Singapore Sprint Qualifying: Verstappen on pole, ahead of Russell & Leclerc, Antonelli P7

Red Bull Racing star Max Verstappen has secured the best starting position for the first Formula 1 Sprint in Singapore – he was the fastest driver in the Sprint Qualifying session and claimed his eleventh pole position for the short F1 races, his first this season. Close behind him were George Russell in the Mercedes and Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari.

The Sprint Qualifying session began with an air temperature of 30 degrees, a track temperature of 45 degrees and humidity at 78 per cent, but with no rain in sight. The drivers used the medium-compound Pirelli tyres (marked yellow) in the first two qualifying segments, switching to the Italian manufacturer’s soft tyres (marked red) only during the top-ten shootout.

With only 12 minutes’ running time in Q1, no one held back, and there was immediate heavy traffic on the track. The circuit (which had been very dirty in the only free practice session) was in better condition after numerous hairpin bends. Mercedes surprised everyone with two warm-up laps.

A yellow flag was waved after just four minutes: former Singapore Grand Prix winner Sergio Pérez crashed into the TecPro barrier at Turn 4, shearing off his front wing. The Mexican returned to the pits, losing his front wing in the process. Hardly surprising, given that he was runner-up in the 2022 World Championship.

A red flag was promptly raised as the track needed clearing. Numerous drivers were caught off guard, including Ferrari ace Charles Leclerc.

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The standings when the clock was frozen with six minutes remaining: Hamilton, Alonso, Gasly, Colapinto, Stroll; all the others had yet to complete a single lap and were now under considerable pressure.

Piastri and Bottas were driving too fast under double yellow flags; that too could have consequences.

And Hamilton reported Verstappen: “He overtook me under yellow.” But Max on the radio: “I let Lewis past; that was before the yellow flag, but I wanted to be sure.” The FIA looked into it nonetheless. And they did indeed launch an investigation into Pérez – for driving a car in an unsafe condition. But this investigation was shelved straight away, which was a bit baffling. Verstappen was called in for a chat after qualifying.

The race stewards here: Felix Holter (Germany), Matthew Selley (Australia), Pedro Lamy (Portugal) and Paul Ng (Singapore).

After a ten-minute enforced break, the race resumed. Curiously, Pérez – who had triggered the whole incident – was right at the front.

Leclerc moved up to P2 behind Hamilton, followed by Russell, Hülkenberg and Antonelli. Then Norris moved up to third place.

Verstappen tried to create a gap for a lap with as little disruption as possible. It worked – Verstappen in the lead, Leclerc second. But it was a close call. RBR team principal Laurent Mekies: “That was a bit nerve-wracking, because of course you can always get caught up in a yellow flag situation. Fortunately, everything went well.”

Eliminated after the first qualifying segment: Lindblad in P17, then Stroll, Albon, Pérez, Bottas and Sainz.

Top ten: Verstappen, Leclerc, Russell, Hamilton, Hülkenberg, Hadjar, Norris, Piastri, Antonelli and Gasly.

The ten minutes of Q2 got off to a delayed start because there was a problem with the timing system, as the FIA had to admit. The timing had previously been frozen at the end of Q1, and the order remained unclear for a while.

Max Verstappen immediately set the pace, but Isack Hadjar made a mistake and lost time. Antonelli was faster than Russell and moved into P2. But Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari did even better – a new fastest time for the 41-year-old Englishman. Leclerc was even faster than Hamilton; suddenly, Ferrari were right up there.

Hamilton on the radio: “The rear end slipped out on the final corners.” Perhaps the tyres had got too hot there.

Russell made a mistake after the Anderson Bridge, leaving his right front wheel spinning. He had to try again, as he had dropped down to P11. But the Brit managed to salvage his position

Out after Q2: Colapinto in eleventh, then Hülkenberg, Bearman, Bortoleto, Alonso and Ocon.

Top ten and therefore through to Q3: Leclerc, Hamilton, Norris, Russell, Verstappen, Hadjar, Antonelli, Piastri, Lawson and Gasly.

In Q3, now on the softest Pirelli tyres, the drivers had just eight minutes left to show their best form. Another intriguing question was whether the balance of power would shift due to the softer tyres. Antonelli, Verstappen and Hadjar had opted not to run on the soft tyres during the only free practice session.

There was a bit of a scare at Red Bull Racing: there was a problem with Max Verstappen’s car, and the Dutchman was initially off the track.

World Champion Lando Norris set the pace: fastest time ahead of Piastri, Russell and Antonelli. Charles Leclerc wasn’t about to let that stand – the Monegasque driver took the lead, 19 thousandths of a second faster than Norris.

Lewis Hamilton went all out, but threw away pole position in the final section of the track, finishing third.

Max Verstappen had the final say: fastest time and thus pole position for the Singapore Sprint.