George Russell is in talks to extend his contract with Mercedes, but could surely do no more to make his case than a magnificent lap on Saturday to claim pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen was beaten into second, but the world champion was aggrieved that he had been denied by Lando Norris, complaining of being obstructed by the McLaren driver.
Russell had almost two-tenths of a second on Verstappen, a whopping margin at the Marina Bay street circuit, but one the Dutchman felt was entirely unrepresentative. Verstappen backed off his final lap, waving in indignation at having lost downforce in the final corners behind the slow-moving McLaren of Norris, who was on an in-lap.
The two drivers are good friends, but in the sweltering heat of Singapore the bromance cooled as Verstappen took aim at Norris. “That is what happens when there is a car in front of you and that is noted and will be remembered as well,” he said.
“Sometimes it happens on the street circuit that people are bored, make mistakes. You need every kind of clean air that you can have on a Q3 lap, especially because you’re fully on the limit with braking and everything. I lost a bit of downforce with that, so I went straight on.”
Verstappen said he would not be speaking to Norris about the incident but insisted what had happened was not “not nice”. Norris, it should be noted, did nothing against the regulations, but, in Verstappen’s opinion, had been too slow in returning to the pits. The Briton was having none of it. “They always complain, they complain about everything, that’s Red Bull,” he said. “I didn’t even know, I was like three seconds ahead or something.”
Whether the defending world champion would have matched Russell remains moot, however. He had been almost two-tenths off Russell on his first hot lap and with Russell going even quicker on the decisive runs. Verstappen had not looked like beating him before he aborted his lap.
Russell’s pole was all the more notable for outpacing both title contenders. Oscar Piastri and Norris finished third and fifth respectively, unable to match Russell or Verstappen throughout the session. Both McLaren drivers were disappointed, admitting they did not quite have the pace, but it is Piastri, with a 25-point lead, who has the advantage on Sunday.
Russell’s performance could not be faulted. His first run in Q3, even given he brushed the wall, was still a striking piece of precision driving and when he kept his rubber clear of the barriers on his second attempt, he went seven-thousandths quicker. Mercedes’ upgrade to the front wing is paying off.
For the 27-year-old, it was a major statement as speculation around his future at Mercedes continues. His contract is up at the end of this season and demonstrations like this can only strengthen his hand. Moreover, he did it while still recovering from the respiratory illness that struck him at the last round in Baku.
Russell has yet to win in Singapore, but neither has Verstappen, and the pair’s relationship has been feisty in the past. The run and entry to turn one on Sunday will be compelling stuff indeed.
1 George Russell (GB) Mercedes 1min 29.158secs
2 Max Verstappen (Neth) Red Bull 1:29.340
3 Oscar Piastri (Aus) McLaren 1:29.524
4 Andrea Kimi Antonelli (It) Mercedes 1:29.537
5 Lando Norris (GB) McLaren 1:29.586
6 Lewis Hamilton (GB) Ferrari 1:29.688
7 Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 1:29.784
8 Isack Hadjar (Fr) Racing Bulls 1:29.846
9 Oliver Bearman (GB) Haas 1:29.868
10 Fernando Alonso (Sp) Aston Martin 1:29.955
11 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Kick Sauber 1:30.141
*12 Alexander Albon (Tha) Williams 1:30.202
*13 Carlos Sainz Jr (Sp) Williams 1:30.235
14 Liam Lawson (NZ) Racing Bulls 1:30.320
15 Yuki Tsunoda (Jpn) Red Bull 1:30.353
16 Gabriel Bortoleto (Br) Sauber 1:30.820
17 Lance Stroll (Can) Aston Martin 1:30.949
18 Franco Colapinto (Arg) Alpine 1:30.982
19 Esteban Ocon (Fr) Haas F1 1:30.989
20 Pierre Gasly (Fr) Alpine 1:31.261
* Albon and Sainz demoted to 19th and 20th due to rear-wing infringements
Russell will badly want the win, but should Verstappen break his duck in Singapore with his third consecutive victory and narrow the 69-point gap to Piastri, he might be considered more than just an outsider in the championship.
One title can be wrapped up in Singapore in McLaren’s favour as they will seal the constructors’ championship, their second on the trot and the team’s 10th if they score 13 points. A podium finish for either driver would be enough.
Kimi Antonelli was impressive to take fourth for Mercedes with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in sixth and seventh for Ferrari.
Both Williams cars were disqualified after an investigation post-qualifying for the DRS slot opening beyond parameters. Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz will start from the back of the grid.
