Reuters
Singapore, Sept 17: Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg took pole position for his 200th Formula One race after a stunning qualifying lap around Singapore’s Marina Bay street circuit, Saturday.
The German’s best lap of one minute 42.584 seconds left him perfectly placed to retake the championship lead from British teammate Lewis Hamilton under the floodlights Sunday.
Rosberg hailed the lap as one of the best of his career and, by securing his 29th pole position at a circuit that offers minimal overtaking opportunities, the 31-year-old will be hopeful of securing his eighth victory of the season.
“I am definitely happy with that one. It was one of my top three laps ever,” Rosberg, who sits two points behind Hamilton with seven rounds remaining, told reporters.
Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo split the Mercedes pair to claim second spot in 1:43.115, the Australian edging out triple World Champion Hamilton, a two times winner in Singapore who will start in third place.
Ricciardo is still searching for his first win of the season after he was denied victory by a botched pit stop in Monaco, and with Singapore providing the most similar circuit to Monte Carlo, the Australian can hope to go one better Sunday.
Dutch teenager Max Verstappen, who had a surprise encounter with a monitor lizard in practice, will start alongside Hamilton after setting the fourth fastest time for Red Bull.
Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen rounded out the top five. Last year’s winner Sebastian Vettel will start from the back of the grid, the German complaining over the radio of an anti-rollbar issue in the first qualifying session with his Ferrari team unable to repair the car in time to set a fast lap.
