Lando Norris "had faith" that McLaren were quick and was rewarded with pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix. (Motorsport News)
Britain's Lando Norris was quickest in a dramatic Singapore Grand Prix qualifying session, crossing the line 0.203 seconds quicker than Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who will start in second
Lando Norris "had faith" that McLaren were quick and was rewarded with pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix. (Motorsport News)
The Brit was quickest in a dramatic qualifying session, crossing the line 0.203 seconds quicker than Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who will start in second.
After tough practice sessions, Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and George Russell improved on their performances to finish th🌠ird and fourth respectively, with Oscar Piastri in fifth.
The times came from a one-lap shootout after Carlos Sainz forced𒅌 the third session to be stopped a🐻s he crashed into the barriers on the final corner of his first lap.]
And Ferrari's day got worse as Charles Leclerc had his lap time deleted for a track limits breach at turn two💫.
Norris admitted it was a tough qualification session but was pleas💖ed to come out on top as he attempts to close the gap to Verstappen in the divers' championship.
"It was tough, especially through qualifying. I was finding it a little difficult to progress much and gain a lot of lap time," Norris saidꦗ.
"And all of the guys around seemed to get quicker and quicker, so it put me under a bit more pressur♚e, especially with just one lap at tꦫhe end.
"I had faith we were quick, so🌠 I didn't have to over-pus🔯h and I could just do what I've been doing the whole weekend.
"It was good enough for pole, and I'm happy with that, especially here in Singapo👍re. A good feeling. I've felt good all weekend, I've felt confident, maybe not so m🙈uch in qualy but we got the job done."
Asked how he felt about the one-lap shootout, he𝕴 added: "I like it. It gets your heart rate going and it's good fun. My lap wasn't as good as my lap previous to the red flag, so there's always just that little bit more in it.
"But the car's been feeling g🌠ood and when you have a good f🦩eeling car, and you're confident, you can go out and push and get the lap time, so I did the job I had to do today and excited to see what we can do tomorrow."
Verstappen struggled in the seౠcond practice session, finishing 15th on the timesheet, but he improved on Saturday to ensure he would start on the front row with Norris.
The Dutchman had been unhappy with his car’s performance on Friday but was feeling more optimist🅠ic about his chances on Sunday after qualifying.
"The whole of qualifying went quite well. We ♎managed to improve the car run afꦅter run," Verstappen said.
"I'm happy to be on the front row if you look at where we ca🐬ꦓme from yesterday.
"Q3 was tough. Your lap gets, of course, cancelled with the double-waved yellow, then everyone only has one run to 🤪do the lap, so you don't want to overdo it. You want to stay within the limit. I'll take second - I'm happy with that.
"Tomorrow is a bit difficult to say. In Singapore, a lot of things can happen, but at least we have a shot at i💖t like this."
Qualifying results
1. Lando Norris (McLaren)
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
3. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
4. George Russell (Mercedes)
5. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
6. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
7. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
8. Yuki Tsunoda (RB)
9. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
10. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)