Lando Norris will start from pole position at the Singapore Grand Prix tomorrow. The McLaren driver outpaced everyone during the thrilling qualifying session at Marina Bay Street Circuit. Max Verstappen clocked the second fastest time, followed by Lewis Hamilton. Notably, this is Norris’s fourth pole in the last six races, making him a significant challenger to Verstappen in the World Championship. The session was briefly interrupted in Q3 due to a severe crash by Carlos Sainz (Ferrari).
Here’s a quick overview of the Singapore GP qualification:
Q1: Ricciardo Eliminated Immediately
The qualifying session at Marina Bay Street Circuit begins under artificial light at a temperature of 29 degrees Celsius. The first time is set by Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc (1.30,896), but he is quickly replaced as the fastest driver by Lando Norris (1.30,724). Max Verstappen also makes a good start on the softs (1.30,854). However, he is still visibly struggling with oversteer.
At the end of Q1, the track is clearly faster. All drivers, therefore, go out again for a new fast run. Norris improves his own fastest time to 1.30,002. Verstappen is once again in good shape and records the second time (1.30,1m57), keeping ahead of the second McLaren driver Oscar Piastri (1.30,258). Daniel Ricciardo is eliminated in Q1. Was this his last qualifying round in F1?
Q1 Dropouts: Daniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll, Pierre Gasly, Valtteri Bottas, and Guanyu Zhou.
Q2: Pérez Disappoints Again
Max Verstappen immediately goes out on used softs. He nearly loses control of the steering wheel in the penultimate corner as he goes too full over the kerbs, but manages to keep the RB20 out of the wall. However, his time (1.30,371) is immediately crossed out. Norris once again records the fastest time in his first fast run in Q2 (1.30,007).
Verstappen’s Convincing Performance in the Final Phase
Verstappen needs to set a time in the final phase and does so convincingly on new softs: 1.29,680. With this, he positions himself at the top of the timesheet. Oscar Piastri overtakes the Red Bull driver a little later with 1.29,640. Sergio Pérez signs for a new disappointment. He falls with the thirteenth time, almost a second from Piastri and Verstappen. Both Williams cars can also stay in the garage.
Q2 Dropouts: Alexander Albon, Franco Colapinto, Sergio Pérez, Kevin Magnussen, and Esteban Ocon.
Q3: Sainz’s Crash Causes Red Flag
Haas driver Nico Hülkenberg is the first to go out in Q3, followed by the cars of the four top teams. Oscar Piastri starts his flying lap first and clocks 1,30,037. Verstappen is also on schedule, but just before he crosses the line, the red flag appears due to a crash by Carlos Sainz. The Ferrari driver goes straight on cold rear tires in the last corner and parks his car in the wall. Verstappen’s time is once again crossed out.
When the session resumes, there are still eight minutes on the clock. All drivers and teams wait for the right moment to go out and go for that one ultimate lap.
Verstappen and Russell fight for a good track position before entering their decisive lap. Lando Norris drives to the fastest time of the day (1.29,525). Verstappen eventually signs for P2, more than two tenths from Norris, but still significantly better than expected.
Top Ten: Norris, Verstappen, Hamilton, Russell, Piastri, Hülkenberg, Alonso, Tsunoda, Leclerc, and Sainz.
