Verstappen takes Singapore pole; Pérez out in Q1
His first pole at Marina Bay came 54 thousandths of a second ahead of Leclerc; Russell, sixth on pace, faces an engine-change penalty.
Max Verstappen of Red Bull set the fastest lap in Saturday's Singapore Grand Prix qualifying, a 1:31.373, and will start from pole on Sunday, according to Formula1.com. It is his first pole at the Marina Bay circuit.
Both Ferraris lined up behind him. Charles Leclerc was second, 54 thousandths of a second back, and Lewis Hamilton third, 123 thousandths back, after leading Q1 and Q2. Leclerc said he lost pole through "a bit of misjudgement" in Q3. Verstappen said this was the pole he "wanted".
Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes was fourth and Lando Norris of McLaren fifth. George Russell set the sixth-fastest time, but he carries an engine-change penalty that will move him back. Formula1.com describes the penalty as yet to be applied, and ESPN says he will start from the back, so his final place depends on the FIA's official grid. Oscar Piastri, Pierre Gasly, Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad completed the top 10.
For Mexican fans, Sergio Pérez was eliminated in Q1, in 20th place, along with Fernando Alonso, Alexander Albon, Lance Stroll, Valtteri Bottas and Isack Hadjar. Hadjar's engine died and he did not set a representative time.
Verstappen had already won this weekend's Sprint, run in the rain and marked by Russell's crash while leading. The main race is Sunday, Oct. 11, at 13:00 BST according to ESPN, which is 6:00 a.m. in Mexico City.
