Russell Secures Pole in Singapore as Night Lights Glow Over Marina Bay

Singapore Grand Prix Qualifying Recap

Mercedes driver George Russell, the British racer, will start Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix from pole position, the 18th round of the World Championship, after topping the official qualifying times on Saturday. He beat Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who trails in the standings, as McLaren faltered to keep pace on the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

The championship leader, Oscar Piastri, finished third, while his McLaren teammate and title rival, Lando Norris, ended fifth behind Mercedes’ second driver, Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy.

Russell clocked a stunning lap of 1:29.158, 0.182 seconds quicker than Verstappen, who sits third in the world title race.

The Ferrari pair—Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Lewis Hamilton—rounded out the top six and seven respectively, while French driver Isaak Hajar (RB), Oliver Bearman (Haas), and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) completed the top ten.

Earlier, Alonso had set the fastest time in the opening practice, challenging the established order and signaling a potential late-night surge from the Spanish veteran.

Russell himself commented, “It’s fantastic to be on pole. Yesterday was a tough day for a variety of reasons, but today we’ve rebounded and delivered this result.” He added, “The race will be long and demanding, but the car feels strong; chemistry with the team felt right all weekend.”

Verstappen, who has won the last two races in Monza and Baku, now has a chance to claim his first Singapore victory and stay in the hunt for a fifth consecutive world title, with the Dutchman reducing the gap to Piastri to 69 points and to Norris to 44.

McLaren, aiming to clinch the teams’ title for a second year running, still need at least 13 points on Sunday to seal it.

Piastri will head into the race looking to put Azerbaijan’s crashes behind him, after two incidents in the qualifying and a tumultuous following day.

The Singapore Grand Prix is run at night to attract European viewers and mitigate the tropical heat’s toll on drivers. The FIA warned of a heat wave with temperatures possibly exceeding 31°C during Sunday’s session.

Here are the third practice session timings:

1. George Russell (Britain/Mercedes) 1:29.158

2. Max Verstappen (Netherlands/Red Bull) 1:29.340

3. Oscar Piastri (Australia/McLaren) 1:29.524

4. Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Italy/Mercedes) 1:29.537

5. Lando Norris (Britain/McLaren) 1:29.586

6. Lewis Hamilton (Britain/Ferrari) 1:29.688

7. Charles Leclerc (Monaco/Ferrari) 1:29.784

8. Isaak Hajar (France/RB) 1:29.846

9. Oliver Bearman (Britain/Haas) 1:29.868

10. Fernando Alonso (Spain/Aston Martin) 1:29.955

In the morning session, Alonso had fastest time in the opening practice, ahead of Leclerc and Verstappen, with Hamilton, Piastri, Norris and Leclerc among the leaders as the day progressed.

The second practice saw Piastri clock fastest time, ahead of Hajar, Verstappen, Bearman, and Alonso as teams continued to dial in setups for the night race.

The season has produced a mix of big moments and record figures, reigniting the title hunt as Verstappen maintains a formidable presence, while McLaren’s rapid progress with Piastri and Norris has reshaped strategic expectations for the season’s closing races. Alonso’s continued form remains a notable highlight for Aston Martin as the field jostles toward the end of the year.

Russell’s pole thrust is a reminder that Singapore’s night race, with its humidity and extended laps, demands resilience and precision—the kind of moment you’d expect from a paddock that doubles as a late-night cinema for speed lovers.

Punchline time: Russell’s pole is so sharp it could cut through the humidity and still leave a perfect lap. And if speed were a seasoning, Singapore would be served with Russell on every plate—extra spicy and impossibly smooth.

Punchline 2: If pole position had a dating profile, Russell would list “steady lap times, killer confidence, and a tendency to leave the competition in the pit lane.”