Formula 1 World Championship contenders Lando Norris and Max Verstappen will share the front row of Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix.
Norris qualified as the fastest and will start from the pole, going two-tenths quicker than reigning three-time world champion Verstappen in a Q3 session that was interrupted by a crash for Carlos Sainz.
Ferrari’s woes didn’t end there. Charles Leclerc’s only Q3 lap was invalidated, confining him to the fifth row alongside his teammate for Sunday’s race.
While Mercedes struggled for pace in practice, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell came to life in qualifying and locked out the second row, with Hamilton pipping his teammate by just 0.026 seconds to claim third.
Oscar Piastri lines up fifth, alongside Nico Hulkenberg, who impressed for Haas. Fernando Alonso and Yuki Tsunoda complete the fourth row ahead of the two Ferraris.
Daniel Ricciardo was the shock elimination of Q1, unable to replicate RB’s strong practice pace. Joining him in the bottom five were Lance Stroll, Pierre Gasly, Valtteri Bottas, and Guanyu Zhou, respectively.
Sergio Perez was eliminated in Q2. His best lap was over nine-tenths off his teammate Verstappen, restricting him to 13th, where he’ll start alongside Kevin Magnussen.
Williams’s Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto were separated by just 0.007 seconds to be eliminated in 11th and 12th. Esteban Ocon was the other driver eliminated and will start 15th, next to Ricciardo.
Only Hulkenberg and Piastri had set a lap before Sainz crashed in Q3, which happened as he exited the final corner on his way to begin a flying lap. The Ferrari spun back-first into the wall, severely damaging the rear wing and suspension.
Verstappen arrived on the scene just as the double-waved yellows were shown and was forced to lift as he crossed the line to set a 1m 29.791s, which was invalidated due to the timing of the caution.
Norris was also forced to abort a fast lap in the third sector, having gone quickest overall in the opening two.
A 15-minute delay for car retrieval and barrier repairs followed before Q3 resumed with 8 minutes left on the clock.
Teams remained in pit lane for several minutes before returning to the track for a one-lap shootout at the chequered flag.
Piastri led the way with a 1m29.953s, which Norris quickly overcame, and then Hamilton, who tentatively put himself on the front row.
It took a late effort from Vertsppaen to displace the seven-time world champion, who will instead line up third.
The Singapore Grand Prix begins at midnight tonight and will be sown live on Sky Sport.
Header Image: McLaren
