Sept 22, V7N- Lando Norris secured pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix in a dramatic qualifying session, with Red Bull’s championship leader Max Verstappen joining him on the front row. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton qualified third for Mercedes, followed by teammate George Russell in fourth, and McLaren's Oscar Piastri in fifth. The session was briefly halted after Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz crashed at the final corner, which impacted several drivers' lap attempts.

This was Norris’s fifth pole of the season and his third in the last four races. He expressed confidence in his car and his performance, looking forward to the race. Verstappen, despite starting in 15th during practice, was satisfied with second place, acknowledging that overtaking is difficult on Singapore’s tight Marina Bay circuit, making the start crucial.

The qualifying session had its tense moments, including Sainz’s crash, which led to Verstappen’s lap being deleted due to yellow flag regulations. Ferrari had a challenging session overall, with Charles Leclerc dropping to ninth after his lap was also deleted, and Sainz finishing 10th.

Elsewhere, Haas’s Nico Hulkenberg qualified sixth, followed by Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso in seventh and Yuki Tsunoda in eighth. Ferrari’s struggles contrasted with McLaren’s success, as they had seen Ferrari as their main rivals for the weekend. Sergio Perez will start 13th, a repeat of his grid position from last year.

Daniel Ricciardo, who qualified 16th, faces uncertainty about his future, as Red Bull evaluates its driver lineup for 2025, with Liam Lawson potentially replacing him after the Austin round. Ricciardo joked darkly about his tough day, humorously remarking that he might be "floating" in his ice bath by race day.

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