Qualifying Leclerc beats Hamilton, Vettel to pole in Singapore

  • Published on 21 Sep 2019 16:02
  • 13
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Charles Leclerc has taken pole position for the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix, setting his fastest time right at the end of the session to pip Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel for pole position.

Vettel held provisional pole position after the first runs in Q3, however Leclerc was able to go faster again on the final runs.

Hamilton was over a second down on Vettel after he completed his first timed lap, complaining that he didn't have much front grip on the lap.

However, on the second time of asking, the five-time world champion pulled his Mercedes W10 onto the front row alongside pole-sitter Leclerc, who tops qualifying for the third consecutive event.  

Red Bull's challenge faded away as the session went on, with Max Verstappen ending the session over half a second down on Leclerc in fourth place. 

The Dutchman did manage to get the better of Valtteri Bottas in the second Mercedes, who was just short of a second down on the pole-sitter. Alexander Albon was sixth in his third outing for Red Bull.

McLaren held the advantage in the midfield fight all weekend and continued that form in qualifying, as it got both cars into the top ten.

Carlos Sainz produced the fastest lap from the midfield drivers, beating Nico Hulkenberg and Daniel Ricciardo in the two Renaults.

Lando Norris, who showed strong form earlier in the session was only tenth fastest and half a second down on teammate Sainz. 

Sergio Perez just failed to make it into Q3 after qualifying in 11th, however he will be demoted down the grid due to a gearbox change prior to the session.

Daniil Kvyat, Lance Stroll and Romain Grosjean were eliminated from W1 along with the two Williams drivers, with George Russell once again out-pacing Robert Kubica.

Marina Bay Street Circuit - 21 September 2019

Replies (13)

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  • abhidbgt

    Posts: 283

    Not to jinx anything but Ferrari were not bad. Ever since FP3 they looked good on qualifying pace. Horrible last outing for Sebastian, I thought he had it in the bag with the first run in Q3 but just butchered it for the final run. Would have loved to see him claim the pole but Charles' first sector was just too good. This was a good session.
    Very strange but extremely good Q2 lap by Norris miles ahead of other midfield runners. This chap has such peaky laps sometimes, he is a good find for McLaren.
    I think Mercedes would successfully undercut Ferrari tomorrow for the lead though with the race pace they showed in FP2. Not a bad job by Gasly.

    • + 0
    • Sep 21 2019 - 16:35
    • Vettel put in a good lap his first go. But again that LeCLerc reminds me of Senna(and Hamilton) how he just pulls 10ths out of thin air. Where did it come from?! En Fuego! Forza Ferrari!

      • + 2
      • Sep 21 2019 - 18:52
    • abhidbgt

      Posts: 283

      Ever since that Brazil qualifying lap, while it was drizzling, I have come to expect such things from Charles Leclerc.

      • + 0
      • Sep 21 2019 - 19:39
  • Wow! Hes in sublime form.

    • + 0
    • Sep 21 2019 - 17:16
    • At weigh in Hamilton was asking LeClerc, "That was a good lap, how did you do that?" Going to be another good battle. Live watching that skypad side by side analysis. Wish they showed that on espn instead of just cutting to something else the minute the champagne gets sprayed.

      • + 0
      • Sep 21 2019 - 18:59
  • xoya

    Posts: 583

    Bottas is such a pillock.

    • + 0
    • Sep 21 2019 - 18:25
    • Lol I was not expecting this. But I too am frustrated. Mercedes looks a lot like Ferrari usually looks. One stellar driver and a weak #2.

      • + 1
      • Sep 21 2019 - 19:30
  • Yes! That was a great quali right to the last lap of the last car! Can't believe they are talking about changing the format. Best qualifying format in motorsport. Forza Ferrari!

    • + 2
    • Sep 21 2019 - 18:42
    • abhidbgt

      Posts: 283

      I agree. There's no need to change it, just ensure the Monza debacle isn't repeated so often. Every once in a while such weird scenario keeps the drama intact but not all the time.

      • + 1
      • Sep 21 2019 - 19:29
    • Yeah what a joke that was when Hulk cut the chicane. If we would have went out 20 seconds sooner he could have had last lap instead of nobody getting a lap.

      • + 0
      • Sep 22 2019 - 01:37
    • Hell yes, don't fix what ain't broken.

      • + 0
      • Sep 22 2019 - 10:12
  • No story about VER? He did a good job and didn't get into trouble. Love how close the top qualifiers were. Ok, there's a gap but it was great how it all came together at the end.

    • + 0
    • Sep 22 2019 - 05:10
  • That final lap was beautiful. I am dumbstruck by how well Ferrari is doing at this track, a track where Merc' and RBH should be spanking them raw and rotten. They've really come to at the end of this season, which is ironically not very typical of Ferrari.

    • + 0
    • Sep 22 2019 - 10:14

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