Norris pips Verstappen to Singapore GP pole as Sainz crashes

McLaren’s Lando Norris has claimed his sixth career pole position at the Singapore Grand Prix, with championship contender and Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen set to start alongside. 

Feature image credit: McLaren Racing

It’s been an impressive weekend for Norris and McLaren this weekend, having led every session since Free Practice 2 on Friday night, and qualifying was no different. 

Norris claimed his sixth career pole position on Saturday as the Briton topped the timing boards with a time of 1m 29.525s. However, he will have his fellow friend – and championship rival – Verstappen for company on the front row of the grid.

Qualifying’s Q3 quickly became a one-lap shootout for many, bar Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri who had completed a lap before Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz crashed into the barrier at the final corner. 

However, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton managed to find some pace in qualifying to go third overall ahead of his teammate, George Russell who qualified fourth. Piastri rounded out the top five, in fifth.

Of the timed drivers, Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg completed the session in sixth ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and RB’s Yuki Tsunoda who qualified seventh and eighth. 

It was a torrid time for the two Ferrari drivers as Charles Leclerc’s time was deleted for track limits at turn 19, whilst Sainz failed to set a time on the board following his crash and will start 10th. 

RED FLAG in Q3 as Carlos Sainz goes flying into the barriers 🚨 pic.twitter.com/2WSiKNQkEQ

— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) September 21, 2024

The two Williams of Alexander Albon and Franco Colapinto lead the bottom 10 drivers on the grid, in 11th and 12th respectively. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez could not find the pace to get out of Q2 and will start the race in 13th – the same position he started in last year’s race. 

Haas’ Kevin Magnussen – who has returned following a one-race ban – finished 14th ahead of Alpine’s Esteban Ocon who rounded out the top 15 drivers. 

RB’s Daniel Ricciardo – if rumours are to be believed – could have seen his final qualifying performance end in Q1 as the Australian only managed 16th at best. 

He was followed by Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly in 17th and 18th, with the Kick Sauber pair of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu completing the field down in 19th and 20th respectively.

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Sainz crashes out of Singapore GP qualifying
• Leclerc pips Norris with fastest FP1 time at F1 Singapore GP
• McLaren F1 reveal ‘Legend Reborn’ livery for Singapore GP
• VCARB reveal ‘fashion-inspired’ livery for Singapore GP
• Mercedes F1 reveal striking livery for Singapore GP
• Andrea Stella praises McLaren’s hard work after taking F1 championship lead
• Bahrain to host 2025 F1 pre-season tests

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.