"I don't look at it as a dry spell"- Lewis Hamilton dismisses recent struggles
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc took pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix and starts today’s race at the front with a fuming Max Verstappen only eighth.
In drying conditions Verstappen, who has his first shot of securing back-to-back titles, appeared to be on course to take pole with his final throw of the dice.
But the Red Bull driver was under instruction from his team to abort his final lap due to a fuel issue, and he will start Sunday’s race way down the order. Sergio Perez took second in the other Red Bull, with Lewis Hamilton third - less than a tenth of a second off pole.
Verstappen, who has a 116-point lead, will be crowned champion in Singapore if he wins and sets the fastest lap, and team-mate Perez and Ferrari’s Leclerc finish lower than fourth and eighth respectively.
Hamilton missed out on pole by just 0.054 seconds but the seven-time world champion is set to face further action from the stewards for taking part in qualifying with his nose stud in. Hamilton wore the offending item of jewellery during practice and was summoned to see the stewards ahead of qualifying.
Follow all the action live with The Independent - the race starts at 1pm (BST).
F1 live - Singapore Grand Prix: Heavy rain in Singapore!
It’s absolutely pouring with rain in Singapore - looks like the race could have a delayed start due to the damp conditions this evening!
What impact will this have on the race though, especially with Max Verstappen starting down in eighth and George Russell right at the back of the pack after taking an engine penalty?
Confirmation now from the FIA that the whole start procedure has been delayed due to the downpour in Singapore...
(Getty Images,)
F1 live - Singapore Grand Prix: Toto Wolff urges FIA to enforce F1 regulations over reported Red Bull budget breach
On the eve of the Singapore Grand Prix – a race which could see Verstappen secure his second title in as many seasons – his controversial maiden triumph is under the microscope amid allegations his Red Bull team overspent.
F1 introduced a budget cap of $145million (£114m) last year. But Verstappen’s Red Bull are facing accusations – reported in Auto Motor und Sport and Gazzetta Dello Sport – that they went beyond that figure, potentially by up to five per cent, which would equate to £7m.
The FIA are assessing Red Bull’s finances with a verdict set to be revealed on Wednesday. Sanctions available to the sporting federation range from financial penalties to a deduction of drivers’ championship points. The latter could have an impact on last season’s result. Hamilton was denied a record eighth crown when he was beaten by Verstappen at a deeply contentious winner-takes-all finale in Abu Dhabi on December 12. Verstappen took the title by eight points.
Speaking on Friday evening, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said he was not aware of any breach. But rival boss Wolff urged the FIA, and its president Mohammed ben Sulayem – elected in the days after the Abu Dhabi fiasco – to follow the rules.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said he was not aware of any breach to cost-cap regulations
F1 live - Singapore Grand Prix: Christian Horner threatens legal action over ‘fictitious claims’ from Toto Wolff over budget cap
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has accused rival boss Toto Wolff of “hugely defamatory, fictitious claims” and threatened legal action against Mercedes amid the cheat row overshadowing this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.
In a fiery, and tense press conference on Saturday, Horner insisted he is “absolutely confident” Red Bull did not overspend as Max Verstappen beat Lewis Hamilton to last year’s controversial championship.
Horner also suggested the accusations that Red Bull broke F1’s budget cap have been planted to take the spotlight away from Verstappen, who could claim his second title in as many seasons on Sunday.
On Friday, Wolff demanded Formula One’s governing FIA takes robust action if Red Bull have broken the rules. Ferrari have also complained publicly.
“The submissions between the team and the FIA is confidential, and I have no idea what the outcome of our rivals’ submission is so I would be intrigued to know where their source of information for these fictitious claims has come from.
“They are hugely defamatory, and one can only assume that it is not a coincidence that this comes at a point where Max has his first strike at a world championship.
“We are here talking about cost caps rather than the phenomenal performance Max has had this year. It is an under-hand tactic employed to detract from perhaps a lack of performance on track from our rivals.”
Max Verstappen could win a second straight title on Sunday
George Russell to start Singapore Grand Prix from pit lane after engine penalty
More on that George Russell decision:
The Mercedes man will start Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix from the pit lane after exceeding his number of allocated engine parts.
Russell qualified 11th at the Marina Bay Circuit but he will be demoted to the back after Mercedes changed his power unit.
The British driver has enjoyed an impressive opening season as Lewis Hamilton’s team-mate, finishing in the top five at every race he has completed.
The Mercedes driver had qualified 11th at the Marina Bay Circuit,
What Max Verstappen needs to clinch the Formula One world title this weekend
Max Verstappen has his first chance this weekend to seal one of the most dominant Formula One world title wins of all time.
The Red Bull driver could wrap up the championship in Singapore on Sunday if he wins and his nearest rivals fail to pick up enough points to stay in touch.
Here, we look at exactly what is required and how it would compare to some of the sport’s greats.
Only Michael Schumacher, with six races left, has won a title with more Grands Prix remaining in a season.
Max Verstappen’s coronation could be overshadowed if Red Bull have breached cost-cap rules
On a weekend where Max Verstappen has his first opportunity to claim an inevitable second World Championship in the searing sauna of Singapore, perhaps it is time for his 2021 nemesis to join the winners’ circle in a year of otherwise unbridled frustration. What’s more, last year’s thrilling title race could take another twist yet.
To matters on-track first and while Lewis Hamilton had previously not topped a session – whether it be practice, qualifying or a Grand Prix – this year, he went fastest in first practice on Friday. He was also within range in fifth in FP2, later on, to give massive cause for optimism for Mercedes, around a Marina Bay circuit which the seven-time world champion described as “epic” on Thursday.
F1 is back in Singapore for the first time since 2019 – the start of an east Asia double-header which is followed by Japan’s return next week too – and with memories of his stupendous 2018 pole-sitting qualifying lap in his mind, Hamilton looked clean and assured on the 23-turn street circuit.
Verstappen, who celebrated his 25th birthday on Friday, was less than a tenth down on Hamilton in first practice but a front suspension issue later in the day meant he only went fourth-fastest in FP2, with Carlos Sainz leading the way in a Ferrari one-two, with Charles Leclerc two-tenths off.
Yet while all the focus will return to matters on-track come the weekend, speculation in the paddock on Friday concerned Red Bull and a potential breach of F1’s cost-cap measures which could, at its most severe, have an impact on Verstappen’s contentious maiden title last year.
Verstappen could win his second world title in Singapore this weekend - but rumours of Red Bull breaching cost-cap rules could spoil the party
Horner threatens legal action over ‘fictitious claims’ from Wolff on budget cap
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has accused rival boss Toto Wolff of “hugely defamatory, fictitious claims” and threatened legal action against Mercedes amid the cheat row overshadowing this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.
In a fiery, and tense press conference on Saturday, Horner insisted he is “absolutely confident” Red Bull did not overspend as Max Verstappen beat Lewis Hamilton to last year’s controversial championship.
Horner also suggested the accusations that Red Bull broke F1’s budget cap have been planted to take the spotlight away from Verstappen, who could claim his second title in as many seasons on Sunday.
Max Verstappen could win a second straight title on Sunday
Toto Wolff urges FIA to enforce F1 regulations over reported Red Bull budget breach
On the eve of the Singapore Grand Prix – a race which could see Verstappen secure his second title in as many seasons – his controversial maiden triumph is under the microscope amid allegations his Red Bull team overspent.
F1 introduced a budget cap of $145million (£114m) last year. But Verstappen’s Red Bull are facing accusations – reported in Auto Motor und Sport and Gazzetta Dello Sport – that they went beyond that figure, potentially by up to five per cent, which would equate to £7m.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said he was not aware of any breach to cost-cap regulations
George Russell latest update
And another update - it’ll be a pit lane start, rather from the back.
F1 latest news: George Russell starts from the back in Singapore
A change on the grid for Mercedes as Chris Medland reports that George Russell will take a new power unit - and he’s off to the back of the pack as a result.
Given he was down in 11th, he had little to use and now has his new engine for the year.
