George Russell triumphs in searing Singapore heat to claim pole position - as Max Verstappen lashes out at Lando Norris

Virus-hit, fever-torched George Russell took a mighty pole position in searing heat for the Singapore Grand Prix, kissing the wall but dominant.

Why his Mercedes contract negotiations drag on who can say? Is there a strange reluctance to embrace him as their No1, which he most certainly is, as he was in the last throes of Lewis Hamilton’s time at the team?

In sapping conditions at 30C in general and 55C in the cockpit, Russell finished 0.182sec ahead of Red Bull’s magic man Max Verstappen, who was second quickest at the humid, draining, tropical Marina Bay Circuit – a big boost to him in the title fight given that title leader Oscar Piastri was third best. Lando Norris will start fifth.

Piastri leads his McLaren team-mate Norris by 25 points and Verstappen by 69 with 199 remaining in seven remaining races.

As for Russell, he was brilliantly quick, setting the fastest time at the start of Q3 and improving upon it as the seconds ticked down – two weeks after suffering illness that have required antibiotics and serious rehabilitation since.

Verstappen, meanwhile, was angry post-qualifying, insinuating he was clocked by Norris as he fought for pole.

‘It is amazing to be on pole,’ said Russell, who uncharacteristically crashed in practice on Friday. ‘Yesterday was a challenging day but it is good to come back. It will be a long, sweaty race tomorrow.

‘Singapore has not been the kindest to me on the past and that has been through my own doing so I will not get carried away with pole. I want to hold the lead into Turn Obe but this guy standing to my left (Verstappen) likes to throw one down the inside so I will keep an eye on him.’

He called his kiss with the wall ‘a snog’.

Verstappen, delayed as he claimed by Norris, said: ‘That is what happens when there is a car in front for you and it is noted and will be remembered as well. It could have been close for pole so it was a shame.’

Russell’s team-mate Kimi Antonelli qualified fifth, with Lewis Hamilton sixth for Ferrari, on a track he ripped to shreds in qualifying in 2018, a place ahead of Charles Leclerc in the other red car.

Hamilton’s compatriot Ollie Bearman performed very well, too – qualifying ninth. The Brit, just 20, is quick and beyond that. He has the odd slip, as a rookie well might, on his CV this year. But that matters little for now. He is a star at Haas.

Underlining that, he made it through to Q3 while his much more experienced team-mate Esteban Ocon qualified 19th.