Max Verstappen takes pole position and sprint victory in Singapore

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix in qualifying on Saturday. As BBC News, BBC, The Race, and The New York Times report, the four-time champion beat Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to the top spot. The New York Times noted that the result marked the 50th career pole position for Verstappen. [1][8][9][11][13]

The qualifying session took place hours after Verstappen won the sprint race on the same circuit, according to BBC News and The Guardian. Al Jazeera, The Edwardsville Intelligencer, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, and the Daily Mail all reported that Mercedes driver George Russell crashed out of the lead at the end of the opening lap, which allowed Verstappen to take the win. [1][2][3][4][6][7]

In the sprint race, Verstappen finished 2.50 seconds ahead of Hamilton in second place, with Leclerc finishing third, according to Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera also reported that McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri touched and spun on the final lap while fighting for fourth and fifth places. ABC News Australia reported that Piastri had started on the second row for the sprint race after Verstappen took sprint pole. [2][5]

The four-time world champion competes under the Dutch flag for Red Bull Racing. Verstappen stated that the car felt very strong all weekend and called it really special to take pole position in Singapore, BBC News reported. [1][13]