Overview

• George Russell secured pole at Marina Bay with a margin of just under two‑tenths, delivering two laps quick enough for P1.
• Mercedes’ upswing extended to rookie Kimi Antonelli, who will start fourth after a pressured but composed qualifying run.
• Russell said he is a very different driver since his 2023 last‑lap Singapore crash, noting Friday’s FP2 barrier hit was his first in over a year.
• Max Verstappen qualified second, and RacingNews365 reports Red Bull ran a race‑specific front wing and latest sidepod evolution that increased front‑end load and improved overall balance.
• With overtaking typically difficult and the pit‑lane speed now 80 kph, Russell expects strategy to be tighter, while McLaren’s lower‑than‑expected pace leaves the race picture wide open.