Verstappen grabs Singapore sprint pole as Russell follows, haze looms over race

Max Verstappen earned pole position for the inaugural Singapore sprint, recording a 1 minute 31.156 second lap that was 0.120 seconds faster than George Russell’s Mercedes. The front row was rounded out by Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari in third and Oscar Piastri’s McLaren in fourth, with Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton completing the top six. The qualifying took place under haze from Indonesian wildfires, pushing air-quality readings to unhealthy levels, and drivers wore cooling vests due to the heat.

Verstappen, who has yet to win in Singapore, could receive a grid penalty after stewards opened an investigation into a possible yellow-flag infringement. The sprint format adds a new 21-lap race to the traditionally demanding Marina Bay street circuit.