Lewis Hamilton took a sensational pole under the lights in Singapore to make a big claim in this championship challenge. The 2009 winner didn’t look to have pole at any point during qualifying and especially when he locked up into Turn 1 on his final lap. But an amazing recovery on the same lap saw him steel pole by 0.007. We have seen throughout 2014 in Q3 when Hamilton makes a mistake he abandons the lap (Malaysia, Bahrain, Monaco, Austria, and Britain) but just like in Monza 2 weeks ago he used the racers instinct and took a great pole. Ferrari had looked very quick all weekend but it all fell apart in Q3 as Kimi Raikkonen had a technical failure so couldn’t complete a second run. Fernando Alonso also lost time and couldn’t make the second row of the grid. Daniel Ricciardo looked very strong taking provisional pole off Felipe Massa. This was the point where it all went backwards for Williams, whom had a front row start in 2012, as they tumbled down the order. McLaren’s Kevin Magnussen and Daniil Kvyat both got into the top 10 whereas their team mates were victims of Q2. Sauber’s Esterban Gutierrez showed signs of improvement finishing solidly in Q2 but couldn’t make it into Q3 for the first time this season. Lotus’ Romain Grosjean finally snapped in the heat of Singapore moaning about the Renault Engine and this Lotus car. Many in the paddock are not surprised Grosjean has snapped but are that it has taken this long for it to happen, showing the great character he is. Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz spoke to Alan Permain post Qualifying and unlike 12 months ago seems very dejected and fed up with what has happened to Lotus in 2014. Lotus driver Pastor Maldonado was also knocked out in Q1 compounding their troubles, along with Sauber’s Adrian Sutil. But at the front Lewis Hamilton took a pole position James Bond would be proud of and will start on the clean side for tomorrow’s race. LIVE on Sky F1 from 12 – 1pm start, Highlights on BBC 1 at 5pm.
1. Lewis Hamilton 1:45.681
2. Nico Rosberg
3. Daniel Ricciardo
4. Sebastian Vettel
5. Fernando Alonso
6. Felipe Massa
7. Kimi Raikkonen
8. Valtteri Bottas
9. Kevin Magnussen
10. Daniil Kvyat
11. Jenson Button
12. Jean-Eric Vergne
13. Nico Hulkenberg
14. Esterban Gutierrez
15. Sergio Perez
16. Romain Grosjean
17. Adrian Sutil
18. Pastor Maldonado
19. Jules Bianchi
20. Kamui Kobayashi
21. Max Chilton
22. Marcus Ericsson
1. Lewis Hamilton 1:45.681
2. Nico Rosberg
3. Daniel Ricciardo
4. Sebastian Vettel
5. Fernando Alonso
6. Felipe Massa
7. Kimi Raikkonen
8. Valtteri Bottas
9. Kevin Magnussen
10. Daniil Kvyat
11. Jenson Button
12. Jean-Eric Vergne
13. Nico Hulkenberg
14. Esterban Gutierrez
15. Sergio Perez
16. Romain Grosjean
17. Adrian Sutil
18. Pastor Maldonado
19. Jules Bianchi
20. Kamui Kobayashi
21. Max Chilton
22. Marcus Ericsson