Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc got the leading position of the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix this Saturday, at the Marina Bay street circuit, finishing in qualifying ahead of Red Bull’s Mexican Sergio Pérez and Mercedes’ British Lewis Hamilton.
Championship leader and reigning world champion, Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), finished only eighth. Verstappen has a 116-point lead over Leclerc for 17th of 22 rounds of the season.
Spaniards Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Fernando Alonso (Alpine) occupy fourth and fifth place.
Qualifying took place as the track dried up after heavy rain during the day, making tire choice crucial.
“Qualifying was very delicate. In Q3 we didn’t know what to do, we chose the soft tires at the last minute,” Leclerc admitted.
This was the ninth pool of the season for Leclerc, more than any other driver, and the 18th of his career.
“I made a mistake on my last lap, so I thought I’d leading positionbut in the end it was enough,” he added.
Enough, because Verstappen, who took to the track in the last seconds, was called back to the pits by the team, which infuriated the Dutchman.
“We’ll explain later,” the pilot’s engineer said on the radio of the decision, which may have been due to lack of fuel at the end of the session, which could have cost the current world champion a disqualification.
Although he will start from eighth position, Verstappen will take the title again if he wins the race and Leclerc finishes ninth at his best with Pérez fourth (or fifth, if the Mexican gets the extra point for fastest lap).
However, the Dutchman is in no hurry and says he will remain focused race by race. If he fails to win the title in Singapore, his chances may be higher next weekend, at the Japanese GP.
Source: DN
