F1 Singapore Mercedes takes Pole, McLaren a bit lost

Plot twist in the F1 Singapore qualifying: George Russell snatched a stunning pole position with a time of 1:29.158, giving Mercedes a crucial boost in a season finale that had seemed increasingly dominated by Red Bull. The Brit delivered a flawless lap exactly when it mattered most, proving once again that the talent is there, and that the FW16, when used to its full potential, can still make a difference.

Right behind him is Max Verstappen, just 182 thousandths off the pace. He was unable to clinch yet another pole this season. Red Bull struggled to piece together a clean lap through the tight streets of Marina Bay, but the world champion remains lurking for the race, ready to seize any opportunity that comes his way.

Oscar Piastri claimed third place, saving McLaren’s Saturday with a good performance. Though the gap is already over three tenths. Lando Norris, meanwhile, could only manage fifth. The Brit never quite found the right rhythm in Q3 and ends up paying more than four tenths from the top.

A brilliant performance also from Kimi Antonelli, who took fourth with the second Mercedes. The young Italian talent continues to impress with yet another strong result, beating far more experienced drivers. Behind him, Lewis Hamilton is sixth, once again struggling to put together a truly competitive lap despite all his experience as a seven-time world champion.

F1 Singapore, Ferrari another frustrating performance

Ferrari places Charles Leclerc in seventh: the Monegasque driver encountered traffic and a few small mistakes on his flying lap, and the SF-25 doesn’t seem perfectly suited to this circuit. It’s yet another underwhelming performance for the Italian team, which has been going through a rough patch in recent races, no strong results, no podiums, and a growing sense of frustration as the gap to the front-runners remains stubbornly wide.

Rookies and veteran Fernando Alonso are strong

On the other hand, Isack Hadjar on the Racing Bull (P8) and Oliver Bearman on Haas (P9) both did an excellent job, bringing two “junior” cars into the top ten. A clear proof that the young guns are starting to earn their place on merit.

Rounding out the top ten in F1 Singapore qualifying is Fernando Alonso: the indomitable Spaniard still managed to drag his Aston Martin into Q3. But the gap from the front is nearly eight tenths, a sign that there’s still plenty of work to be done.

A F1 Singapore qualifying session that reshapes the balance of power, with Mercedes and Russell as the unexpected stars, Red Bull and McLaren now called to respond in the race. Tomorrow promises to be unpredictable and spectacular.