Charles Leclerc took pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix – as champion-elect Max Verstappen finished a lowly eighth after pulling out of his final flying lap. Lewis Hamilton was third best, 0.054sec back, despite showing signs that he might have enough pace for pole. Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate George Russell had a disappointing day, qualifying just 11th on the drying track in humid conditions under the floodlights. Lewis Hamilton comes third with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez on the front row. He just didn’t have the grip on the wet areas of the track. Still no slick tyres on for these first runs but they don’t seem far away. Credit to Haas, big drives from their drivers to get into Q2 and at the top end, this is going to be a good battle for pole between Verstappen, Hamilton and Leclerc. Lewis Hamilton currently quickest but a lot on out laps. Lewis Hamilton and his nose stud caused such a furore earlier in the season… and then it went quiet as he took it out. Been pretty rainy in Singapore but parts of the track are drying out quickly.

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