Max Verstappen will start the Singapore Grand Prix from pole position for the first time in his Formula 1 career after beating the two Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in qualifying at Marina Bay. The Red Bull driver’s 50th career pole also arrived on the weekend of his 250th Grand Prix start, giving him the chance to finally add a Singapore victory to his record.
Until now, Singapore had remained one of the few circuits where Max Verstappen had neither started from pole nor won. The first of those gaps was finally closed in qualifying, and the Dutchman will now try to complete the job in the race.
Max Verstappen finally takes pole in Singapore
Max Verstappen made no attempt to hide how much the result meant to him. Speaking in the traditional top-three interview after qualifying, he explained that securing pole at Marina Bay had been a particular target.
“Qualifying went well, we were all very close and the gaps between us were minimal,” Max Verstappen said. “I’m very happy to have taken pole position, this is the one I wanted. The car has been competitive throughout the weekend.”
The result underlined Red Bull’s pace on a circuit where Max Verstappen has historically found success more difficult to achieve than at many other venues.
It also marked another milestone in his career. His 50th Formula 1 pole came in his 250th Grand Prix weekend, adding further significance to his breakthrough performance at Marina Bay.
Verstappen starts ahead of Leclerc and Hamilton
Max Verstappen will line up at the front of the grid ahead of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, giving Red Bull track position over both Ferraris at a circuit where overtaking can be particularly difficult.
The starting order therefore gives him an important opportunity to control the early stages of the race, provided he can avoid the problems that have affected him at recent starts.
Singapore has long been one of the missing pieces in Max Verstappen’s record. Despite his extensive success elsewhere, he had never previously qualified on pole at Marina Bay and has still never won the Grand Prix.
Sunday therefore represents a chance to turn his first Singapore pole into his first victory at the circuit.
Recent starts remain Verstappen’s concern
After qualifying, Max Verstappen was also asked about the start of the Grand Prix. The subject is particularly relevant because the four-time world champion has struggled during several recent standing starts.
He lost positions away from the line both in Malaysia and again during the Singapore Sprint, leaving one clear area for improvement despite the strong pace of the RB22.
Max Verstappen responded with humour when asked whether he was worried about repeating those problems.
“Looking at it positively, it can’t get any worse than this,” he joked. “We’ll see how it goes tomorrow.”
The start could prove decisive at Marina Bay, where gaining positions through normal racing is more difficult than at many circuits on the calendar. Holding the lead into the opening sequence of corners would therefore put Max Verstappen in the strongest possible position to attack the final missing achievement of his Singapore record.
Singapore victory now the next target
With pole finally secured, attention now turns to whether Max Verstappen can end his winless record at Marina Bay.
The Red Bull has been competitive throughout the weekend, giving the Dutchman a genuine opportunity to convert his qualifying performance into victory. However, the two Ferraris directly behind him ensure there will be little margin for error at the start.
For Max Verstappen, qualifying has already removed one long-standing Singapore statistic from his career record. The next objective is clear: turn his first Marina Bay pole into his first win at the circuit.
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