Rejuvenated Mercedes driver takes top spot by 0.182sec
Norris accused of impeding Dutchman’s flying lap
George Russell is in talks to extend his contract with Mercedes, but could surely do no more to make his case than a magnificent lap on Saturday to claim pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen was beaten into second, but the world champion was aggrieved that he had been denied by Lando Norris, complaining of being obstructed by the McLaren driver.
Russell had almost two-tenths of a second on Verstappen, a whopping margin at the Marina Bay street circuit, but one the Dutchman felt was entirely unrepresentative. Verstappen backed off his final lap, waving in indignation at having lost downforce in the final corners behind the slow-moving McLaren of Norris, who was on an in-lap.
