Russell Secures Pole Position in Singapore as Verstappen Shines

George Russell delivered an impressive performance at the Singapore Grand Prix, securing pole position for Mercedes with a time of 1:29.158. This marks only the second pole of the season for Mercedes and their first since June. Russell’s achievement is particularly noteworthy as he outqualified not only his teammate but also Max Verstappen, who finished second, and the leading McLaren duo.

In the final qualifying session, Russell executed two strong laps, the first of which was particularly eventful as he grazed the wall at the penultimate corner. Despite the minor setback, his final time proved to be nearly two-tenths of a second faster than Verstappen. The Red Bull driver, while unable to clinch pole, expressed satisfaction in outperforming both McLaren drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who struggled to match the pace of their rivals.

Piastri will start in third position, alongside Kimi Antonelli in the second Mercedes car. Norris, however, will begin the race from fifth place, a disappointing position for the McLaren team, especially on a circuit known for its challenging overtaking opportunities.

Ferrari, which showed potential early on, could not maintain their momentum when it mattered most. The team qualified in sixth and seventh positions, with Lewis Hamilton leading the charge for Ferrari, managing to outqualify Charles Leclerc, who nearly fell out of contention during Q2. Neither Ferrari driver is likely to be content with their starting positions as they look to improve during the race.

The top ten was rounded out by Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls, Oliver Bearman from Haas, and veteran driver Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin, finishing in tenth. The qualifying results set the stage for an exciting race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

The Singapore Grand Prix will take place on October 5, 2025, with the race scheduled to begin at 13:00 local time. Fans can tune in to Sky Sports F1 for live coverage and analysis of the race.

The battle for the 2025 Formula 1 title intensifies as teams prepare for the challenging night race, offering a blend of strategy, speed, and skill under the illuminated skyline of Singapore.