Formula 1: Lando Norris takes pole position for Singapore Grand Prix ahead of Max Verstappen

[ad_1]

Lando Norris (McLaren) took pole position on Saturday for the Singapore Grand Prix, the 18th round of 24 in the Formula 1 World Championship, scheduled for Sunday. The Briton set the fastest time in qualifying on the Marina Bay circuit ahead of the Dutch triple world champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and the two Mercedes of his compatriots Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

“I’ve had a good feeling and confidence in the car since the start of the weekend. I like it when things get difficult, it becomes fun,” explained Norris. The suspense therefore remains between Verstappen, the championship leader, who was able to bounce back after a difficult day on Friday, and his runner-up Norris, who dominated the tests and confirmed his current superiority in qualifying.

Mercedes as referees

“In the end, qualifying went pretty well, we were able to improve the car and session after session, we were able to progress. When you see where we were yesterday, this front row is really welcome,” Verstappen stressed. The Briton will however have to manage to contain the attacks of his Dutch friend at the start, he who let the first place slip away at the first corner almost systematically when he started from pole position.

Mercedes will be the referees of this duel after getting back on track at the best possible time after very complicated free practice since the start of the weekend. The two Silver Arrows will indeed start on the second row and could interfere in the fight between Verstappen and Norris. For his 350th Grand Prix, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton will also have to keep an eye in his rearview mirrors with his teammate and especially the second McLaren of Australian Oscar Piastri who will start from fifth place.

Qualifying was marked by Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) going off the road at the start of Q3: the Spaniard lost control of his single-seater which spun at the entrance to the last corner and crashed violently into the protective barriers, seriously damaging its rear end.

Alpine still in difficulty

Unharmed, the driver, who won last year at Marina Bay, was able to walk back to the pits and will have to settle for tenth place on the grid on Sunday, just behind his Monegasque team-mate Charles Leclerc, who saw his only time in Q3 disallowed for exceeding track limits. The top 10 is completed by the German Nico Hulkenberg (Haas), who took a remarkable sixth place, ahead of the Spanish veteran Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) and the Japanese Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls).

A week after a disastrous weekend in Azerbaijan, Alpine was in difficulty again as the Frenchmen Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly will start 15th and 18th respectively and will therefore have a hard time getting points.



[ad_2]

Source link -78