How braking and corner exits secured Verstappen’s Singapore Sprint Qualifying pole

Max Verstappen’s Singapore Sprint Qualifying pole came from braking and corner exits, not a top-speed advantage, according to a RacingNews365 telemetry analysis. George Russell cut the gap to half a tenth around Turn 10 before Verstappen recovered time in the closing sequence.

Verstappen set a 1:31.156, 0.120 seconds quicker than Russell’s 1:31.276. After Sprint Qualifying, the stewards investigated an alleged yellow-flag infringement by Verstappen in SQ1. He later appeared before them and kept first place, according to RacingNews365.

Both drivers were just below 310 km/h in the opening sector, but the analysis says top speed was not decisive. Verstappen braked slightly later in the first braking zones, carried more speed and got back on the throttle earlier out of Turn 3. That gave him about two tenths in the first few corners.

The advantage grew after Turn 5. Verstappen had about three tenths at the Turn 7 braking point and briefly stretched the margin to six. Russell began taking time back from Turn 9 by braking later and carrying more speed through the corners; around Turn 10, the gap was down to about 0.05 seconds.

At Turn 14, Russell lifted and braked later, briefly putting him nearly two tenths ahead in the overall lap-time comparison. Verstappen got back on the throttle earlier on the run to Turn 16. Russell gained a little under braking again, but Verstappen’s better exit carried more momentum through the final fast left-handers before the line.