Lando Norris Takes Pole as He Eyes Title Chase

Lando Norris expressed excitement about competing for victory in the Singapore Grand Prix against Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, calling it “pretty cool.” Norris secured pole position ahead of title rival Verstappen and Hamilton, but he trails Verstappen by 59 points in the championship standings and aims to narrow the gap. He acknowledged the impressive achievements of both drivers, saying, “There’s World Championships, I mean, there’s 150 wins or something between them.”

This statement highlights his deep respect for their experience. Hamilton holds the record for the most grand prix victories at 105 while Verstappen has 61. To contend for the title, Norris needs to close in on Verstappen by over eight points per race aiming for his third career victory after winning in Miami and the Netherlands this season. Norris noted that he expects clean racing from Verstappen and Hamilton, adding, “They both drive with respect.”

During a dramatic qualifying session, Norris beat Verstappen by 0.203 seconds while Hamilton secured third marking his best qualifying position since the British Grand Prix. Hamilton credited his recent improvements to his ongoing efforts to optimize his car’s balance. Norris’s teammate, Oscar Piastri qualified fifth. Meanwhile, Ferrari encountered difficulties when Carlos Sainz crashed early in the session.

Race officials also deleted Charles Leclerc’s lap time for exceeding track limits, resulting in him starting from ninth. Leclerc criticized Ferrari for issues with their tire blankets which left his tires cold during qualifying. Lando Norris reflected on the pressure of the session but felt confident. Verstappen expressed satisfaction with his performance while Hamilton felt relieved to finally find speed in qualifying. Officials fined Sainz for crossing the track without permission after his crash.