George Russell delivered a superb qualifying lap to secure pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix, strengthening his case for a Mercedes contract extension. The Briton produced a near-perfect effort to outpace Max Verstappen by almost two-tenths of a second, a margin rarely seen at the demanding Marina Bay street circuit.
Verstappen, however, was left frustrated after aborting his final run, claiming his lap was ruined by Lando Norris. The Red Bull champion complained that the McLaren driver, on an in-lap, had obstructed him in the final corners and cost him crucial downforce. “That is what happens when there is a car in front of you and that will be remembered,” Verstappen said, describing the incident as “not nice”.
Norris dismissed the criticism, arguing that he was several seconds ahead and had not broken any rules. “They always complain, they complain about everything, that’s Red Bull,” he remarked.
Whether Verstappen could have beaten Russell remains doubtful, with the Dutchman trailing after his first hot lap and Russell finding even more pace on his decisive second attempt. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri qualified third and Norris fifth, while Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli impressed in fourth. Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc lined up sixth and seventh.
Russell’s pole was a statement of intent, especially as he continues to recover from illness. Mercedes’ new front wing upgrades also appeared to deliver. With his future at the team still under discussion, the performance further strengthened his bargaining position.
On Sunday, the race promises drama, with Russell seeking his first Singapore win and Verstappen aiming to end his own drought at the circuit. A podium finish for McLaren would also be enough to seal the constructors’ championship, their second in succession.
Williams endured a setback as both cars were disqualified post-qualifying due to illegal DRS slot openings, leaving Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz to start from the back of the grid.
