Sebastian Vettel scores an incredible pole position in a thrilling qualifying session in Singapore, followed by both Red Bull’s. While Lewis Hamilton only qualified in 5th.
Q1: Kimi Räikkönen (Scuderia Ferrari) is the first on track and the first to set a reference time. The first incident comes from Felipe Massa (Williams) who, half-way through the session, breaks his right rear wheel in turn 20. In the last part of the session, both McLaren’s and Renault’s get in the top 10.
Far from Max Vertsappen, Daniel Ricciardo and Fernando Alonso, who are the top 3 of the first session, we find: Kevin Magnussen, Felipe Massa, Lance Stroll, Pascal Wehrlein and Marcus Ericson are the eliminated drivers of Q1.
Q2: Max Verstappen is yet again the one to realize the best time at the start of the session, in front of Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo. Halfway through the session; Alonso, Perez, Kvyat, Ocon and Grosjean are the drivers in danger.
Few pilots are able to improve their times, only Fernando Alonso will improve enough to get through, leaving Jolyon Palmer just dry of Q3.
Q3: Sebastian Vettel is the one who goes out and sets an amazing lap of 1:39.669, with only the first sector being purple. Yet the German stays one tenth quicker than both Red Bull, with both Mercedes in 5th and 6th.
At the second try, the Red Bull don’t manage to improve and Lewis Hamilton still stuck in 5th. While Sebastian Vettel manages to improve his time to a 1:39.492, three tenths in front of his first rival.
Sebastian Vettel signs his 49th carreer pole, in front of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo. Räikkönnen is 4th in front of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas. Hülkenberg, Alonso, Vandoorne and Sainz complete the top 10.