Lando Norris secured a stunning pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix, beating his championship rival Max Verstappen in a dramatic qualifying session that saw Carlos Sainz’s heavy crash turn Q3 into a tense one-lap shootout. Norris delivered a scorching 1:29.525 lap, marking the 299th pole for a British driver in F1 history and securing his sixth career pole, joining the ranks of world champions Alan Jones, Emerson Fittipaldi, and Phil Hill.
Despite Red Bull’s struggles throughout the weekend, Verstappen managed to pull off a last-gasp lap to join Norris on the front row, just 0.203 seconds off the McLaren driver’s time. Lewis Hamilton found form in Q2 and carried it into Q3, securing third place, 0.316 seconds off pole, ahead of his Mercedes teammate George Russell in fourth.
Q3 Drama Unfolds as Sainz Crash Halts Session
The drama of Q3 unfolded early when Oscar Piastri set the first timed lap, only for Sainz to crash heavily at the final corner moments later. The crash brought out the red flags, turning the remainder of the session into a high-stakes one-lap battle. Verstappen’s first attempt was invalidated due to track limits, but his second effort was enough to edge Hamilton by just 0.087 seconds, securing a crucial front-row start.
Piastri ended up fifth after failing to match his teammate’s blistering pace, while Nico Hulkenberg emerged as the top-powered Ferrari driver in sixth, narrowly ahead of Fernando Alonso in seventh. Yuki Tsunoda slotted into eighth, and Charles Leclerc’s deleted lap time relegated him to ninth, with Sainz rounding out the top ten. However, Sainz’s grid position remains uncertain, pending potential penalties for his crash and subsequent engine damage.
Perez and Ricciardo Struggle as Q3 Slips Away
Sergio Perez’s Singapore nightmare continued as he qualified 13th for the second consecutive year, unable to extract pace from his Red Bull. Both Williams drivers, Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto, outqualified Perez, lining up 11th and 12th, respectively. Kevin Magnussen and Esteban Ocon completed the Q2 exits in 14th and 15th.
Daniel Ricciardo faced a particularly disappointing Q1 exit, qualifying 16th in what could be his last race for RB amid growing uncertainty about his future. The Australian, who showed promise in practice, fell short of progressing to Q2 by 0.127 seconds. Lance Stroll, Pierre Gasly, Valtteri Bottas, and Zhou Guanyu filled the back rows, with Zhou significantly off the pace compared to his teammate.
Mercedes Surprise with Late Pace Surge
Mercedes appeared to find unexpected pace during Q2, with Hamilton becoming the first driver to dip below the 90-second mark on his initial push lap. Russell, though frustrated by a stark change in tire behavior compared to FP3, managed to secure fourth. Both Mercedes drivers outperformed expectations, setting the stage for an intense race day battle.
Looking Ahead to the Race
As the grid lines up for the Singapore GP, all eyes will be on Norris and Verstappen as they continue their championship duel from the front row. Hamilton and Russell will be keen to capitalize on Mercedes’ newfound speed, while Ferrari faces an uphill battle after a disastrous qualifying session. With Sainz’s crash and ongoing car issues, the race promises high drama on the tight and twisty Marina Bay circuit, where every mistake could prove costly.
