Russell shines under the lights to claim Singapore pole

George Russell (Photo: Mercedes AMG F1)

George Russell put Mercedes on pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix, denying the likes of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who qualified second, and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in third.

After the session the pole sitter reflected on his return to form, saying it was “amazing to be on pole position. Yesterday was a very challenging day for many different reasons but good to come back and get a result.” He added that Sunday “will be a long sweaty race but I knew there was potential in the car. Kimi was doing an amazing job all weekend. I gained quite a lot to see what he was capable of doing yesterday. Very happy to be on pole.”

Russell was fastest from his first run in Q3 and never looked back. His rivals threw everything at the track, brushing the walls in search of pace, but nothing came close to the Mercedes. He ultimately sealed pole with a 1:29.158, finishing 0.182 seconds clear of Verstappen’s 1:29.340. As Russell put it, “I will not get carried away with pole. Of course it is the best place to start. There is a good pole-side advantage but I like to think I can hold the lead. This guy [Verstappen] is good at race starts and sending it down the inside.”

For Verstappen there was some disappointment but also plenty of confidence ahead of Sunday’s race. “It is always very exciting here in qualifying. Of course I am disappointed to not be first, but for us this weekend so far has been really good. The car has been very competitive, so for us to be second again is very good,” he said.

Piastri admitted pole had been out of reach but was content with his performance. “I would have wanted more today but I do not think we had four tenths in it to get pole. Ultimately, pretty happy. It has been a good weekend so far and built up to it nicely. A clean session and that is all I can ask for,” the McLaren driver explained.

Early in the session Sir Lewis Hamilton showed promise by setting the fastest time in Q1, raising hopes that Ferrari could challenge for the front row. As qualifying wore on, however, the seven-time world champion was unable to match the pace of Russell, Verstappen and the McLarens. Hamilton will line up sixth on the grid, still chasing his first Grand Prix podium in Ferrari red.

Behind the top three, Kimi Antonelli impressed with fourth in the second Mercedes, just ahead of Lando Norris in the other McLaren. Charles Leclerc will start seventh, slotting in behind his Ferrari teammate Hamilton. Isack Hadjar secured eighth for Racing Bulls, Oliver Bearman delivered another strong showing for Haas in ninth, and Fernando Alonso completed the top ten for Aston Martin.

Further down the order, Nico Hulkenberg was eleventh for Kick Sauber, while Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz took twelfth and thirteenth for Williams. Liam Lawson qualified fourteenth for Racing Bulls ahead of Yuki Tsunoda in fifteenth for Red Bull. Gabriel Bortoleto was sixteenth for Kick Sauber, with Lance Stroll seventeenth for Aston Martin, Franco Colapinto eighteenth for Alpine, Esteban Ocon nineteenth for Haas, and Pierre Gasly twentieth for Alpine.

Three drivers will face the stewards for possible yellow flag infringements after Gasly stopped in Q2. Hulkenberg, Tsunoda and Bortoleto have all been summoned.

With Russell on pole, Verstappen alongside him, and Piastri close behind, the stage is set for another dramatic race under the lights in Singapore.

Official Results: https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2025/races/1270/singapore/qualifying