George Russell took surprise F1 pole in Singapore GP ahead of Max Verstappen, with Oscar Piastri rounding the Top 3.
Q1:
The first part in F1 Singapore GP qualifying saw a close pack from top to the midfield, with the Top 4 covered within a 0.980s margin at the end. It was Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton on top with a 1m29.765s lap after a late push, with Mercedes’ George Russell second and McLaren’s Lando Norris third.
His teammate Oscar Piastri had his first lap aborted due to yellow flag, much like Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The Italian was seemingly impeded by Williams’ Carlos Sainz but the Spaniard was quickly cleared. Both left it late but were easily through despite the late yellow flag.
It was for Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, who stopped at Turn 11 after losing drive in the car. Some of the drivers improved under the yellow flag, which included Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda and Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg. The German’s teammate Gabriel Bortoleto (1m30.820s) did so but was 16th and out in Q1.
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll (1m30.949s) was 17th from Alpine’s Franco Colapinto (1m30.982s), Haas’ Esteban Ocon (1m30.989s) and Gasly (1m31.261s) to round out the 20 runners. The likes of Tsunoda, Hulkenberg, Bortoleto and Russell will be investigated for yellow flag infringement.
Q2:
The start of second part of F1 Singapore GP was delayed due to removal of Gasly’s car and the stewards trying to ascertain infringements under the yellow flag, which is to be investigated after the session. Antonelli’s lap was deleted due to track limits at Turn 2, leaving him vulnerable.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was 13th after his first run, but replays showed tap with the wall which likely hampered his quick lap. The final run saw Russell take the top spot with a 1m29.562s lap, where he was 0.010s quicker than Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, as Antonelli jumped up to third.
It was another close field where the Top 10 was covered within 0.514s, while the Top 15 was covered by just the 0.791s margin. A late lap from Leclerc dropped Hulkenberg (1m30.141s) to 11th after the German initially improved to knock out Williams’ Alexander Albon (1m30.202s).
The Thai was only 12th from Sainz (1m30.235s), where both the Williams got knocked out in Q2, with Visa Cash App RB’s Liam Lawson (1m30.320s) 14th from Tsunoda (1m30.353s). The Japanese driver was forced to abort his final attempt due to a mistake on his quick attempt.
Q3:
The final part in F1 Singapore GP qualifying saw Russell storm through to set a 1m29.165s lap despite the wall tap in the final corner. The mighty run was strong enough that none could go quicker than hi, with Verstappen (1m29.340s) coming close to the Brit in the fight for pole.
Piastri was third after his 1m29.524s lap, with Antonelli in fourth from Norris in the Top 5, ahead of the Ferrari pair. The second run saw Russell up his pace to a 1m29.158s lap to secure F1 pole in Singapore GP, with Verstappen unable to improve in second, as did Piastri in third.
Antonelli (1m29.537s) was fourth from Norris (1m29.586s), with Hamilton (1m29.688s) and Leclerc (1m29.784s) only sixth and seventh. Visa Cash App RB’s Isack Hadjar (1m29.846s) aborted his final lap to be eighth, with Haas’ Oliver Bearman (1m29.868s) in ninth and Aston Martin’s Fernando (1m29.955s) Alonso 10th.
Here’s Max Verstappen topping FP3: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/fp3-verstappen-goes-fastest-from-piastri-and-russell-during-final-practice.5GZHfXMtMTVwS70LKbGtzh
Here’s stewards clearing Lewis Hamilton after FP3: https://www.fia.com/system/files/decision-document/2025_singapore_grand_prix_-_decision_-_car_44_-_allegedly_failing_to_comply_with_a_red_flag.pdf