F1 GP Singapore, Qualifying: Rosberg missile, the pole is his

It's the night of Nico Rosberg that of Saturday to Singapore, with the pilot Mercedes who shatters the track record and scores his first pole position - and 29th in his career - on the track Marina Bay. With the magic time of 1:42.584 the German created the abyss with his opponents behind him, first of all Daniel Ricciardo, half a second away, who will start with him from the front row. Third half for Lewis Hamilton who does not wake up from the torpor in which he seems to have been enveloped since the beginning of the weekend and thus does not go beyond the second row, to be shared with the Red Bull di Verstappen. Fifth la Ferrari of Kimi, preceding the two Toro Rosso, respectively of Sainz e Kvyat. Hulkenberg, Alonso e Perez complete the top ten. But the real twist is Hag: the most successful driver on this track has in fact raised the white flag already in Q1 and on Sunday he will start from the last row.

News – Q1 – The green lights up in the pit lane and the Manors immediately take off followed by Mercedes, Haas and Renault. The Manor starts with S but then switches to US as does the rest of the grid. Only the two Toro Rossos are on SS. The asphalt temperature has meanwhile dropped to 33°C. First time for Rosberg, 1:45.316, followed by Grosjean, Palmer and Magnussen; then Hamilton takes the lead in 1:45.167. Third Button, ahead of Kvyat and Sainz. The Spaniard then climbs into third position but then Alonso overtakes him. Fifth Massa, followed by Hulkenberg and Bottas. Raikkonen takes the lead in 1:44.964, Verstappen is behind him. Vettel has problems with the front anti-roll bar: he stays out and tries to find the time but the car is too slow and he is forced to return to the pits. The German will start from the back row. Ricciardo clocked 1:44.255 on track and thus took the lead. Followed by Raikkonen, Verstappen, Hamilton, Rosberg, Alonso, Gutierrez, Sainz, Grosjean and Massa. Perez moved into fifth place when he waved the checkered flag and Magnussen, Nasr, Palmer, Wehrlein, Ocon and Vettel were excluded.

Q2 – At the restart the two Mercedes immediately take off with the new US. The first time is for Ericsson, 1:48.230, but then Rosberg clocks 1:43.020, followed by Hamilton. Full track, everyone is with the US except the two Red Bulls with the SS: i drinks they will make the cut with this tire, unlike the rest of the top ten. Third time for Sainz, immediately overtaken by Kimi. Followed by Hulkenberg, Bottas, Kvyat, Button, Alonso and Grosjean. Then it's Ricciardo who takes third place ahead of Verstappen.

Everyone returns to the pits for a short break. McLaren, Bottas, Grosjean and Sainz are back on track while Raikkonen decides to stay in the pits and take a risk with his fifth fastest time. However, the yellow flag flies on the track after Grosjean hits the wall. Button also goes long and thus loses his chance. Alonso manages to take eighth place when he waves the checkered flag. Bottas, Massa, Button, Gutierrez, Grosjean and Ericsson are therefore excluded.

Q3 – At the restart, pole is played out: Rosberg, Hamilton, Ricciardo, Verstappen, Kimi, Kvyat, Sainz, Alonso, Perez and Hulkenberg. Hulkenebrg is the first to launch and stops the clock at 1:44.954. Then Alonso overtakes him, then Ricciardo and finally Rosberg, who crumbles the track record in 1:42.584. Third is Verstappen. Hamilton goes up to second followed by Kimi. Then we find Ricciardo, Verstappen, Sainz, Alonso, Hulkenberg and Perez. Only Kvyat did not come out. All the drivers mounted the US in this first attempt, used only for the two Force Indias. Brief pit stop and then everyone inside for the grand finale, with the new US.

Ricciardo flies and takes the second half. Rosberg does not improve and remains in command. Hamilton is third followed by Verstappen. Kimi remains fifth behind him. Sainz, Kvyat, Hulkenberg, Alonso and Perez follow when the checkered flag waves.

F1 GP Singapore – Qualifying times and results