George Russell claimed pole position at the Singapore Grand Prix, outpacing Max Verstappen in a thrilling qualifying session. Russell’s performance marked a significant achievement as he secured the front spot on the grid ahead of Sunday’s race.
Qualifying Highlights
In an unexpected turn of events, Oscar Piastri expressed disappointment with his performance, finishing 0.366 seconds off the pole time. Despite a decent first lap in Q3, Piastri noted the lack of pace from McLaren, which surprised both him and the team. “We were relatively confident going in,” he stated, reflecting on their disappointing outing.
- Piastri’s Performance: Returned to form after struggles in Baku.
- Starting Position: Begins two places ahead of teammate Lando Norris, who has a 25-point lead in the championship.
Norris’ Qualifying Struggles
Lando Norris acknowledged that McLaren fell short of their speed expectations, stating, “We weren’t quick enough; the Mercedes were quite a lot faster.” His inability to maximize performance on the challenging track was a setback, though he remained optimistic about the upcoming race, suggesting, “There are still chances, so we have to wait and see.”
Hamilton’s Comeback
Lewis Hamilton outqualified Charles Leclerc for the first time since the British Grand Prix, indicating a resurgence in form. Hamilton secured the sixth position, after being the fastest in the initial qualifying session. He commented on Ferrari’s strategic decisions, saying, “We just didn’t optimize the sessions, Q2 onwards.”
- Comfort in the Car: “I think I have been driving really well,” Hamilton remarked.
- Concern: Acknowledged that P6 is not where they aim to be.
Williams’ Technical Issues
The qualifying session was marred by controversy as Williams faced scrutiny. Drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz qualified 12th and 13th but have been reported to the stewards for exceeding the maximum dimensions on their rear wings. This incident may lead to their disqualification from the qualifying results.
As the teams prepare for the race, all eyes will be on how Russell and Verstappen perform from their front-row positions and whether McLaren can rectify their pace issues during the race.
