Singapore GP: Russell on pole beats Verstappen and Piastri, Ferrari opaque

George Russell in pole position at the Singapore Grand Prix, ahead of favorites Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, and with Ferraris that yet again disappoint. That’s the outcome of Saturday qualifying at the Marina Bay circuit, which closed with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s opaque sixth and seventh places, respectively, and with a Mercedes in excellent form. This was demonstrated by Kimi Antonelli, who was excellent fourth ahead of Lando Norris as well.

On the scorching Singapore circuit, it was fair to expect a return to great levels from McLaren and a Mercedes in trouble, having often demonstrated the latter’s major problems on a particularly hot asphalt throughout the season. On the track, however, everything changed, so much so that George Russell stopped the stopwatches on a time of 1:29.158, also setting a new track record. Only second, at 182 thousandths, the always combative Max Verstappen who, however, continues to have never collected any pole position on the Asian circuit.

More in trouble are the McLarens, never really in the fight for the podium and who remedied from poleman Russell more than three tenths late with Piastri and more than four with Norris. Even worse goes to Ferrari: Hamilton closes more than five tenths behind the first Mercedes, in turn beating his teammate Leclerc by almost a tenth, who throughout the weekend always seemed even more in trouble than the Briton.

Singapore Grand Prix 2025, the starting grid (top 10):

1. George Russell (Mercedes): 1:29.158
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing): +0.182
3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren): +0.366
4. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes): +0.379
5. Lando Norris (McLaren): +0.428
6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari): +0.530
7. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): +0.626
8. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls): +0.688
9. Oliver Bearman (Haas F1 Team): +0.710
10. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin): +0.797