Source: Official Team Post via X
Max Verstappen Clinches Singapore Sprint Pole Despite Red Bull ERS Hiccup
Max Verstappen snagged pole position for the Singapore Sprint despite an ERS change on his Red Bull. His top time of 1:31.156 outpaced George Russell by a tenth of a second.
Max Verstappen showed his prowess once again, securing the pole position for the Singapore Sprint despite an unexpected ERS issue with his Red Bull. The team made a precautionary change before qualifying, allowing Verstappen to clock a 1:31.156, narrowly edging out Mercedes' George Russell.
Sergio Perez's Barrier Bump Causes Stir in SQ1
Drama unfolded in SQ1 as Red Bull mechanics busily swapped the ERS on Verstappen's car, which had a suspected fault. Meanwhile, Sergio Perez managed to nudge the barrier at Turn 4. Though initially a yellow flag incident, it escalated to a red flag when he lost his front wing, scattering debris on the track. Despite this hiccup, Perez avoided any penalties for driving in an unsafe condition.
As the session resumed, Lewis Hamilton set the early pace with a 1:33.748. However, the leaderboard constantly shifted as drivers scrambled in the final minutes. Verstappen jumped to the top with a 1:33.477, with Isack Hadjar surprising many by taking fourth. Among those eliminated were Arvid Lindblad, Lance Stroll, and Carlos Sainz.
George Russell's Narrow Escape in SQ2
SQ2 was delayed due to timing system issues but eventually kicked off with drivers on medium tyres. Verstappen initially led with a 1:32.724, but Hamilton and then Charles Leclerc surpassed him. George Russell found himself in a precarious position after a lock-up, but a late surge saw him secure fourth place. Franco Colapinto and Nico Hulkenberg were among those who didn't make it through.
Verstappen Dominates SQ3 for Pole
In the final SQ3 session, the tension was palpable as Red Bull mechanics eyed the rear of Verstappen's car. However, the Dutch driver delivered when it mattered, clocking purple sectors to post a 1:31.156, taking the pole position. Russell improved to secure second, followed by Leclerc in third. Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris rounded out the top five, while Isack Hadjar and Pierre Gasly had their times deleted due to track limits.
Singapore Grand Prix: Sprint Qualifying Top Ten
1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull - 1:31.156 2. George Russell, Mercedes - 1:31.276 3. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari - 1:31.399 4. Oscar Piastri, McLaren - 1:31.454 5. Lando Norris, McLaren - 1:31.587 6. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari - 1:31.702 7. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes - 1:31.849 8. Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls - 1:32.341 9. Isack Hadjar, Red Bull - no time 10. Pierre Gasly, Alpine - no time