Singapore – Qualifications: Ferrari and a Great Leclerc Surprise Mercedes

After practice sessions that did not reveal a real favorite, it’s time for qualifying at the Marina Bay circuit. The conditions, while nocturnal, remain very hot with 30°C in the air and more than 35°C on the track.

Q1: The Mercedes assert themselves

From the start of the warm-up lap, Carlos Sainz informs his team that he has no power. After interacting with the telemetry, the team seems to have found the solution as the Spaniard sets off on his timed lap without any apparent issue.

At the end of the flying lap, the reference time is set by Charles Leclerc at 1:38.014, ahead of Verstappen by 0.4 seconds and Bottas. Lance Stroll brushes the wall during his attempt, without any consequence to his car.

At the back of the grid and halfway through the session, the battle for passage into Q2 includes both Williams, both Haas, and Räikkönen’s Alfa Romeo.

During the second timed test, Sebastian Vettel closed in on his teammate with a time of 1:38.374, ahead of Max Verstappen at 1:38.540. The two Mercedes cars are currently lagging behind. Although provisionally qualified for Q2, the two Silver Arrows set off for another attempt and corrected the course, securing the two best times—1:37.817 for Bottas ahead of Hamilton at 1:37.565.

Behind, Kevin Magnussen manages to get out of the elimination zone by securing the 15th time, just like Räikkönen who lines up in 13th position. Good time for Pierre Gasly who finishes in 9th, ahead of Albon while his Russian teammate is eliminated.

Drivers eliminated from Q1: Kubica, Russell, Grosjean, Stroll, Kvyat

Q2: Ferrari positions itself for the Q3 battle

Outing on red tires for the single-seaters as the Q2 session begins. On the first attempt, Leclerc’s Ferrari is once again ahead of the Mercedes with a time of 1:36.930, with just over a tenth of a second advantage. Bottas follows with Vettel at 1:37.142. The battle is tight at the top of the timesheet. Verstappen joins the fray by taking provisional 3rd place with a time of 1:37.089.

Ricciardo manages to secure a spot in the top 10 along with his teammate, while Gasly, Perez, the two Alfa Romeos, and Magnussen, who is at the back of the pack, are provisionally eliminated.

The drivers set off for their final attempt during Q2. The two Ferraris secure the fastest times, with Leclerc still leading at 1’36.650. Max Verstappen splits the two Mercedes by placing 4th.

The eliminated zone is not modified.

Drivers eliminated from Q2: Magnussen, Räikkönen, Gasly, Giovinazzi, Perez

Q3: Leclerc continues his momentum, ahead of Vettel

The battle promises to be epic for securing the first starting position for the race, and everything remains possible at the start of Q3.

Sebastian Vettel is the first to start and seems to be performing well while Hamilton is behind in the first sector. The Ferrari driver sets the provisional best time at 1’36.437. His teammate follows closely just over 3 tenths behind. The Mercedes cars are more than a second behind the Italians while Verstappen is in ambush in 3rd place, 4 tenths back. Albon follows in the top 5 ahead of the McLarens and the Renaults.

The second and last attempt will be crucial for the Mercedes team, which are surprisingly below the performance of the Ferraris.

Vettel takes the lead of the pack again for the final qualifying attempt. All drivers improve except for Vettel. Charles Leclerc secures his lap and sets a time of 1’36.217, once again ahead of his teammate. At Mercedes, Hamilton comes in to split the two Italian cars with a 1’36.408. Max Verstappen is right behind the Englishman, ahead of Bottas and Alexander Albon. Carlos Sainz finishes best of the rest ahead of Ricciardo, Hülkenberg, and Norris.

Results of the Singapore qualifying: