The Red Bull driver will start tomorrow’s Singapore Grand Prix from pole position thanks to a lap time of 1:31.373, set on his first run in Q3.

Charles Leclerc finished second, while Lewis Hamilton secured the third-fastest time with a 1:31.496. The Briton also set his best lap on his first Q3 run, whereas his team-mate improved on his second attempt in the final part of qualifying, stopping the clock at 1:31.427. All three drivers completed two flying laps in the final session, using two new sets of Soft tyres.

For Max Verstappen, this is his first pole position at the Singapore circuit, where he has yet to claim a race victory. No rain is currently forecast for tomorrow’s Grand Prix.

However, rain played a significant role ahead of the Sprint, creating standing water in several corners and forcing Race Control to delay the start. When the race eventually got underway, the track was still damp in several areas, prompting all drivers to opt for Intermediate tyres. The green-banded tyres proved to be the ideal choice throughout the race, given the particularly tricky conditions. In the short race, Max Verstappen took the win ahead of Lewis Hamilton in second and Charles Leclerc in third.

The Pirelli Pole Position Award was presented by HYO. The South Korean singer, dancer and DJ first rose to fame as a member of Girls’ Generation, one of the most successful K-pop groups of all time, before establishing herself as an internationally acclaimed DJ.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

“The conditions faced by the drivers during the Sprint were challenging because rainfall had affected only part of the circuit, effectively leaving half of the track very wet while the other half was already drying. The Intermediate tyres used at the start remained on the cars until the chequered flag and delivered remarkably consistent performance throughout the race distance. Despite the track evolving towards near-slick conditions in the closing stages, degradation remained extremely limited and the graining we observed, particularly on the front axle, had no significant impact on performance. Managing tyre temperatures was a key factor, especially in the final laps, but overall tyre wear remained fully under control.

The track still featured some damp sections during qualifying, resulting in less than ideal conditions. Teams adopted different approaches when preparing the Soft tyre. Some elected to complete an additional preparation lap to bring the tyres into their optimum operating window, as Mercedes did in Q3, although no significant advantage emerged compared to rivals who opted to push immediately on a flying lap. Once again, it was clear that tyre management is an essential part of the overall package, closely linked to both the characteristics of the car and the driver’s style.

In our view, the C5 represents the most interesting option for the start of tomorrow’s race, which could be heavily influenced by any Safety Car periods. The higher level of grip offered by the Soft in the opening phase should make it the preferred choice for most drivers, who may look to extend the first stint, aided by the low degradation levels, while waiting for a favourable neutralisation. For the second part of the race, the Medium and Hard offer relatively similar performance, although the C4 could provide an advantage in terms of grip. At present, a two-stop strategy appears unlikely, as it is estimated to be around ten seconds slower than the available one-stop alternatives.”