LECLERC TAKES THIRD SUCCESSIVE F1 POLE AT SINGAPORE
Charles Leclerc takes third successive pole – Photo: LAT
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc will start the Singapore Grand Prix from pole position after a gripping Formula 1 Qualifying session under lights.
It is the third straight pole position for the Monegasque driver who beat reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton to the top spot by 0.191s.
Sebastian Vettel sat on provisional pole after the first run in Q1 was complete but was demoted to third by the end of the session. The German Ferrari driver aborted his second run after a couple of mistakes and wound up qualifying 0.22s slower than his teammate.
Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen were expected to compete for pole but in the end qualified in fourth over 0.5s off the pace, the second Mercedes driver of Valtteri Bottas qualified 0.9s behind Leclerc and 0.2s ahead of Alexander Albon in the other Red Bull Racing car.
McLaren driver Carlos Sainz was best of the rest in seventh ahead of the Renault pair of Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg, with Lando Norris rounding out the top 10.
Sergio Perez will take a five place grid penalty – Photo: LAT
Sergio Perez was the only Racing Point car to make it into Q2, the Mexican qualified 11th but will serve a five grid spot penalty for a gearbox change caused by contact with a wall in the final practice session.
Antonio Giovinazzi qualified 12th ahead of Pierre Gasly, Kimi Raikkonen and Kevin Magnussen who were all eliminated in Q2.
Daniil Kvyat, Lance Stroll, Romain Grosjean and the Williams pair of George Russell and Robert Kubica make up the rear of the Qualifying order.
The Singapore night race will start at 10.10pm AEST tonight.
Formula 1 – Singapore Grand Prix – Qualifying Results
| Pos | Num | Driver | Car | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
| 1 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:38.014 | 1:36.650 | 1:36.217 |
| 2 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:37.565 | 1:36.933 | 1:36.408 |
| 3 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari | 1:38.374 | 1:36.720 | 1:36.437 |
| 4 | 33 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda | 1:38.540 | 1:37.089 | 1:36.813 |
| 5 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes | 1:37.317 | 1:37.142 | 1:37.146 |
| 6 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Red Bull Racing Honda | 1:39.106 | 1:37.865 | 1:37.411 |
| 7 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | McLaren Renault | 1:38.882 | 1:37.982 | 1:37.818 |
| 8 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | Renault | 1:39.362 | 1:38.399 | 1:38.095 |
| 9 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Renault | 1:39.001 | 1:38.580 | 1:38.264 |
| 10 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Renault | 1:38.606 | 1:37.572 | 1:38.329 |
| 11 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Racing Point BWT Mercedes | 1:39.909 | 1:38.620 | |
| 12 | 99 | Antonio Giovinazzi | Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari | 1:39.272 | 1:38.697 | |
| 13 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda | 1:39.085 | 1:38.699 | |
| 14 | 7 | Kimi Räikkönen | Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari | 1:39.454 | 1:38.858 | |
| 15 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas Ferrari | 1:39.942 | 1:39.650 | |
| 16 | 26 | Daniil Kvyat | Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda | 1:39.957 | ||
| 17 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Racing Point BWT Mercedes | 1:39.979 | ||
| 18 | 8 | Romain Grosjean | Haas Ferrari | 1:40.277 | ||
| 19 | 63 | George Russell | Williams Mercedes | 1:40.867 | ||
| 20 | 88 | Robert Kubica | Williams Mercedes | 1:41.186 |
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