F1 2025 | Singapore Grand Prix Qualifying Recap: George Russell outshines the rest to steal pole in Singapore

Mercedes’ George Russell pipped Max Verstappen for pole position at the Singapore Grand Prix 2025 with the British driver putting in a stunning performance in Q3 to secure his first-ever pole position in Singapore. Verstappen, though, will start on the front row. Championship leader Oscar Piastri will start P3 and hold a slight advantage over his main championship rival and teammate, Lando Norris, who could only manage a P5 start.

If you missed the Singapore Grand Prix 2025 qualifying session, here’s a quick recap.

Q1 – Usual suspects knocked out as Hamilton lays down the law

Coming off the back of personal turmoil, Ferrai’s Lewis Hamilton was in a no-nonsense mood, setting the benchmark time for the first session. Lando Norris, George Russell and Verstappen all came within two-tenths but it was Hamilton that was quickest in Q1 with a flying 1:29.765s.

Alpine’s Pierre Gasly had a moment late on in the session, bringing out the Yellow Flags with under a minute to go with the Frenchman suffering a mechanical failure. The frontrunners made their way out of qualifying session 1 although both Alpines, the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto, Esteban Ocon’s Haas and the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll failed to make it to Q2.

Drivers eliminated in Q1:

Gabriel Bortoleto

Lance Stroll

Franco Colapinto

Esteban Ocon

Pierre Gasly

Q2 – Williams suffer double disqualification while Tsunoda’s Red Bull misses out again

Max Verstappen got Q2 underway and it was the Red Bull driver’s 1:29.747s to set the early benchmark of the session while Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar was the early surprise, sitting in fifth position, well clear of George Russell’s Mercedes and the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc. Leclerc had a scrappy first run which saw him hit the wall at Turn 14 and was left dangling in P13.

With the session’s clock ticking down, Kimi Antonelli went quickest with a 1:29.649s before his teammate when even quicker with a 1:29.562s but it was Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda as the big name, missing out on the final top 10 shootout. Leclerc was the last man through at the expense of Nico Hülkenberg. Haas’ Ollie Bearman meanwhile, continued to impress with the young rookie making another Q3 appearance.

Post the qualifying session, the FIA deemed that the Williams cars had rear wings not in compliance with the rules which meant that both Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz were disqualified from qualifying.

Drivers eliminated in Q2:

Nico Hülkenberg

Alex Albon

Carlos Sainz

Liam Lawson

Yuki Tsunoda

Q3 – McLarens, Verstappen unable to match Russell

George Russell’s 1:29.165s set the bar for the remaining cars on the grid and while his teammate, Antonelli was three-tenths behind him, Lando Norris was a further tenth behind the second Mercedes with the McLaren driver having a disappointing first run. Verstappen with two purple sectors to round out his first run came closest to Russell but was unable to dislodge him from the top with the Red Bull driver putting in a 1:29.340s.

Russell went marginally quicker, to go 1:29.165s and that was enough as the McLarens and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton weren’t anywhere near him. Verstappen once again came close but it wasn’t enough as the Dutchman finished in second position, 0.182s behind Russell.

Starting grid for the Singapore Grand Prix 2025 (before penalties applied):

1. George Russell

2. Max Verstappen

3. Oscar Piastri

4. Kimi Antonelli

5. Lando Norris

6. Lewis Hamilton

7. Charles Leclerc

8. Isack Hadjar

9. Oliver Bearman

10. Fernando Alonso

11. Nico Hülkenberg