Max Verstappen qualifies P2 in Singapore: 'I am happy with that'

Published on 21 September 2024 by Kees-Jan Koster

Max Verstappen has qualified second for the Singapore Grand Prix. After the start of Q3 was interrupted by a crash from Carlos Sainz, drivers had just one final chance at the end of the session. Max clocked a time of 1:29.728, securing second place. This is an encouraging result for the Oracle Red Bull Racing driver after two challenging race weekends. Max finished just two-tenths of a second behind Lando Norris, who secured his fifth pole position of the year for McLaren. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) completed the top three.

After qualifying, a pleased Max said: “The whole of qualifying went quite well. We managed to improve the car run after run. I am happy to be on the front row, looking where we came from yesterday. Q3 was tough. My lap was cancelled with a double yellow. Then everyone only has one run. You do not want to overdo it, you want to stay within the limits. I will take second, I am happy with that."

The fact that only one flying lap could be done in Q3 made it even more challenging for Verstappen: “It is quite difficult. The tyres can give you a lot of lap time or lose you a lot of lap time. For us in qualifying it worked quite well, so I was happy about that. Here we are, second! Tomorrow is a bit difficult to say. In Singapore, a lot of things can happen, but we have a shot at it like this.”

Even though the sun had set, the qualifying session took place under tough conditions on the Singapore street circuit, with temperatures at 30°C and high humidity. On soft tyres, despite a big moment at Turn 9, Max set a 1:30.854 on his first flying lap in Q1, which at that time was good enough for third place, behind Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc. Max then went for a second run, improving his time to 1:30.157. This put him safely through to Q2 in second place, just behind Norris. The drivers eliminated after Q1 were Daniel Ricciardo (P16), Lance Stroll (P17), Pierre Gasly (P18), and both Sauber drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, who will share the back row tomorrow.

At the start of Q2, both Red Bull Racing cars were first out on track. Max had a tricky moment at the exit of the final corner, with the rear of the RB20 sliding out, but he managed to save the car with a quick reaction, avoiding the wall. Max returned to the pits, but in his second attempt, he bounced back brilliantly, setting the fastest time of 1:29.680. Shortly after, Oscar Piastri went faster, but with another second-place finish, Max safely progressed to Q3. Drivers eliminated after Q2 were: both Williams drivers Alexander Albon and Franco Colapinto in P11 and P12, Sergio Perez (P13), Kevin Magnussen (P14), and Esteban Ocon (P15).

In the early part of Q3, Carlos Sainz spun into the wall at the final corner. The Spaniard climbed out of his Ferrari unharmed, but the red flag was waved with eight minutes left. Max had just completed his first flying lap at that moment, setting a time of 1:29.791, which would have been enough for P1. However, his lap was invalidated due to double yellow flags.

After a brief 15-minute interruption, the track was reopened. The drivers waited patiently to head out, and with just three minutes left, all of them hit the track for their final flying laps. Max set a time of 1:29.728, securing P2, just two-tenths of a second behind pole-sitter Lando Norris. The Mercedes cars of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell will share the second row, with Oscar Piastri starting in P5. Nico Hulkenberg delivered a strong performance, finishing sixth as the 'best of the rest,' followed by Fernando Alonso in P7 and Yuki Tsunoda in P8. Charles Leclerc lost his lap time due to track limits and ended in P9, with Ferrari teammate Sainz in P10.

The Singapore Grand Prix will start on Sunday at 14:00 Dutch time.

Contest GP Singapore: win a by Max Verstappen signed Red Bull Racing cap!

Results qualifying Singapore: