F1 weather watch - Singapore Grand Prix expected rain as Lando Norris takes pole
A repeat of the 2022 Singapore Grand Prix - where heavy rain disrupted the race weekend - looked to be on the cards after monsoon weather struck earlier this week
by Dan Burnham · The MirrorThe Singapore Grand Prix is expected to remain dry despite initial fears of thunderstorms.
The island nation's unpredictable climate brought about monsoon weather earlier this week, with downpours threatening to disrupt the race weekend like they did in 2022. But they largely cleared before the action on the track got underway.
As a result, the practice sessions and qualifying were completed in clear conditions. And it's forecast to be more of the same later today (September 22) when the race gets underway at 8pm local time (1pm UK time).
The Met Office believe there's less than a five per cent chance of rain and there'll be little cloud cover. The temperature will remain 29 degrees Celcius, however.
And it will feel more like 32 degrees Celcius due to the extreme humidity, estimated to be around 75%, which makes it one of the most challenging races of the season.
It'll be Lando Norris who leads off the line after he pipped title rival Max Verstappen to pole position. The McLaren driver will look to close the 59-point gap to Red Bull's three-time world champion, but he'll have to overcome his poor run of starts from P1 to do so.
Lewis Hamilton qualified third, closely followed by Mercedes team-mate George Russell. Oscar Piastri finished fifth, with Nico Hulkenberg securing a surprise sixth.
Fernando Alonso will start P7 for Aston Martin, while Yuki Tsunoda will be eighth. Rounding out the top 10 was the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, who endured a nightmare Q3.
Sainz put his car into the wall at the final corner as he revved up to start his first flying lap of the final session, bringing out the red flags and scuppering most of his counterparts including Leclerc, whose eventual time was deleted for exceeding track limits.
Victory for Norris or Verstappen will mean a new winner around the streets of Singapore, while Hamilton will fancy his chances of claiming a fifth triumph under the lights if they become too embroiled in the own battle.
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