Ferrari's Leclerc and Hamilton qualify second and third for the Singapore Grand Prix
Scuderia Ferrari HP scored the most points of any team in a rain-delayed Singapore Sprint, then put both cars on the front rows for Sunday's Grand Prix.
- 1'31"427
- 1'31"496
- 62 laps
- 20:00 local (14:00 CEST)
What Happened
It was a productive Saturday at the Singapore Grand Prix for Scuderia Ferrari HP. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc finished second and third in the afternoon Sprint, scoring the most points of any team, and then qualified second and third for Sunday's race at the Marina Bay circuit. Both will start behind pole-sitter Max Verstappen. The Grand Prix gets under way at 20:00 local time (14:00 CEST) over a distance of 62 laps.
The day began with the 100-kilometre Sprint, which started half an hour late because heavy rain hit the circuit shortly before the start. Hamilton made an exceptional start to move from sixth on the grid to third at Turn 1, just ahead of his team-mate Leclerc. Both SF-26s then benefited from race leader George Russell's accident to move up onto the podium, with Hamilton second and Leclerc third.
In the evening, attention turned to qualifying for tomorrow's Grand Prix. Leclerc and Hamilton progressed through the first two phases without difficulty, reaching Q3 with two sets of new Soft tyres. On their first attempts, Hamilton recorded 1'31"496 and Leclerc 1'31"661. Leclerc then improved on his second run, taking more than two tenths off his previous best with a 1'31"427 to secure second place, while Hamilton posted a very similar time but did not better his initial lap. Tonight the team will analyse all the data from the Sprint and qualifying to decide its approach for the race, although Sprint data is conditioned by the fact that only Intermediate tyres were used; the weather forecast, tyre behaviour in different conditions and the strategic options available with both cars starting at the very front will all be taken into account.
- Hamilton second, Leclerc third - most points of any team
- Leclerc second (1'31"427), Hamilton third (1'31"496)
- Leclerc second, Hamilton third, behind pole-sitter Max Verstappen
“My last lap was a good one, after I didn't have the best feeling in the car in Q1 and Q2. I think there was potential for us to be on pole, but at the end of the day, Max was just a step ahead. As for the Sprint, I was managing at the beginning but things became more tough as the race went on. I couldn't rotate the car properly which in turn wore my tyres out. We're going to give it everything and let's see what we bring home.”
“I had a good time out there today and it gives us plenty to build on. A double podium in the Sprint and a competitive qualifying session for both cars puts us in a good position tomorrow. We've shown we have a strong package, and having both drivers near the front gives us a real opportunity to work together tomorrow. The challenge now is to turn that position into a strong race result. We know the pace at the front will be tough to match, but we're ready to take the fight to them, keep the pressure on and seize every opportunity that comes our way.”
“It was a strong day for the team. We performed well in the Sprint and then showed good pace again in qualifying, with both Charles and Lewis competitive from Q1 to Q3. Charles delivered an excellent final lap to secure second place, and Lewis was fighting for pole until the very end. Starting from second and third is a good position, but what matters now is tomorrow. We have a lot of information to analyse and we will look at every detail. With both cars at the front, we have the opportunity to put pressure on Max ahead and fight for the best possible result as a team.”
Previously from Ferrari N.V.
Ferrari came into Saturday with limited running at Marina Bay. Lewis Hamilton had said Singapore's single practice session and Sprint format made preparation key, and in that lone free practice session Charles Leclerc was second-fastest with Hamilton fourth. In Sprint Qualifying, Leclerc lined up third and Hamilton sixth at the floodlit Marina Bay Street Circuit.
- Leclerc second, Hamilton fourth for Ferrari in Singapore GP's only free practice
- Leclerc third, Hamilton sixth for Ferrari in Singapore Sprint Qualifying
- Hamilton says Singapore's single practice session and Sprint format make preparation key for Ferrari
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Ferrari N.V.'s official releases.
Why this matters
Ferrari ends Saturday with both cars near the front: Charles Leclerc second and Lewis Hamilton third on the grid, behind pole-sitter Max Verstappen. Team principal Fred Vasseur says that position gives Ferrari a chance to put pressure on Verstappen and fight for the best possible result as a team. The Singapore race is often complex and unpredictable, so the team will analyse all of Saturday's data before deciding its approach.
Terms in This Story
- Sprint
- A shorter race held on a Grand Prix weekend, typically about 100 kilometres long, that awards points toward the championship.
- Q3
- The third and final stage of qualifying, in which the fastest drivers compete for their starting grid positions.
- Intermediate tyres
- Tyres made for a damp or drying track, sitting between full wet-weather tyres and dry-weather slicks.
- Pole position
- First place on the starting grid, awarded to the fastest driver in qualifying.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.