The Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) won this Saturday the ninth pole position of the season by being the fastest to qualify for the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix, round 17 of the season.
The Ferrari driver set his best time of 1.49.412 minutes, leaving Mexican Sérgio Pérez (Red Bull) second in 0.022 seconds, with Britain’s Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) third at 0.054.
The Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), who arrives at this race at the head of the championship and with a chance of being champion, was only eighth, after the team sent him to the pits when he came on his last attempt and improving Leclerc’s Era .
“We were doubtful that there would be enough fuel for the regulation sample,” explained Red Bull sporting director Christian Horner.
Qualifying started on a wet track, forcing the drivers to run on intermediate tyres, but the tarmac dried up over the laps, allowing the use of softer, faster tyres.
“It was a last minute decision to fit slick tyres,” explained Leclerc, who starts the 61-lap race from first on the grid.
To become champion, Max Verstappen, who was furious with the order to go back to boxes when it comes to fighting for the top position, he needs to win and hope that Leclerc finishes below eighth.
The two will start from the opposite positions to those necessary for the immediate decision of the title.
The Spanish Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) was in fourth position, 0.171 seconds behind, with his compatriot Fernando Alonso (Alpine) fifth, but already more than half a second behind.
Source: TSF
