Norris on Singapore pole with Verstappen alongside

Lando Norris hit title rival Max Verstappen to rod position successful a melodramatic qualifying convention astatine nan Singapore Grand Prix.

Norris was 0.203 seconds quicker than Verstappen, pinch nan Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell successful 3rd and 4th places.

Their times came successful a one-lap shootout aft Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz forced nan convention to beryllium stopped pinch a clang early connected astatine nan commencement of his first flying lap.

Norris heads into Sunday’s title looking to eat into Verstappen’s 59-point title lead.

But Verstappen will beryllium pleased pinch a beardown capacity connected a way wherever Red Bull struggled past play and were expecting to do truthful again successful 2024.

Norris needs to adjacent connected Verstappen by conscionable complete 8 points a title connected mean to hit nan Dutchman to nan title - much than nan spread betwixt first and 2nd places.

Norris’ team-mate Oscar Piastri, victor of nan Azerbaijan Grand Prix past weekend, could negociate only fifth.

And it was a mediocre convention for Ferrari, for whom Sainz won successful Singapore past year.

In summation to nan Spaniard’s crash, team-mate Charles Leclerc had his thigh clip deleted for exceeding way limits and will commencement ninth.

Leclerc had successful immoderate lawsuit only managed to group seventh fastest time, slower than nan Haas of Nico Hulkenberg, who took an awesome sixth spot up of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and RB’s Yuki Tsunoda.

Norris said: "I was uncovering it reliable to advancement overmuch and nan guys astir were getting quicker and quicker putting maine nether pressure. But it was bully capable for pole. I felt assured each weekend. Maybe not truthful overmuch successful qualifying, but we sewage nan occupation done."

Verstappen, who had been unhappy pinch his car successful Friday practice, said: "The full of qualifying went rather well. We managed to amended nan car.

"I americium happy to beryllium connected nan beforehand statement if you look astatine wherever we came from yesterday. Everyone only has 1 thigh truthful you don’t want to overdo it. I return second, I’m happy pinch that."

Hamilton’s 3rd spot is his champion qualifying since he was 2nd connected nan grid astatine nan British Grand Prix.

He said: "Qualifying has been a disaster for maine each twelvemonth agelong and I person conscionable been moving and moving and moving trying to get myself backmost up location and each of a abrupt nan car came to maine for nan first clip successful a agelong clip successful qualifying.

"We person been moving up and down connected balance. We person changed everything and nan mechanics person been faultless and I dream we are successful a bully position to conflict for nan beforehand tomorrow."

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