George Russell Takes Surprise Pole at Singapore Grand Prix

SINGAPORE — George Russell claimed a surprising pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday, marking his first pole since the Canadian Grand Prix earlier this year. Russell, driving for Mercedes, finished 0.182 seconds ahead of Red Bull‘s Max Verstappen, who qualified second. Oscar Piastri of McLaren secured third place on the grid.

Russell expressed excitement over his performance. “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 said. This success comes after a strong showing in recent races, providing hope for Mercedes as they navigate the challenges of the season.

Verstappen, despite his second-place finish, acknowledged he could have improved his time but felt hindered by Norris’ slower pace during his final Q3 attempt. “That’s what happens when there’s a car in front of you just cruising, just two seconds in front. That’s noted, and will be remembered as well,” Verstappen stated.

McLaren’s Piastri, who finished 0.366 seconds behind Russell, commented on his performance: “I would have wanted more today, but I don’t think we had four tenths in it to get pole.” The championship landscape remains tight, as Verstappen is closely trailing Piastri in points, despite this setback.

The grid positions further down saw a mixed bag, with both Ferraris qualifying seventh and eighth, while local favorite Lando Norris finished fifth. The Haas and Aston Martin drivers rounded out the top ten, with several drivers facing issues during qualifying, including Pierre Gasly, who ended up last after losing power steering.

Looking ahead to the race, Russell is optimistic but acknowledges the challenges posed by the hot conditions. “A long sweaty race tomorrow, but I knew there was potential in the car,” he added.