Max Verstappen endures a nightmare qualifying session at the Singapore Grand Prix as Red Bull fail to make the final session while Carlos Sainz claims pole position ahead of Mercedes star George Russell
- Ferrari claimed pole position for a second consecutive Grand Prix
- Carlos Sainz dominated proceedings on the narrow street circuit
- Max Verstappen failed to qualify inside the top 10 after being eliminated
Max Verstappen qualified a ‘shocking’ 11th for the Singapore Grand Prix – a halt to his majestic procession – as Lance Stroll walked away from a shudding 110mph shunt and Carlos Sainz took pole for Ferrari.
Mercedes’ Brit George Russell was second best, 0.072sec back with Charles Leclerc third.
The world champion, impregnable through a winning streak of 11 races, was out of sorts all weekend at the Yas Marina Circuit, and was eliminated in Q2, as was Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, who will start 13th in sapping humidity on Sunday.
On a crazy night under the lights, Verstappen seethed: ‘I don’t if you saw that. ****, an absolutely shocking experience,’ before stomping out of his Red Bull, tearing his balaclava off in anger on his journey back to the garage.
He was also due to face the stewards in relation to three possible cases of impeding.
Max Verstappen qualified a ‘shocking’ 11th for the Singapore Grand Prix after failing to make the final qualifying session
Verstappen (middle) fumed on the team radio after struggling with his cars handling
George Russell (left) will start second on the grid while Carlos Sainz (middle) took pole and Charles Leclerc (right) finished third
Red Bull’s unexpected dip is a threat to their so-far impregnable record of 14 wins from 14 races this season. Verstappen struggled with his machinery from the moment he took to the track on Friday.
Lando Norris qualified fourth for McLaren and Lewis Hamilton fifth, half a second back.
As for Stroll, he was right on the edge and getting out of shape, coming into the final bend, a left-hander, of the Yas Marina Circuit, with too much speed. He whacked into the barrier hard, the impact on his front left, and was spun back on to the track, his head shaking like a rag doll.
The Canadian’s front left wheel was torn off and travelled across the track.
Sainz dominated qualifying and looked comfortable throughout the evening sessions
Aston Martin star Lance Stroll brought a premature end to the first qualifying session after suffering a huge crash
British driver Lando Norris had to take evasive action, threading his McLaren between Stroll’s prone car right in the middle of the road and the stray wheel.
Stroll, 24, declared himself ‘OK’ in response to his race engineer Ben Michell’s ((CORR)) inquiry but he sat in his cockpit facing the wrong way for a while until the medical car came out to rescue him. He walked into the vehicle unaided to go for checks in the on-site medical centre.
His participation in Sunday’s race must be in doubt.
Qualifying was delayed for 34 minutes while the barrier was checked and leaked fluids were cleared.
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