Sainz takes Singapore GP pole, both Red Bulls out in Q2
Ferrari's Carlos Sainz held off a late push from Mercedes' George Russell on Saturday to claim pole position for Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix.
The result is Sainz's second consecutive pole.
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen failed to reach Q3 for the first time since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in March.
VERSTAPPEN IS KNOCKED OUT IN Q2!
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) September 16, 2023
STUNNING SCENES under the lights as both Red Bulls do not advance to the final round of qualifying as their perfect 2023 season is very much in doubt for tomorrow's race.#F1 #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/4QcHi9gI91
Verstappen's Red Bull teammate Sergio Pérez was also knocked out in Q2, marking the first time both Red Bull drivers failed to reach Q3 since 2018.
| Position | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 1:30.984 |
| 2. | George Russell | Mercedes | +0.072 |
| 3. | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.079 |
| 4. | Lando Norris | McLaren | +0.286 |
| 5. | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | +0.501 |
| 6. | Kevin Magnussen | Haas | +0.591 |
| 7. | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +0.631 |
| 8. | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | +0.689 |
| 9. | Niko Hulkenberg | Haas | +0.824 |
| 10. | Liam Lawson | AlphaTauri | +1.284 |
| 11. | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | Q2 |
| 12. | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | Q2 |
| 13. | Sergio Pérez | Red Bull | Q2 |
| 14. | Alex Albon | Williams | Q2 |
| 15. | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri | Q2 |
| 16. | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo | Q1 |
| 17. | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | Q1 |
| 18. | Logan Sargeant | Williams | Q1 |
| 19. | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo | Q1 |
| 20. | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | Q1 |
Haas had an excellent day, as both its drivers reached Q3 for the first time since last year's Austrian Grand Prix.
The proceedings were halted in the first qualifying session after Aston Martin's Lance Stroll crashed into the wall. Stroll was cleared by the on-site medical team and returned to the track.