F1 | Singapore GP | Qualifying | Russell fastest from Verstappen and Piastri - Motorsport

Spread the love

It’s time to set the grid for the F1 Singapore GP with Qualifying ! Who will end the day on top and start the main event tomorrow from a prime spot for winning? Will Verstappen get closer to securing a very impressive third win in a row, or will instead one of the McLaren drivers be able to unlock the full potential of their challenger?

Q1 – First drivers getting cut

Racing Bulls ultimately managed to rebuild Liam Lawson for the second time this weekend, following his FP3 crash earlier today in spite of the very little time the Italian team had at disposal.

Among the first drivers to come out on track there was Lewis Hamilton, definitely looking forward to the chance of redeeming his latest least impressive Qualifying performance at the F1 Singapore GP.

Surprise break!

A yellow flag was issued two minutes into the session as Sainz goes fastest for Williams.

Hadjar is the first driver to set a lap in the 1:30s at the F1 Singapore GP Qualifying, with Norris setting a 1:30.57s. Verstappen and Hamilton completed fast attempts as well, whereas Piastri’s lap was hindered by the issuance of the yellow flag. Replays show that the earlier waved flag originated from a driver diving into the runway to make room for the championship leader.

With 10 minutes left in the segment Verstappen is fastest in 1:30.317s ahead of Bearman and Russell, with the Red Bull driver pitting for tyres. Lclerc has a positive lap which brings him up to P3, whereas Piastri’s first attempt is good enough only for P6.

Norris sets the first 1:29s lap of the day on minute ten of F1 Singapore GP Qualifying, as Antonelli signs impressive first and second purple sector. Ultimately the Italian driver settles for provisional P2, 0.104s behind the McLaren driver.

Ahead of the final set of attempts, the Sauber drivers as well as Ocon, Gasly and Tsunoda are in the bottom five, with a minute left on the clock. However, a yellow flag was issued in the final moments of Q1. The second halter to the session happened as Gasly’s Alpine stopped on track, probably because of an electronic issue.

Ultimately, Colapinto and Stroll ran too close to the walls on their final attempt, not managing to improve their time enough to make the cut. Hamilton set the fastest time in 1:29.765s, ahead of Russell and Norris.

Out in Q1

16. Bortoleto

17. Stroll

18. Colapinto

19. Ocon

20. Gasly

Q2: What next for the remaining pole contenders?

Tsunoda, Russell and Bortoleto were announced to be investigated for not slowing enough under the yellow flag caused by Gasly. The instance will be evaluated after the end of the F1 Singapore GP Qualifying.

Williams’s Sain was th first out on track.

Five minutes into the session, Verstappen leads in 1:29.747s from Hadjar and Alonso, as Russell sets a great fastest first sector, ending a lap good enough for P4. His Mercedes teammate Antonelli goes up to P2 in his first competitive session at the Marina Bay track. However, his time was then unfortunately deleted for track limits.

McLaren complete their fast attempts, bolting to P2 and P4 and separated only by Hamilton’s Ferrari. On the other side of the Italian Scuderia’s garage, however, Leclerc remains in P13 after making slight contact with the wall.

Mercedes confirm the great pace of their car at this track with Russell taking the provisional top spot and Antonelli in P3 with one of the final attempts of the session. Leclerc’s only fast lap of the session is luckily quick enough to move him from P15 to P6.

Out in Q2:

11. Hulkenberg

12. Albon

13. Sainz

14. Lawson

15. Tsunoda

Q3: who will take the top spot?

The Mercedes drivers were the first to go out in the final segment of the F1 Singapore GP Qualifying. Russell went immediately fastest in 1:29.165s in spite of only narrowly not hitting the wall in the final sector ahead od Antonelli and Bearman.

Verstappen completed his first attempt next, but was 0.175s behind the Brit, whereas championship leader Piastri as well scraped the wall but settled for provisional P3, 0.359s behind.

Norris is instead the first driver to return on track for the final fast lap of the day, butt leaves empty handed as he remains in P5. Ferrari’s Leclerc as well had an unimpressive lap which leaves him in P7. Russell shaves off some hundreds to sign a 1:29.158s, while Hamilton only barely outqualifies his teammate and will start from P6.

The final driver on a pole attempt is Verstappen, but the Dutch driver gets too close to the wall and backs off his attempt, content with his previous P2.

Russell will start the F1 Singapore GP from P1 after Qualifying, alongside reigning champion Max Verstappen and ahead of Piastri. It’s a seventh career pole position in the top single seaters championship for Russell, and the second in 2025 following his strong run in Canada.

Tune in tomorrow for the Race!