Norris clinches pole in dramatic F1 qualifying as disaster strikes for ...
McLaren’s Lando Norris beat Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix in a dramatic qualifying session that included Carlos Sainz crashing an untimely result for Daniel Ricciardo.
Norris’s lap of 1:30.002 was 0.155s quicker than Verstappen, while Lewis Hamilton was third ahead of Mercedes teammate George Russell and Australian Oscar Piastri in fifth.
“It was good enough for pole and I’m happy with that, especially here in Singapore,” said Norris, who is aiming to close a 59-point deficit to Verstappen in the drivers’ championship.
“A good feeling. I’ve felt good all weekend, I’ve felt confident, maybe not so much in qualy but we got the job done.”
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But it was a disastrous Q3 for Ferrari pair Charles Leclerc and Sainz, the winner in Singapore 12 months ago, who will start down in ninth and 10th on the grid.
Sainz’s back end snapped out on the final bend sending him spinning into the barriers and halting Q3 with just over eight minutes remaining, leaving most drivers just one shot at a qualifying lap.
Leclerc then had his only lap time deleted for breaching track limits at turn two.
Ricciardo – who is rumoured to be possibly driving in F1 for the last time for RB with rumours swirling Liam Lawson could take his seat – was in the bottom five who were earlier eliminated in Q1.
It was a disappointed result considering there were promising signs for a good weekend for Ricciardo on the first day of practice, which saw him finished seventh in FP1 and sixth in FP2 .
Finishing in 16th also looked grim after teammate Yuki Tsunoda pushed into Q3, ultimately qualifying 8th.
“Yesterday was good, and I know it’s only practice but from the first run we were always up there,” he said.
“We didn’t really change much over might but even the mediums were okay but every soft I used today I was not competitive at all. So not much to say.”
Ferrari's Spanish driver Carlos Sainz crashes. Photo by MOHD RASFAN / POOL / AFPSource: AFPMcLaren's British driver Lando Norris. Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFPSource: AFPVerstappen had only been 15th fastest in practice on Friday, so the Dutchman was pleased to be alongside his main title rival at the head of the grid.
“I’m happy to be on the front row if you look at where we came from yesterday,” said Verstappen.
“Tomorrow is a bit difficult to say, in Singapore a lot of things can happen, but at least we have a shot at it like this.”
Hamilton had also struggled in practice but managed to put a great lap together when it mattered.
“Qualifying has been a disaster for me all year long and I’ve been working, working and working trying to get myself back up there,” said seven-time world champion Hamilton.
“All of a sudden the car came alive for the first time in qualifying in a long time.
“I hope we’re in a good position to fight for the front tomorrow.”
McLaren’s Piastri was fifth fastest and Nico Hulkenberg of Haas will start alongside him on the third row.
Fernando Alonso was seventh in an Aston Martin, with Yuki Tsunoda eighth in the RB.
Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez failed to make it to the shootout for pole position and will start from 13th on the grid.
Along with Perez, the other drivers who failed to get out of Q2 were the Williams pair of Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto, Kevin Magnussen in a Haas and Esteban Ocon (Alpine).
Also failing to make it to Q2 were Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin, Pierre Gasly in an Alpine and the Sauber pair of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu.
Grid for Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix after qualifying at the Marina Bay Circuit:
Front row Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren) Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull)
2nd row Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) George Russell (GBR/Mercedes)
3rd row Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren) Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Haas)
4th row Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin) Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/RB)
5th row Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari)
6th row Alexander Albon (THA/Williams) Franco Colapinto (ARG/Williams)
7th row Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull) Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas)
8th row Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault) Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/RB)
9th row Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin) Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Renault)
10th row Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Sauber) Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Sauber)afp
