The 2022 Singapore Grand Prix qualifying session delivered a spectacle of high-stakes strategy, breathtaking speed, and last-minute drama, culminating in Charles Leclerc securing a hard-fought pole position for Ferrari. However, the narrative was undeniably dominated by an astonishing turn of events involving championship leader Max Verstappen, who was inexplicably called into the pits by Red Bull from what appeared to be a certain pole lap as the chequered flag waved. This decision left spectators and Verstappen himself in disbelief, setting the stage for a grid with unexpected permutations.
The qualifying hour at the Marina Bay Street Circuit was a dynamic affair, starting under challenging wet conditions and gradually drying out across its three crucial stages. Leclerc, despite a minor error on his final push lap, masterfully navigated the treacherous conditions to claim his ninth pole position of the season, showcasing his exceptional talent in mixed conditions. Meanwhile, Verstappen, who was on an electrifying lap that saw him almost a second quicker than Leclerc through the first two sectors on the rapidly evolving track, was abruptly instructed to abort his attempt and pit. This controversial decision relegated him to a distant eighth on the starting grid, sparking widespread speculation and an understandably furious reaction from the Dutchman.
Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, will join Leclerc on the front row of the grid, securing a commendable second position. Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes delivered an impressive performance to clinch third place, marking his best starting position of the season and hinting at Mercedes’ improving form. The dramatic conclusion to qualifying ensured that Sunday’s race promises to be an enthralling contest, with championship implications potentially hanging in the balance after Verstappen’s grid penalty.
Q1: Navigating the Early Downpour
Following a rain-affected third practice session, the Marina Bay circuit remained decidedly wet as the first phase of qualifying commenced. All drivers promptly ventured out on intermediate tyres, cautiously exploring the limits of grip on the slick asphalt. The Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were among the first to register lap times, setting an early benchmark for their competitors.
Charles Leclerc quickly asserted his dominance, his initial flying lap proving seven-tenths of a second faster than the Mercedes cars, highlighting Ferrari’s immediate pace in the damp conditions. The Monegasque driver, however, had a brief excursion down the escape road at Turn 8, a momentary lapse from which he swiftly recovered. Kevin Magnussen mirrored Leclerc’s mistake at the very same corner shortly thereafter, underscoring the tricky nature of the circuit. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen soon surged to the top of the timesheets with a 1’54.395, but as the track began its slow process of drying, Leclerc responded emphatically, shaving almost two-tenths off Verstappen’s time to reclaim the fastest lap.
With five minutes remaining in the session, the strategic consensus among teams leaned heavily towards remaining on intermediate tyres. No driver felt confident enough to risk a switch to slick tyres on the still-damp surface. The battle to escape the elimination zone intensified, with the two Williams cars of Alexander Albon and Nicholas Latifi finding themselves precariously positioned, alongside Yuki Tsunoda, Valtteri Bottas, and Sebastian Vettel. Bottas, demonstrating his experience, managed to improve his time significantly, climbing to 11th and pushing Pierre Gasly into a vulnerable 16th position.
As the chequered flag flew, the final frantic moments saw a flurry of improvements. Yuki Tsunoda delivered a crucial lap to leap into the top ten, securing his progression. Conversely, Daniel Ricciardo slipped into the bottom five, unable to improve his time. Pierre Gasly ensured his passage into Q2 in the other AlphaTauri, which in turn demoted Esteban Ocon to 16th. Sebastian Vettel showcased his veteran skill, jumping to 11th and safety, inadvertently sending Mick Schumacher down to 16th.
A double yellow flag incident momentarily punctuated the session when Fernando Alonso ran wide at Turn 8, briefly engaging anti-stall before rejoining the track. Unfortunately for Daniel Ricciardo, this interruption, combined with his inability to find sufficient pace, resulted in his elimination in 16th place. Mick Schumacher, the last driver to cross the finish line, made a significant improvement, narrowly escaping elimination and dropping Valtteri Bottas out of Q2 contention. “The timing wasn’t great,” a frustrated Bottas lamented over team radio, reflecting on the fickle nature of qualifying in evolving conditions.
Ultimately, Bottas was joined in elimination by Ricciardo, Ocon, and the Williams pair of Albon and Latifi. Albon’s radio message encapsulated the difficulties faced: “Just tricky out there,” he communicated to his team. “Front [and] rear locking really a lot with these new pads, it’s doing the same as Canada where it’s just bite, it’s no feeling.” The challenging conditions thus claimed their first set of victims, setting the stage for an even more intense Q2.
| Position | Number | Driver | Team | Model | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | RB18 | 1’53.057 | 8 | |
| 2 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | W13 | 1’53.161 | 0.104 | 9 |
| 3 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | F1-75 | 1’54.129 | 1.072 | 7 |
| 4 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | RB18 | 1’54.404 | 1.347 | 7 |
| 5 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | F1-75 | 1’54.559 | 1.502 | 8 |
| 6 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | W13 | 1’54.633 | 1.576 | 9 |
| 7 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas-Ferrari | VF-22 | 1’55.103 | 2.046 | 8 |
| 8 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri-Red Bull | AT03 | 1’55.314 | 2.257 | 9 |
| 9 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Alpine-Renault | A522 | 1’55.360 | 2.303 | 8 |
| 10 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | C42 | 1’55.375 | 2.318 | 7 |
| 11 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR22 | 1’55.602 | 2.545 | 8 |
| 12 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | AlphaTauri-Red Bull | AT03 | 1’55.606 | 2.549 | 9 |
| 13 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR22 | 1’55.629 | 2.572 | 7 |
| 14 | 47 | Mick Schumacher | Haas-Ferrari | VF-22 | 1’55.736 | 2.679 | 8 |
| 15 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL36 | 1’55.914 | 2.857 | 9 |
| 16 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | C42 | 1’56.083 | 3.026 | 7 |
| 17 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL36 | 1’56.226 | 3.169 | 9 |
| 18 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | A522 | 1’56.337 | 3.280 | 9 |
| 19 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | FW44 | 1’56.985 | 3.928 | 7 |
| 20 | 6 | Nicholas Latifi | Williams-Mercedes | FW44 | 1’57.532 | 4.475 | 8 |
Q2: The Slick Tyre Gamble
As the second phase of qualifying began, the remaining 15 drivers, still uncertain about the optimal tyre choice, opted to continue with the intermediate compounds. Charles Leclerc once again set the pace, leading the initial batch of drivers to complete their first flying laps. Max Verstappen slotted into second, though his lap was nearly four-tenths slower than the formidable Ferrari. The debate within the pit lane intensified: was it finally time to switch to slick tyres?
After their initial runs, teams and drivers deliberated over the rapidly improving track conditions. Ferrari, showcasing a cautious yet aggressive approach, sent Leclerc out for a second push lap on his intermediate tyres. However, they soon abandoned the run, deciding to bring their fastest driver back in for a fresh set of intermediates, illustrating the fine margins and strategic complexities at play.
With five minutes left on the clock, Aston Martin became the first team to bravely roll the dice, equipping both Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel with soft slick tyres. At this point, both drivers were comfortably outside the drop zone, allowing for a strategic gamble. Conversely, the two Haas cars of Mick Schumacher and Kevin Magnussen, Zhou Guanyu, George Russell’s Mercedes, and Yuki Tsunoda were all in dire need of improvement to avoid elimination.
Zhou Guanyu swiftly pitted for slick tyres, joining the Aston Martins in their gamble. However, the Haas drivers and Tsunoda chose a more conservative path, sticking with intermediates. George Russell, on fresh intermediates, managed to improve significantly, climbing to seventh. This demoted slick-shod Sebastian Vettel into the danger zone at 11th, highlighting the peril of the early slick switch.
The gamble, however, did not pay off for those on slick tyres. Despite the drying track, the crucial grip required for optimal performance on slicks remained elusive in patches. Lance Stroll briefly skidded off at Turn 13 but managed to recover. Sebastian Vettel commenced his flying lap with determination but lost control and skidded off at Turn 8, effectively ending his chance to improve. “We’re out,” a resigned Vettel informed his team via radio. “It was too early for dries.” Zhou Guanyu, the only other driver on slick tyres, also failed to make the cut for the final top 10, confirming Aston Martin’s initial assessment.
Meanwhile, those who remained on intermediates capitalized on their decision. Yuki Tsunoda, Kevin Magnussen, Fernando Alonso, and Pierre Gasly all delivered impressive laps at the chequered flag, utilizing the intermediates to great effect and securing their places in Q3. This late surge dramatically pushed George Russell into 11th, and with no further opportunity to improve, the Mercedes driver was eliminated before Q3. “Sorry guys I couldn’t do anything, I really struggled,” a dejected Russell conveyed. “Exactly the same issue as P1. What a shame.” The three slick-tyred runners were, predictably, eliminated, alongside Mick Schumacher, who watched his teammate Magnussen progress into Q3, a testament to the unpredictable nature of the session.
| Position | Number | Driver | Team | Model | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | F1-75 | 1’52.343 | 14 | |
| 2 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | W13 | 1’52.691 | 0.348 | 16 |
| 3 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | RB18 | 1’52.723 | 0.380 | 13 |
| 4 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | RB18 | 1’52.818 | 0.475 | 12 |
| 5 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Alpine-Renault | A522 | 1’53.127 | 0.784 | 16 |
| 6 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | F1-75 | 1’53.219 | 0.876 | 15 |
| 7 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | AlphaTauri-Red Bull | AT03 | 1’53.546 | 1.203 | 17 |
| 8 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri-Red Bull | AT03 | 1’53.848 | 1.505 | 16 |
| 9 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL36 | 1’53.942 | 1.599 | 17 |
| 10 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas-Ferrari | VF-22 | 1’54.006 | 1.663 | 16 |
| 11 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | W13 | 1’54.012 | 1.669 | 17 |
| 12 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR22 | 1’54.211 | 1.868 | 15 |
| 13 | 47 | Mick Schumacher | Haas-Ferrari | VF-22 | 1’54.370 | 2.027 | 16 |
| 14 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR22 | 1’54.380 | 2.037 | 15 |
| 15 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | C42 | 1’55.518 | 3.175 | 14 |
Q3: The Unthinkable Aborted Lap
Despite the unsuccessful attempts of slick-tyre runners in Q2, the critical third and final segment of qualifying began with a bold declaration of intent. Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz immediately queued at the end of the pit lane, both equipped with fresh soft slick tyres, signifying a unanimous belief that the track was now ready for maximum attack. Charles Leclerc made a swift, late call in the garage to also switch from intermediates to softs, leaving only Kevin Magnussen and Yuki Tsunoda as the sole outliers among the top ten, choosing to commence their first Q3 efforts on intermediates.
Verstappen was the first to cross the line to begin his initial flying lap. In the early stages of Q3, with patches of dampness still lingering, Yuki Tsunoda initially appeared surprisingly fast on his intermediate tyres. However, this advantage was fleeting. Lewis Hamilton, on his slick tyres, soon obliterated the provisional benchmark, moving to the top of the times by over two seconds, a clear indication of the track’s rapid evolution and the burgeoning superiority of the dry compounds.
The circuit was improving dramatically with every passing second, coming alive for the dry tyre runners. Alonso, Leclerc, and Verstappen all found massive improvements, shaving seconds off their previous attempts on their second runs. Hamilton, however, continued to impress, reclaiming provisional pole with a stunning 1’51.019. Sergio Perez then surged into third position. The session saw a momentary interruption when Pierre Gasly made a mistake at Turn 18, requiring him to reverse his AlphaTauri to rejoin the track. Fortunately, his manoeuvre did not impede any of the other nine cars on track, and the intense battle for pole continued unabated.
With just one minute of time remaining, Fernando Alonso briefly captured provisional pole, demonstrating Alpine’s strong pace. Yet, his reign at the top was short-lived, as Charles Leclerc immediately eclipsed his time, seizing provisional pole. Carlos Sainz then crossed the line to complete his final lap as the chequered flag waved, but his time wasn’t enough to challenge for pole. Leclerc, despite setting two personal best sectors, made a noticeable error at Turn 16, a critical moment that could have cost him dearly.
However, even with the mistake, Leclerc remained on provisional pole, narrowly ahead of Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton, who had improved to secure third. The final act belonged to Max Verstappen, the last driver with a genuine chance to snatch pole position. He embarked on his final lap with incredible pace, comfortably quicker than Leclerc through the first two sectors. The crowd held its breath, anticipating a typical Verstappen masterpiece. But as he approached the final corner, in a moment of sheer disbelief for everyone watching, Red Bull suddenly issued an urgent instruction: “Pit, pit, pit, pit!” Their championship leader was ordered into the pit lane, abandoning what was almost certainly a pole-winning lap. The reason, later revealed, was a critical fuel discrepancy, leaving insufficient fuel for the mandatory sample had he completed the lap. This unprecedented strategic miscalculation cost Verstappen a guaranteed pole position and ignited a furious reaction from the Dutchman. “Why?” he exclaimed over team radio, his voice laced with disbelief and anger. “What the f***? What the f***!”
As Verstappen slowly returned to the pits, the dramatic conclusion cemented Charles Leclerc’s ninth pole position of the season. He will lead the field for the Singapore Grand Prix, with Sergio Perez alongside him on the front row, and Lewis Hamilton starting in a strong third position, marking his best grid slot of the season so far. Carlos Sainz will line up in fourth, followed by the impressive Fernando Alonso in fifth, Lando Norris in sixth, and Pierre Gasly in seventh. After the perplexing aborted pole lap, Max Verstappen will start from a frustrated eighth on the grid, with Kevin Magnussen and Yuki Tsunoda rounding out the top ten.
| Position | Number | Driver | Team | Model | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | F1-75 | 1’49.412 | 20 | |
| 2 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | RB18 | 1’49.434 | 0.022 | 20 | 3 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | W13 | 1’49.466 | 0.054 | 23 |
| 4 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | F1-75 | 1’49.583 | 0.171 | 22 |
| 5 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Alpine-Renault | A522 | 1’49.966 | 0.554 | 23 |
| 6 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL36 | 1’50.584 | 1.172 | 24 |
| 7 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | AlphaTauri-Red Bull | AT03 | 1’51.211 | 1.799 | 24 |
| 8 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | RB18 | 1’51.395 | 1.983 | 20 |
| 9 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas-Ferrari | VF-22 | 1’51.573 | 2.161 | 23 |
| 10 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri-Red Bull | AT03 | 1’51.983 | 2.571 | 23 |