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George Russell delivered a virtuous performance under the lights to claim a stunning pole for Mercedes for the Singapore Grand Prix as second-placed Max Verstappen also outqualified the title-leading McLaren drivers.
Claiming just Mercedes’ second pole of the season and first since June, Russell delivered two laps in the Q3 shootout that were good enough for pole – with his first even including a whack against the wall at the penultimate corner.
Russell’s final time of 1:29.158 proved to be just under two tenths of a second quicker than Verstappen, who can take solace from the fact he outqualified both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris as McLaren failed to match their rivals’ speed in third and fifth places respectively.
But Verstappen was left frustrated by Norris, who he accused of compromising his final attempt at pole when running slower ahead through the final sector on his in-lap to the pits.
“You can thank your mate for that,” said Verstappen’s engineer Gianpiero Lambiase over team radio, while the Dutchman said in his interview after the session: “That’s noted, it will be remembered as well.”
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Max Verstappen fumes at Lando Norris for impeding his last lap in Q3 at the Singapore GP
Title leader Piastri will start at the head of the second row next to Kimi Antonelli in the second Mercedes but Norris will be disappointed to be only fifth on a track where overtaking is notoriously difficult.
Although they showed early promise to set the Q1 pace, Ferrari’s challenge faded when it mattered most and they qualified half a second off pole in sixth and seventh positions.
Lewis Hamilton will start as their lead car for just the fifth time this year as he outqualified Charles Leclerc, who nearly dropped out in Q2, but neither driver will be particularly happy with their starting berths.
Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar, Haas’ Oliver Bearman and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso rounded out the top 10.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s Singapore GP schedule
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Look back at some of the most dramatic moments to have taken place at the Singapore Grand Prix
Sunday October 5
8.20am: F1 Academy Race 2
11.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Singapore GP build-up
1pm: THE SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX
3pm: Chequered Flag: Singapore GP reaction
4pm: Ted’s Notebook
The 2025 Formula 1 title fight continues under the lights at the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
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