George Russell springs Singapore surprise as Max Verstappen inflicts further McLaren pain

George Russell secured a stunning pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix, setting a new lap record at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

The Mercedes driver's lap time of 1:29.158 was almost two-tenths clear of Max Verstappen, who was second-quickest under the lights of the Southeast Asian city-state.

Oscar Piastri was third fastest and will be joined on the second row of the grid by Kimi Antonelli. Lando Norris rounded out the top five in a disappointing result for McLaren.

It was an unexpectedly strong evening for Mercedes, in stark contrast to the papaya squad, who were anticipated to lockout the front row, despite the looming threat of Verstappen.

Lance Stroll, Russell, Yuki Tsunoda and the Stakes of Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg were looked at for a potential yellow flag infringement in Q1.

The former duo were shortly cleared of wrongdoing, with the latter trio to be investigated by the stewards after qualifying.

Full qualifying report continues below!

Q3

The lap record came early in the third and final segment of qualifying, with Russell cutting the beam at 1:29.165, almost four tenths faster than Norris' pole time last year.

He was joined by Antonelli in behind as Mercedes set the early pace in the session to follow on from their strong showing in Q2.

Verstappen and Piastri would spoil the party, going second and third quickest. Norris, in the second MCL39, was only fifth after the first timed runs in Q3.

Sixth and seventh were the Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, with Isack Hadjar, Ollie Bearman and Fernando Alonso rounding out the 10 remaining competitors.

Norris could not improve on his final time, like many others. Russell went marginally quicker, but Verstappen could not. The order remained unchanged from the first timed runs.

Q2

After Pierre Gasly's car stopped out on track late in Q1, with a believed hydraulics or electrical issue, the start of Q2 was subsequently delayed — partly for his Alpine to be recovered and partly to allow the stewards to check the alleged yellow flag infringements.

When the session did get underway, Verstappen quickly set the pace, clocking a 1:29.747 in his Red Bull, that time being only two-tenths of a second slower than Norris' pole time from a year ago.

The McLarens would slot in second and fourth after the first timed runs, with Piastri ahead of his team-mate and Hamilton splitting the MCL39s.

Leclerc, in the other Ferrari, was only P13. The Monegasque driver was only quicker than Albon and Antonelli — who had his lap time deleted for track limits — after grazing the wall.

As the cars filed out for their second timed runs, the FIA confirmed Russell would not be investigated further for the yellow flag infringement in Q1.

The British driver celebrated by promptly putting his W16 fastest, joined by Mercedes team-mate Antonelli just behind. Verstappen soon got between the pair, going second and only 10 milliseconds off the lead time.

Leclerc staved off elimination, going sixth fastest. Tsunoda and Liam Lawson were consigned to being knocked out, being joined by both Williams cars and Hulkenberg.

Out in Q2: P11: Hulkenberg, P12: Alex Albon, P13: Carlos Sainz, P14: Lawson, P15: Tsunoda

Q1

Following his FP3 crash — the second of his weekend in Singapore — Liam Lawson was ready to go at the start of qualifying after some stellar work from his Racing Bulls team.

As the 18-minute mini-session commenced, cars immediately filed out onto the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

Franco Colapinto cut the timing beam four-and-a-half minutes in, setting a lap time of 1:32.096, but his effort was quickly surpassed by a gaggle of rivals, including the Williams pair of Sainz and Albon.

Hamilton, fresh from avoiding punishment for a potential red flag infringement after Lawson's practice crash, had to bail out of his first push lap, having run wide. His lap would have been deleted, anyway.

Meanwhile, Ferrari team-mate Leclerc went top, with a 1:30.940. However, multiple cars, led by Verstappen, would soon go faster.

Piastri's first attempt was ruined by an erroneous yellow flag, which had been flown at the first corner due to a car deliberately going off ahead of him to get out of his way, leaving the Australian on the back foot within the final 10 minutes of the session.

Sainz and Mercedes driver Antonelli were noted for impeding, but the stewards would promptly decide no further action was warranted.

The big surprise of the first series of timed runs was Hadjar going quickest, over a tenth clear of Verstappen. Unfortunately for the Frenchman, it was short-lived, as Norris would drop the marker by a further three tenths of a second.

Gasly produced a late yellow flag after a failure on his Alpine, ending the opportunity to improve for all those behind him on track. The one-time grand prix winner ended the session bottom of the standings.

Five drivers (Lance Stroll, Russell, Tsunoda, Gabriel Bortoleto and Hulkenberg) were all noted for a potential safety car infringement as a consequence.

Only the Aston Martin was immediately cleared of wrongdoing, with the latter quartet all to be investigated after qualifying — Russell was soon found not guilty. 

Out in Q1: P16: Bortoleto, P17: Stroll, P18: Colapinto, P19: Esteban Ocon, P20: Gasly