstappen was sixth in the only practice session while using medium tyres against the soft-shod cars ahead, before taking Sprint pole and winning Saturday’s wet race.
Ferrari now has two cars positioned to challenge him on Sunday. Leclerc joins Verstappen on the front row, with Hamilton starting directly behind his team-mate.
Antonelli turns the tables on Russell
Antonelli recovered from a difficult Friday to qualify fourth, finishing 0.185secs ahead of Russell in the final part of qualifying. That reversed the Mercedes order from the opening day. Russell had been fastest in practice and qualified second for the Sprint with the older specification car, while Antonelli managed seventh using Mercedes’ newer aerodynamic package.
Saturday changed the picture. Russell passed Verstappen at the start of the Sprint but crashed on the opening lap, while Antonelli recovered to fourth and added five points to his championship total. Antonelli then carried that improvement into qualifying with a 1:31.562, putting him within 0.189secs of pole.
Russell was sixth with a 1:31.747. His Grand Prix weekend is further complicated by the power-unit changes made following his engine failure at Sepang, which carry a grid penalty for Sunday’s race.
McLaren unable to join pole fight
McLaren qualified fifth and seventh, with Norris again leading Piastri. Norris’ 1:31.712 left him 0.339secs away from Verstappen, while Piastri was 0.487secs off pole with a 1:31.860.
That leaves Antonelli ahead of both McLarens on the qualifying classification, while Norris split the two Mercedes drivers in fifth. With Ferrari occupying second and third, McLaren will begin Sunday’s race behind three different teams at the front of the field.
Racing Bulls puts both cars into Q3
Gasly qualified eighth for Alpine with a 1:32.225, while Racing Bulls placed both cars inside the top 10. Lawson took ninth after setting a 1:32.369, with Lindblad completing the Q3 runners on a 1:32.781.
The margins at the other end of the grid were considerably tighter. Only 0.123secs separated Verstappen, Leclerc and Hamilton at the front, leaving Red Bull and Ferrari occupying the first three positions on the qualifying classification.
Verstappen has pole, but with Leclerc alongside him and Hamilton directly behind, Ferrari will have two cars around the Red Bull when the Singapore Grand Prix gets underway.
Comments.
Loading comments…