‘Best quali of the year’: Charles Leclerc takes POLE position in a thrilling qualifying session at the Singapore GP


‘Best quali of the year’: Charles Leclerc takes POLE position in a thrilling qualifying session at the Singapore GP

Charles Leclerc celebrates pole position at the Singapore GP (Images through IMAGO / PanoramiC)

For the most part of an exhilarating qualifying session in Singapore, ‘intermediate’ conditions prevailed. Even towards the end of Q2, the Aston Martin pair tried to do a run on slick tyres but it did not work. For Q3 however, it was the soft tyre that was preferred, even though it was still wet in some areas, notably in turn 18.

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The times kept improving, and at one point, Lewis Hamilton looked pretty good for a pole position. But at the end of the session, it was Charles Leclerc who topped the time sheets, just 0.022 seconds ahead of Sergio Perez, and just ahead of Lewis Hamilton by 0.054 seconds. On his last run, Max Verstappen seemed to be on a lap near/good enough for pole position, but he dived into the pits at the end.

The team did not explain why that was the case, but it means the championship protagonist will only start in P8. But let’s not rule him out, as he has soared up the order multiple times this season. For now, however, Charles Leclerc starts on top as he took his second consecutive pole position in Singapore and his 9th of the season. No Ferrari driver has taken as many poles since Michael Schumacher in 2000.

Also Read: WATCH: Charles Leclerc left baffled after fan plays the disappearing act on him at the Singapore GP

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Charles Leclerc ties Kimi Raikkonen’s pole positions tally

Charles Leclerc receiving the Singapore GP pole position award (Images through IMAGO / PanoramiC)
Charles Leclerc receiving the Singapore GP pole position award (Images through IMAGO / PanoramiC)

While Charles Leclerc has the most pole positions this season, they have unfortunately not translated to a win very often. The Monegasque may have 9 (8 in completed events) poles, but he has only 3 race victories to his name. While in France it was his fault, often he has been handed the short stick.

Most fans have recognized that a pole position has not meant much for him this season, Ferrari fans included. But the pole position is still something to be celebrated. Here’s a statistic: The Singapore Grand Prix has been won from pole position 8 out of 12 times, and one of these times was the famous triple crash from Sebastian Vettel-Max Verstappen and Kimi Raikkonen, while one more is ‘Crashgate’.

But Leclerc’s pole-to-win conversion ratio isn’t amazing, and people know that very well.

But taking this many pole positions is still something to be commended, especially when your team’s mistakes often end up ruining your race. With this Singapore GP pole, Leclerc now has 18 poles, which matches Kimi Raikkonen’s record.

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The qualifying session was also incredibly entertaining and breathtaking.

Time will tell if Leclerc can convert his pole position into a win. While the statistics at the Singapore GP favour him, he couldn’t win from pole here last time around either, and his pole-to-win ratio this year is rather dismal. It will just be insult to injury if Max Verstappen climbs up the order once again and wins the race.

Also Read: Fans hilariously react to Charles Leclerc calling Carlos Sainz’s ice bath experience a “nightmare”

Also Read: ‘To extract the maximum out of the car’: Charles Leclerc and Ferrari aim to have a spotless weekend in Singapore

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