McLaren’s Lando Norris clinches pole at Singapore Grand Prix to boost title chances
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McLaren's Lando Norris gets a huge boost to his goal of winning his first Singapore Grand Prix title after securing pole position.
ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
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SINGAPORE – A quick jab to the gut – in 1min 29.525 sec – was what Lando Norris delivered to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen at the Formula One Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix on Sept 21, when the McLaren speedster edged out the Dutchman to secure pole position at the Marina Bay circuit.
It was also a psychological blow from Norris, who is locked in a fierce battle with three-time world champion Verstappen for supremacy in the driver’s championship.
The Briton is a man on a mission here, as he aims to cut the 59-point deficit to his rival (313 points) with seven races – including the Singapore Grand Prix – remaining this season.
Securing pole position is crucial on a tight, twisty 4.94km street circuit where overtaking is notoriously difficult, with nine out of 14 races in Singapore won by pole sitters.
Norris said after the race: “It was tough, especially through qualifying. I was finding it a little difficult to progress much and gain a lot of lap time. And all of the guys around seemed to get quicker and quicker, so it put me under a bit more pressure, especially with just one lap at the end.
“It was good enough for pole and I’m happy with that, especially here in Singapore. A good feeling. I’ve felt good all weekend, I’ve felt confident, maybe not so much in (qualifying) but we got the job done.”
“I did the job I had to do today and (I am) excited to see what we can do tomorrow.”
In a drama-filled qualifying session which included a nail-biting one-lap shoot-out in Q3, Norris topped the time sheets, just over two-tenths of a second ahead of Verstappen’s 1 min 29.728 sec.
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were third and fourth, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri – winner of the last grand prix in Azerbaijan – having to settle for fifth. Nico Hulkenberg was sixth for Haas while Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and RB’s Yuki Tsunoda capitalised on Ferrari’s poor outing to finish P7 and P8.
There were thrills and spills aplenty, first with a lizard track invasion in Practice 3, before Ferrari’s 2023 Singapore Grand Prix champion Carlos Sainz lost control of his car in Q3 and spun into a barrier. The incident resulted in red flags and a delay to the session, before restarting with a thrilling nine-car, one lap shoot-out.
Mclaren's Lando Norris in action during Free Practice 3 of the Singapore Grand Prix on Sept 21.
ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY
Sainz finished 10th and there was more heartbreak for Ferrari – who have taken the last three pole positions here – as Charles Leclerc placed ninth after his time was deleted for exceeding track limits.
Before Sainz’s crash, Red Bull’s Sergio Perez failed to make it past Q2, leaving him a disappointing 13th on the grid for Sunday’s race. Another crowd favourite here, Australian RB driver Daniel Ricciardo, was looking to quell speculation over his future with a noteworthy performance, but he finished 16th.
It was not all heat and heartbreak as Verstappen drew laughter in the press conference room after the race with his antics. The Dutch driver, who on Sept 20 was punished by the International Automobile Federation for swearing during the previous session in Singapore, would only give short, curt answers to questions.
When asked what had changed overnight from Red Bull’s performance in P1 and 2, Verstappen said “a lot” and when asked to elaborate, he added “no, I might get a fine”.
Much to the amusement of Norris and Hamilton, he added when asked how long he planned to not answer fully questions at press conferences: “I’m answering, just not a lot. There’s a problem with my voice.”
It will be no laughing matter, however, if Norris manages to clinch victory on Sept 22.
The 24-year-old has won only one race from his previous five pole positions and will need to take it up a gear to claim his first Singapore Grand Prix title.
History also awaits, as McLaren have not finished on the podium here since Jenson Button in 2012 – their last victory was in 2009, when Hamilton claimed the chequered flag after starting from pole position.
Singapore GP grid
1st row
1. Lando Norris (Gbr) McLaren
2. Max Verstappen (Net) Red Bull
2nd row
3. Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes
4. George Russell (Gbr) Mercedes
3rd row
5. Oscar Piastri (Aus) McLaren
6. Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Haas
4th row
7. Fernando Alonso (Esp) Aston Martin
8. Yuki Tsunoda (Jpn) Visa Cash App RB
5th row
9. Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari
10. Carlos Sainz (Esp) Ferrari
