F1 Singapore GP LIVE: Qualifying result as Lando Norris claims brilliant pole position

We’re just minutes away from qualifying in Singapore then!

Lando Norris is the favourite after his standout performance in third practice earlier, while George Russell was a surprise name in second for Mercedes.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, rapid yesterday, was off the pace earlier but can the Scuderia get it together to challenge McLaren? And where are Red Bull?!

It promises to be a good one and what is a key qualifying session, given how difficult it is to overtake in Marina Bay!

When handed a second chance in Formula One last summer, Daniel Ricciardo had his aspirations set higher than a paltry seat at Red Bull’s sister team. As he told The Independent, the effervescent Australian made no secret of his desire to replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull, with 2025 a realistic target. Yet what matters in this sport – beyond a joyous expression and personality – is two-fold: the stopwatch and the standings.

Ricciardo, try as he might, has not been up to scratch on both. A crying shame, for his fans and fans of the sport. Heading into round 18 of the 2024 season in Singapore this weekend, the 35-year-old is 14th in the championship standings but, more significantly, languishes 10 points behind his teammate Yuki Tsunoda.

And so we arrive to now, with Ricciardo’s F1 future on the verge of disintegration once again.

Full piece below:

“George Russell’s car has come to life. Lando is in a different league. Lewis is far away from George.”

1. Max Verstappen - 313 points

2. Lando Norris - 254 points (-59)

3. Charles Leclerc - 235 points

4. Oscar Piastri - 222 points

5. Carlos Sainz - 184 points

6. Lewis Hamilton - 166 points

7. Sergio Perez - 143 points

8. George Russell - 128 points

9. Fernando Alonso - 58 points

10. Lance Stroll - 24 points

11. Nico Hulkenberg - 22 points

12. Yuki Tsunoda - 22 points

13. Alex Albon - 12 points

14. Daniel Ricciardo - 12 points

15. Pierre Gasly - 8 points

16. Oliver Bearman - 7 points

16. Kevin Magnussen - 6 points

18. Esteban Ocon - 5 points

19. Franco Colapinto - 4 points

20. Zhou Guanyu - 0 points

21. Logan Sargeant - 0 points

22. Valtteri Bottas - 0 points

F1’s governing body has told McLaren to modify its “mini-DRS” rear-wing after an appeal from Red Bull.

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Max Verstappen has been told to “accomplish some work of public interest” in an odd ruling by the stewards after swearing during Thursday’s FIA press conference in Singapore.

The Red Bull driver, who leads this year’s world championship by 59 points to Lando Norris, has not won in seven races and struggled last week in Azerbaijan.

When asked about his car in Baku, Verstappen replied that he knew “the car was f*****” and was warned about his language by the moderator.

After being called to see the stewards on Friday, with a meeting lasting around 15 minutes, the decision reached by the stewards was an “obligation to accomplish some work of public interest.”

Full story below:

This should be a cracker!

Lando Norris is the favourite but can Oscar Piastri challenge him? Where are Ferrari after their confusing third practice session earlier? And what about Mercedes and Ferrari?

Lewis Hamilton has called out FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem for a comment referring to rappers when discussing the broadcast of swearing in Formula One races – saying they had a “racial element” to them.

Ben Sulayem, head of F1’s governing body, says he has asked Formula 1 to limit the amount of swearing – usually from drivers over team radio – on TV coverage of races. Swear words are currently bleeped out before being broadcast.

The 62-year-old Emirati executive said: “We have to differentiate between our sport – motorsport – and rap music. We’re not rappers, you know. They say the F-word how many times per minute? We are not on that. That’s them and we are [us].”

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Saturday 21 September

• Qualifying: 2pm

Sunday 22 September

• Race: 1pm

How can I watch it online and on TV?

The Singapore Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom - and ESPN in the United States. Sky’s coverage of Sunday’s race starts at 11:30am (BST).

You can watch highlights on free-to-air Channel 4 at 6:55pm (BST) on Saturday evening for qualifying and 5:30pm on Sunday evening for the race.