RUSSELL TAKES SINGAPORE POLE AHEAD OF VERSTAPPEN AND PIASTRI
Mercedes driver dominates under the lights in Marina Bay
George Russell delivered a commanding performance in qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix, clinching pole position with a time of 1:29.165, edging out Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 0.182 seconds. McLaren’s championship leader Oscar Piastri secured third place on the grid, followed closely by Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli in fourth.
Lando Norris will line up fifth, just ahead of the Ferrari duo of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Completing the top ten are Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar, Ferrari Academy driver Oliver Bearman, and veteran Fernando Alonso.
Q1 – No Major Surprises, Late Yellow Flag Drama
The first session saw no major surprises until the final moments when Pierre Gasly’s hydraulic issue forced him to stop on track, triggering a yellow flag. Despite this, the session was not interrupted, and the five drivers who failed to progress to Q2 were Enzo Fittipaldi (Bortoleto), Lance Stroll, Franco Colapinto, Esteban Ocon, and the unfortunate Gasly.
Post-session, the stewards announced an investigation into four drivers – Russell, Tsunoda, Hulkenberg, and Bortoleto – for failing to slow under yellow flag conditions, which could potentially lead to grid penalties.
Q2 – Intense Battle, Antonelli Bounces Back
After a short delay to recover Gasly’s car, Q2 saw Verstappen set the early benchmark, followed closely by Piastri and Hamilton. Antonelli initially had a strong lap deleted for track limits but responded in style by topping the times before being narrowly beaten by teammate Russell and Verstappen.
The session ended in heartbreak for Nico Hulkenberg, who missed out on Q3 by mere tenths. Also eliminated were Alex Albon, Carlos Sainz, Liam Lawson, and Yuki Tsunoda. Leclerc narrowly scraped through despite brushing the wall during his final run.
Q3 – Russell’s Masterclass Under the Lights
All eyes were on Mercedes as both of their cars advanced to the final part of qualifying. Russell set the pace early, laying down a blistering lap that would ultimately secure him pole position. Verstappen tried to respond but fell short, while Piastri slotted into third, showcasing the strong form that’s kept him atop the standings.
Antonelli impressed with fourth place in only his rookie season, outqualifying Norris, Hamilton, and Leclerc. Hadjar, Bearman, and Alonso rounded out the top ten in what promises to be a thrilling grid for tomorrow’s race.
With multiple rookies inside the top 10 and potential penalties looming from the Q1 investigation, Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable races of the season.
