The China Mail - Russell celebrates 'amazing' Singapore pole as McLarens struggle

Championship leader Oscar Piastri will start on the second row after coming third, four tenths of a second adrift of Russell, while his McLaren teammate Lando Norris was only fifth.

Russell's blistering Q3 lap of 1min 29.158sec was almost two tenths clear of Verstappen.

"Amazing to be on pole position," said Russell, who had limited practice on Friday after crashing in the second session.

"Yesterday was a very challenging day for many different reasons but good to come back and get a result."

Verstappen complained he would have been closer to Russell but was hampered near the end of his final flying lap by a slowing Norris.

Verstappen's engineer remarked on team radio, without naming Norris: "You can thank your mate for that. Hard luck."

The four-time world champion was fuming in his post-session TV interview.

- 'It will be remembered' -

"That's what happens when there's a car just cruising two seconds in front," Verstappen said.

"That's noted," he warned. "It will be remembered as well.

"I'm disappointed to not be first, but for us this weekend so far has been really good."

Russell's Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli was fourth to split the two McLarens.

"A long sweaty race tomorrow but I knew there was potential in the car," added Russell.

"Kimi was doing an amazing job all weekend."

Verstappen won the previous two grands prix, in Monza and Baku, and is challenging the season-long dominance of the McLarens at the top of the standings.

He now has a chance of a maiden victory in Singapore that would keep him in the hunt for a fifth consecutive world title, having closed the gap to Piastri to 69 points and to 44 points on Norris.

"I just don't think we had the pace tonight, which is a little bit of a surprise for us," Piastri told reporters.

"We have some things to look at and see where we're lacking."

Singapore is a notoriously difficult circuit on which to overtake and Piastri agreed the race would be a challenge from the second row.

"You need a fair bit of extra pace to get past someone. So we'll see if we've got that tomorrow."

The Ferrari pair of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were sixth and seventh respectively.

Isack Hadjar (RB), Oliver Bearman (Haas) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) completed the top 10.

McLaren are looking to wrap up the constructors' championship this weekend, where a podium finish for one of their cars will ensure a second consecutive title with six races to spare.

- No-vest Verstappen -

Norris, who cruised to victory by more than 20 seconds from pole in Singapore a year ago, said it would be hard to make up places from fifth on the grid.

"This track is all about qualifying," said the Englishman.

"There are always chances in the race but not many. If you're starting where we are it's: 'Can you get second or third?'

"As soon as you're out front in clean air, it's easy and we are not in that position this year. A lot of work to do tomorrow."

The luckless Liam Lawson, who on Saturday crashed his RB for the second successive practice session, managed to qualify in 14th.

Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber was 11th. Also failing to make it to the top-10 shootout were the Williams of Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, and Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda in 15th.

Sunday's race in tropical Singapore has been declared the first official Formula One "Heat Hazard" with temperatures during the grand prix predicted to be 31C or higher.

That means all drivers must have liquid-cooled vests made available, though wearing them is not mandatory.

Verstappen said he would not be using the new equipment.

"I haven't used the vest and I'm not intending to use it, because I feel like this needs to be a driver's choice," Verstappen told reporters.

"I don't like the tubes that are on you and your body with the belts that go next to you."

Q.Yam--ThChM