George Russell took an unexpected pole position in Singapore, while Verstappen starts second, with Piastri and Norris in third and fifth respectively.
Q1
The high levels of track evolution made things hard to predict in the opening stages of qualifying, with the likes of Bearman and Hadjar both being in the top two of the timing sheets at different points in the session.
Pierre Gasly would have a terminal issue with his car towards the end of Q1, saying that he lost everything and that his steering was heavy, being forced to retire from the session.
This would impact those who had started their laps after Gasly, but one man who was fortunate to have started his before Gasly was Yuki Tsunoda, who was dead last going into his final lap, but would go on to climb his way out of the elimination zone.
ELIMINATED
16. Gabriel Bortoleto – Kick Sauber +0.045
17. Lance Stroll – Aston Martin +0.174
18. Franco Colapinto – Alpine +0.207
19. Esteban Ocon – Haas +0.214
20. Pierre Gasly – Alpine +0.486
Q2
Andrea Kimi Antonelli was demonstrating some good pace, having gone to the top of the timing sheets after his first lap, though the pressure would be on after that time was deleted. Fortunately for him and his team, he was able to handle the pressure and would end the session in third place.
Another driver who was under pressure was Charles Leclerc, who was provisionally 13th place prior to setting his final time, which came about as a result of hitting the wall on his first flying lap. He too would make up for his initial error, taking his car up to sixth.
With an uptake in form in recent races, more might have been expected from Yuki Tsunoda, however he would only end Q2 in 15th place, yet another Q2 exit for the Red Bull driver.
ELIMINATED
11. Nico Hulkenberg – Kick Sauber +0.065
12. Alex Albon – Williams +0.126
13. Carlos Sainz – Williams +0.159
14. Liam Lawson – Racing Bulls +0.244
15. Yuki Tsunoda – Red Bull +0.277
Q3
George Russell would set the pace early on, taking provisional pole position after an incredible lap in his Mercedes, which was a little under two tenths faster than second place Verstappen, who had been on average the fastest driver to this point of qualifying.
Norris would be the first of those in the championship fight, but would only go fast enough for fifth place, which would continue a trend of drivers being unable to improve their positions.
Piastri failed to improve, both Ferraris didn’t improve, and Verstappen backed off on his final lap, seemingly feeling as though Norris had blocked him at the end of his lap.
Even Russell only improved his time by seven thousandths of a second, though it wouldn’t matter if he hadn’t improved at all, as he went on to take his second pole position of the season.
Qualifying Results
1. George Russell – Mercedes 1:29.158
2. Max Verstappen – Red Bull +0.182
3. Oscar Piastri – McLaren +0.366
4. Andrea Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes +0.379
5. Lando Norris – McLaren +0.428
6. Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari +0.530
7. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari +0.626
8. Isack Hadjar – Racing Bulls +0.688
9. Ollie Bearman – Haas +0.710
10. Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin +0.797
