(Singapore) The Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) took the leading position in the Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday and will start at the head of the Formula 1 Grand Prix on Sunday on the urban circuit of Marina Bay, far ahead of the solid championship leader Max Verstappen.
The Dutchman only snatched the 11the time, ahead of his Red Bull teammate Sergio Pérez, only 13e at the end of the second part of qualifying (Q2).
This is the first time since the Russian GP in 2018 that no Red Bull has competed in the last qualifying session (Q3) where pole is at stake – and that only the ten fastest than Q2 can race.
Verstappen is also under threat of several penalties for obstructing drivers on the track and in the pit lane. The decisions of the commissioners are expected in the evening and could push the Batavian further back on the grid on Sunday.
Earlier this season, Verstappen started from 15e place at the Saudi Arabian GP, 2e round of the year, – his worst performance in 2023 – because of a problem with his car. He had finished race 2ebehind Pérez.
Far ahead of the Red Bulls, Sainz signed his second consecutive leading position on Saturday night – and the furnace – of Singapore after that won in Italy at the beginning of September.
He will start on Sunday ahead of Briton George Russell (Mercedes).
His teammate at Ferrari, the Monegasque Charles Leclerc, will start on the second row alongside the Briton Lando Norris (McLaren), 4e.
Knowing that it is difficult to overtake in a race, the positions on the grid and the quality of the starts are likely to be crucial when the race kicks off on Sunday at 9 a.m. (Eastern time).
Earlier in the evening, the first part of qualifying (Q1) was marked by Lance Stroll’s violent exit from the track.
In his final fast lap to secure a place in the top 15 synonymous with passage to Q2, the Canadian violently hit the wall at full speed, tearing off a large part of the left front of his Aston Martin before ending up in the middle of the track.
The driver, who almost got hit by the McLaren of Lando Norris who was following him, emerged from his car unscathed, but was still taken to the medical center for examinations.
