Verstappen mounts a comeback, Ferrari encounters calamity
Max Verstappen had some worries leading up to the Singapore Grand Prix, but he managed to impress in qualifying, securing a strong second place. Contrarily, Ferrari encountered a major setback in the final segment of qualifying.
Lando Norris clinched the pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix. The McLaren driver shone in qualifying, setting a best time of 1:29.525 minutes and forcing Max Verstappen (Netherlands/Red Bull) into second place. This was Norris' sixth pole position in his career and his fifth for the current season.
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell (both from the UK) in the Mercedes team placed second and third on the starting grid, respectively. Nico Hülkenberg, surprisingly, performed well in the supposedly weaker Haas. The German driver finished sixth, trailing Norris' teammate, Oscar Piastri (Australia).
Unfortunately, Ferrari's qualifying session was a letdown. Charles Leclerc (Monaco) was disqualified from setting a fast lap due to breaking the track limits, resulting in a ninth place finish. Carlos Sainz (Spain) also had a mishap, crashing backwards into the track limits, causing a lengthy interruption, and ultimately placing tenth.
In the upcoming race on Sunday (14:00 CEST/Sky and live coverage on ntv.de), Verstappen's teammate, Sergio Perez, will likely offer little support. Perez qualified in 13th place. "It's about minimizing the damage" said Perez, after a disappointing race weekend in Baku where Norris overtook him from 15th place. Verstappen showed improvement after the race in Baku, remarking "The car was like a go-kart, one wheel was always in the air in the slow corners." Verstappen predicted that "I don't think Singapore will be our best race." However, in qualifying, the reigning champion was able to hold his own.
In the driver's championship, Norris still trails Verstappen by 59 points. In the constructors' championship, McLaren surged ahead in Baku.
Despite facing some challenges earlier, Max Verstappen's strong performance in qualifying kept him in contention for Formula 1 victories, as shown by his second-place finish in Singapore Grand Prix qualifying. On the other hand, Ferrari, known for their consistency, faced setbacks in the final segment of qualifying, with both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz performing poorly and securing low grid positions.
