Max Verstappen edged George Russell out to claim pole position for the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix Sprint race amid a stewards’ investigation for an SQ1 incident.
Verstappen came into the race weekend at the Marina Bay Street Circuit off the back of his maiden win for Red Bull this season at Sepang.
And the four-time F1 World Champion kept his stellar form alive during Sprint qualifying on Friday.
With only one practice session under his belt, Verstappen explained how posting the fastest lap of SQ3 was an ‘unexpected’ achievement for him with the RB22.
“It felt like the car was coming alive a little bit more, but I did not expect it,” he said after the session.
“So, yeah, I was very happy to be first.”
Singapore hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Verstappen, with the Red Bull driver yet to win a race on the track.
“I think in the last two races we’ve been, of course, a lot stronger, but of course this track still highlights a few little weaknesses in the car,” he explained.
“But we managed to drive with them as well as possible.”
Max Verstappen likens F1 Singapore GP Sprint qualifying to driving in a “sauna”
Verstappen may have taken pole for the Sprint race on Saturday, but his grid slot is still in jeopardy as he faces a stewards’ investigation for an SQ1 incident.
The Red Bull driver overtook Lewis Hamilton under yellow flags for Sergio Perez’s incident.
That said, the Dutchman can be granted some slack for losing concentration, as he explained just how physically excruciating it is to drive in conditions similar to that of a sauna.
“It’s just like a sauna, trying to do some exercise in it,” Verstappen said.
“So, yeah, it’s always very hot. You try to cool yourself as well as you can in between the runs as well, because the whole cockpit is hot, so you’ll feel, of course, your body, your head, and especially when you’re sitting in the car.
“So, yeah, it’s never comfortable, but that’s also, I think, quite unique about this place and in a way, of course, we really love it as well.”
At the time of writing, the stewards are yet to decide Verstappen’s fate.
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