Russell Secures Singapore GP Pole

George Russell put Mercedes on pole for the Singapore Grand Prix with a 1:29.158 lap at Marina Bay, beating Max Verstappen by about 0.18 seconds. Verstappen will start second after complaining that Lando Norris impeded his final run, forcing him to abort a potential challenge. Oscar Piastri will start third, rookie Kimi Antonelli fourth and Norris fifth as McLaren underperformed relative to pre-weekend expectations. Russell said he had struggled earlier—crashing in FP2, lacking confidence and not fully healthy—but produced two strong Q3 laps and credited Mercedes' upgrades and getting the front tyres into the optimal window for the uptick in pace. He warned he won't get carried away, remains wary of Verstappen's race-start threat, and said he is still finalising his 2026 contract with Mercedes.