Mercedes showcased a strong turnaround at the Singapore Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton and George Russell qualified P3 and P4, respectively, following an intense and drama-filled session. After overnight efforts from the team both in Singapore and back at their Brackley headquarters, the Silver Arrows bounced back from a challenging Friday to put both cars on the second row, setting up a promising race ahead.
FP3 saw Russell finish an impressive P2, with Hamilton in P7, demonstrating competitive pace on both the Medium and Soft compounds. However, the qualifying session was not without its challenges, particularly when an accident involving Carlos Sainz brought out a red flag in Q3, limiting the drivers to just one opportunity to set their times. Despite initial concerns about rear grip in Q1, both Mercedes drivers delivered when it mattered most.
Hamilton, who ultimately secured third place, was pleased with his performance and the team’s progress. “I’ve been working really hard to improve my qualifying performances and to get myself back up at the front on a Saturday,” Hamilton reflected. “The car came alive today, and we had one of our strongest Saturdays in a while. Having just one effort in Q3 after the red flag was tricky, and there was perhaps a little bit more left in the car, but overall, I am really grateful for what we achieved today.”
Russell, who qualified just 0.026 seconds behind Hamilton, also praised the team’s progress after a tough start to the weekend. “If you had told us yesterday that we would qualify on the second row of the grid, we would have absolutely taken that,” Russell noted. “With the improvements we made overnight and how the car felt in FP3, I would have reconsidered. I was feeling super confident in the car, but the grip issues in Q1 made things difficult. Still, we can’t be disappointed with P4, especially considering where we were.”
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff acknowledged the progress but admitted to feeling slightly underwhelmed given their promising FP3 pace. “After a difficult Friday, we would have absolutely accepted, and been happy with, locking out the second row of the grid for the race,” Wolff said. “With the progress we made overnight though, and the subsequent pace we showed in FP3, P3 and P4 feels a little underwhelming. That said, it’s not a bad place to start, and hopefully, our improvements carry over into tomorrow’s race.”
Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin highlighted the importance of tire management and strategic calls, emphasizing that Safety Cars could play a crucial role in the race outcome. “It’s always a demanding race here, and managing the rear tyres will be key tomorrow evening,” Shovlin noted. “Safety Cars can offer opportunities, and we will be aiming to race for the podium and solid points.”
With both drivers starting from strong positions, Mercedes is well-placed to challenge for the podium and potentially replicate their recent successes at Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps, and the Red Bull Ring. As the team targets another strong performance, all eyes will be on Hamilton and Russell to capitalize on their progress and make a significant impact under the lights of Marina Bay.
