Can Russell fend off title-hungry Verstappen in Singapore?

GEORGE Russell stunned the Marina Bay crowd by snatching pole position for the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix after qualifying, delivering a lap of pure precision when it mattered most.

- JEHRAN NAIDOO

His 1:29.158 effort was enough to put the Mercedes driver at the very front of Sunday's grid, narrowly edging out Max Verstappen by just 0.182 seconds.

The razor-thin margin sets up a gripping showdown, with Verstappen knowing that his championship ambitions rest heavily on what he can achieve under the lights in Singapore.

For Russell, pole represents redemption. After crashing in Friday’s free practice, few would have expected him to piece together such a commanding lap less than 48 hours later.

His composure, combined with Mercedes’ improved balance around the twisty street circuit, gave him just enough of an edge over Verstappen, who had looked like the man to beat all weekend.

The Red Bull driver, though, will take confidence from how close he came and the fact that his car seems more consistent over long runs. McLaren, meanwhile, had a mixed evening.