Carlos Sainz Jnr has taken pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix for Ferrari ahead of George Russell and Charles Leclerc.
Row 1 | 1. (55) Carlos Sainz Jnr 1’30.984 Ferrari SF-23 |
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2. (63) George Russell 1’31.056 Mercedes W14 |
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Row 2 | 3. (16) Charles Leclerc 1’31.063 Ferrari SF-23 |
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4. (4) Lando Norris 1’31.270 McLaren-Mercedes MCL60 |
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Row 3 | 5. (44) Lewis Hamilton 1’31.485 Mercedes W14 |
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6. (20) Kevin Magnussen 1’31.575 Haas-Ferrari VF-23 |
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Row 4 | 7. (14) Fernando Alonso 1’31.615 Aston Martin-Mercedes AMR23 |
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8. (31) Esteban Ocon 1’31.673 Alpine-Renault A523 |
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Row 5 | 9. (27) Nico Hulkenberg 1’31.808 Haas-Ferrari VF-23 |
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10. (40) Liam Lawson 1’32.268 AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT AT04 |
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Row 6 | 11. (1) Max Verstappen 1’32.173 Red Bull-Honda RBPT RB19 |
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12. (10) Pierre Gasly 1’32.274 Alpine-Renault A523 |
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Row 7 | 13. (11) Sergio Perez 1’32.310 Red Bull-Honda RBPT RB19 |
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14. (23) Alexander Albon 1’33.719 Williams-Mercedes FW45 |
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Row 8 | 15. (22) Yuki Tsunoda No time AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT AT04 |
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16. (77) Valtteri Bottas 1’32.809 Alfa Romeo-Ferrari C43 |
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Row 9 | 17. (81) Oscar Piastri 1’32.902 McLaren-Mercedes MCL60 |
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18. (2) Logan Sargeant 1’33.252 Williams-Mercedes FW45 |
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Row 10 | 19. (24) Zhou Guanyu 1’33.258 Alfa Romeo-Ferrari C43 |
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Penalties
Zhou – Pit lane start due to power unit change
Withdrawn
Stroll – Not starting due to effects of crash in qualifying
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2023 Singapore Grand Prix
- Sainz’s Singapore win made Leclerc focus on improving his race pace – Clear
- Singapore and Austin retirements cost me top 10 championship place – Ocon
- How Ocon’s “extreme” height for an F1 driver is helping other tall racers
- Steward’s admission Verstappen should have had penalty frustrates his rivals
- Drivers back Singapore qualifying tweak as rule changes again for Japanese GP
Sviat
16th September 2023, 15:39
The Aston Martin team motto: “Pointless upgrades, pointless upgrades, pointless upgrades. And a terrible second driver.” This was their last chance to fight for a win (although, I still doubt that anyone but Verstappen can win any race this season).
Good job by Russell, but the dirty side of the grid is too dirty not to lose any positions at the start. If he manages to stay behind Sainz, it’s a good chance he’s going to win.
David BR (@david-br)
16th September 2023, 15:42
I’d expected Verstappen to qualify around 3rd – 5th and somehow go on to win. 11th or worse off the grid? I can’t see it at Singapore.
Sviat
16th September 2023, 16:03
They are just too, no, three good in the race. In quali, they lost poles this year. But in the race they are so much better than anyone.
I don’t know. I hope a no-Red Bull podium will happen tomorrow, with Russell winning the race. But Red Bull will simply put on the hard tyres, get into top 10 on track, drive to 50% or 60% distance, then put mediums and drive half a second faster than Ferrari or Mercedes. Plus take into account the safety car, like it happened in Jeddah this year. Verstappen didn’t even have to do anything, he was on podium by simple driving thanks to a timely safety car. The same thing will likely happen tomorrow.
bosyber (@bosyber)
16th September 2023, 16:19
If their front end is even close to how it was in quali, and how it often was over the weeekend, getting up there will be hard fight though. Haas was faster and 8 other cars. Now, Haas probably won’t be the issue though a weak front end and following here probably won’t be a super experience, but they aren’t clearly better today than those just (and it is close) behind them, nor clearly faster than the top 5-6, I’d say. I mean, sure Ferrari can fluke it like noone, and Merc can also be too clever for themselves, so who knows, but I don’t see it as a given.
David BR (@david-br)
16th September 2023, 17:45
Sviat @bosyber I can see Verstappen getting up to around 4th or 5th but more and that will need some luck I think – collisions, timely safety car and so on. I really don’t think Red Bull have much of a pace advantage and the poor setup is now locked in for the race.
Ken
16th September 2023, 15:56
Agree,so dissapointed in Aston Martin once again.
Ronnie
16th September 2023, 17:30
Nice to see max getting a taste of his own medicine for a change let’s see what grid pentals he gets from the steuwards
David BR (@david-br)
16th September 2023, 15:39
Sainz is totally on it, great performance to beat Leclerc (and Russell).
Looking like a second bad weekend in a row for Hamilton.
Jere (@jerejj)
16th September 2023, 15:42
What a qualifying.
Firstly, Stroll’s off, which was difficult to believe even as that was about to happen, & the first-ever crash at the final two corners.
Most surprisingly, both RBR drivers getting eliminated was shocking, so perhaps both record-winning streaks will finally end, although I don’t rule out a comeback because of high SC probability.
Lawson & Haas drivers were the session’s positive surprises & overall, a nicely mixed-up field.
MichaelN
16th September 2023, 15:46
Nice grid! If both Mercedes and Ferrari manage to somehow not to win this they might as well pack things up for the remainder and come back next year.
Sainz has definitely made a step, which is great to see. Hopefully Russell can keep it clean at the start.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
17th September 2023, 5:58
Depends how fast red bull is, if it’s anything like it was at monza it’s not unrealistic to imagine a verstappen win, but example last year in singapore they weren’t super fast in the race.
Moshambles (@moshambles)
16th September 2023, 15:48
Shame Ham isn’t on it. I’d like to see those 4 lads go at it, or have an interesting strategic battle between Mercedes and Ferrari. I’ll expect Max to come back through the pack a bit but it doesn’t look on for him. Should be a good race🤞
Kotrba
16th September 2023, 15:56
Lewis will have better race pace. Ideally though, he needs to clear Norris at the start.
I think Sainz will once again struggle with the tyres and cars will bunch up behind him.
RR
16th September 2023, 15:58
What excuses can we make now for HAM?
Always a few places behind his team-mate, bringing up the rear.
Slow coach, fast earner.
MadMax (@madmax)
16th September 2023, 16:03
No need for excuses. Q3 and P5 is quite ok for Merc, I’d say. Maybe the car setup wasn’t ideal, but Lewis often focuses more on race setup.
I just hope Max has a good race tomorrow. Theres danger of catching some tinitus with that constant beeping of the radio.
RR
16th September 2023, 16:12
Russell is fighting for pole in the same car. But for Lewis p5 is OK, you’d say.
MadMax (@madmax)
16th September 2023, 17:16
Well its about setup, you know. Sometimes you get it right, sometimes not so much. P5 is quite ok for Merc.
anon
16th September 2023, 16:27
RR, Hamilton’s average qualifying position this season is actually better than Russell’s average starting position, with an average position of 6.27 for Hamilton and 6.93 for Russell.
MadMax (@madmax)
16th September 2023, 16:28
oh no. wrong stat for the anti fan…
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
17th September 2023, 6:01
See he didn’t answer any more, not a good look!
RR
16th September 2023, 15:54
Sainz is staking his claim too be top dog at Ferrari. He can’t be denied for much longer.
Edvaldo
16th September 2023, 16:07
If people at Aston Martin doesn’t begin to at least pretend they’re considering options for that 2nd car for next season, they cannot be considered a serious organization.
At Monza Stroll had limited track time because of Drugovich and car glitches. What’s the excuse now?
Pinak Ghosh (@pinakghosh)
16th September 2023, 16:08
Okay, that was a bit of a surprise grid for Sunday’s race. Did not expect both Red Bull cars to be knocked out in Q2. That threw the field wide open. Bit disappointed with Leclerc’s performance, but Sainz is on a strong run of form now. Russel has also been on it since the summer break and did a good job. If Ferrari’s tyre trouble continues on Sunday, then he is in the perfect position to capitalise. Finally a line on Aston Martin – they should run Drugovitch for at least a race and see how he matches up to Alonso. That car is clearly capable of Q3 or high Q2 on an off day and it is stuck in Q1 with Stroll.
DaveD (@daved)
16th September 2023, 17:17
No grid penalties for Max after all the messes he was involved in?
David BR (@david-br)
16th September 2023, 17:47
@daved Sitting at a green light and impeding everyone for 15 seconds (?) seems kind of asking for a penalty.