Max Verstappen shrugged off another settings problem to edge George Russell and take sprint pole at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen has put his Red Bull on sprint pole at the Singapore Grand Prix, beating Mercedes' George Russell to the top spot even as another settings issue threatened to derail his run.
The problem is becoming a recurring headache for Red Bull. Verstappen's car has been hit by setup and settings gremlins before, and this time was no different. The Dutchman still found a way to pull a quick lap together when it counted.
Russell pushed him all the way. The Mercedes driver has been a consistent threat on the street-circuit layout and will start right alongside Verstappen on the front row. That sets up a close fight into the opening corners of the sprint, where track position at a tight, unforgiving venue like Singapore can decide everything.
For Red Bull, the pole is a welcome boost, but the repeated settings trouble will keep the pressure on the team to get its house in order before the rest of the weekend. For Verstappen, it is another reminder that he can turn a messy session into a result. Russell and Mercedes will be hoping to turn the front-row start into a win once the lights go out.
