Here is the thing about Max Verstappen: he just keeps finding ways to deliver the unexpected when you least expect it. Under the Friday evening lights at Marina Bay, he stormed to a brilliant pole position in Sprint Qualifying, leaving everyone wondering where that supreme lap actually came from.
Ferrari had looked so good earlier in SQ2, but when it truly mattered, the beast of a lap belonged to the Dutchman. It was a stunning piece of driving on Friday evening, proving once again why he can be so tough to beat.
Behind him, George Russell put together an impressive run to take second on the grid for Mercedes. But it was a mixed session for the team, as championship leader Kimi Antonelli wound up down in seventh place while still running with the new-spec machine.
