Verstappen tops Singapore Sprint Qualifying as Schmitz calls Red Bull’s day mixed

Max Verstappen topped Sprint Qualifying in Singapore, but Red Bull strategist Hannah Schmitz called the day mixed. She said the SQ1 disruption left the team with very little data for the next session.

Verstappen’s 1:31.156 was 0.120 seconds quicker than George Russell’s, with Charles Leclerc third. The FIA’s session report said his result remained subject to a stewards’ investigation into an alleged yellow-flag infringement during SQ1.

After Sergio Pérez hit the barriers in SQ1, debris was left on the circuit as he tried to return to the pits. The session was red-flagged with six minutes remaining; only a handful of drivers had completed representative laps before the stoppage. Schmitz said SQ2 went more smoothly and welcomed Verstappen’s pole in SQ3 as a positive for Red Bull.

Schmitz said Red Bull had a problem to manage on Isack Hadjar’s side of the garage; she said track limits cost him his SQ3 time, and the FIA reported that Pierre Gasly also had his SQ3 time deleted. The remaining sessions, Schmitz said, would give Red Bull opportunities to learn and prepare for qualifying and the race.