The duel between triple world champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Lando Norris (McLaren) continues in qualifying in Singapore! If the Briton has secured a new pole position, he will have in his wheels the Dutchman, who is ahead of him in the championship.
During a Q3 complicated by the accident of the Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) which forced the drivers to play for their place on the grid on a single flying lap, Norris made the current superiority of his McLaren speak but Verstappen, although struggling since the start of the weekend, had a response.
“My lap wasn’t particularly good, but it wasn’t easy with only one chance because of the red flag. The car has been amazing since the start of the weekend so that helped me (…) I’ve had a good feeling and confidence in the car since the start of the weekend. I like it when things get difficult, it becomes fun,” said the 24-year-old Englishman.
Having relegated his rivals to more than half a second in the second and third free practice sessions, Norris this time beat his friend and rival in the fight for the title by “only” 203 thousandths, while Lewis Hamilton took third place just over three tenths behind his compatriot.
“I am very satisfied to start on the front row after a complicated start to the weekend. A big thank you to the team for the hard work that has allowed us to get here,” said Verstappen in a press conference.
The Dutchman then did not answer any further questions “in order not to be sanctioned” he said sarcastically, referring to the “community service” he was given on Friday for using a vulgar word during the press conference before the Grand Prix on Thursday. He then agreed to give his impressions to journalists on the way back to his garage.
– Mercedes as referee? –
Norris, who is 59 points behind Verstappen in the championship, will have the chance to reduce the gap on Sunday night, but to do so he will first have to get his start right, having almost systematically let the lead slip away at the first corner when he started from pole position.
The Briton will also have to be wary of Mercedes, who will be able to play the role of referee by starting from the second row with Hamilton third and his compatriot George Russell fourth, and will not be able to count too much on the help of his team-mate Oscar Piastri, relegated to fifth place.
The recent race pace displayed by McLarens, such as Piastri’s victory last Sunday in Azerbaijan, however, places Norris as the big favourite for the Grand Prix which will be contested at night on Sunday in stifling heat on the Marina Bay street circuit.
Ferrari, on the other hand, are unlikely to be able to get involved in the podium fight after a disastrous Q3: Sainz first compromised his chances with a run-off at the final corner of the circuit, while Charles Leclerc made a mistake and had his only flying lap disallowed for going outside the limits of the track. The Monegasque will therefore start ninth, ahead of his Spanish team-mate.
A week after a disastrous weekend in Baku, Alpine was in difficulty again as Frenchmen Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly will start 15th and 18th respectively and will therefore have a hard time picking up points.
nb/jld
