George Russell kept Max Verstappen at bay to land an impressive pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix.
In his rejuvenated Mercedes machinery, Russell danced his way to top spot to see off Verstappen by 0.182 seconds at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
Verstappen was unable to live with Russell, but he delivered a world title statement of intent by out-qualifying championship leader Oscar Piastri and McLaren team-mate Lando Norris. Piastri will line up from third, two places clear of a disappointed Norris, who faces losing further ground to the Australian.
Russell’s team-mate Kimi Antonelli splits the McLaren drivers and will start from fourth, nearly four tenths slower than the pole-sitter. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc qualified sixth and seventh respectively for Ferrari.
F1 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES
- The race on Sunday starts at 1pm (BST)
- George Russell starts on pole in Singapore; Verstappen 2nd; Piastri 3rd
- Click HERE for the top-10 in Singapore
- Oscar Piastri leads Lando Norris by 25 points and Max Verstappen by 69 points
- EXCLUSIVE - Liam Lawson on F1 revival: ‘I realise I was naive at Red Bull’
What time is the Singapore Grand Prix?
Saturday 4 October 2025 16:30
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Kieran Jackson
Time BST
Sunday 5 October
- Race: 1pm
George Russell, who starts on pole:
12:21
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Kieran Jackson
On weather: “It’s unpredictable here, it’ll dry up pretty quick.”
On race start: “In dry conditions, I’m not expecting anything to happen, but it could be an interesting start like 2017. It’ll make it a longer race.
“I think we’re in for a really good chance, it’ll be around the pit-stops, whoever makes that decision on the perfect lap.”
EXCLUSIVE - Liam Lawson on F1 revival: ‘I was naive at Red Bull – but my goal is still the same’
12:20
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Kieran Jackson
By Kieran Jackson
The dust of ruthlessness had barely settled for 24 hours before Liam Lawson made his feelings known. Brutally ousted from Red Bull after two races this season – the shortest ever stint in a full-time Formula One seat – the New Zealander posted on Instagram a drawing from his childhood, depicting him as an F1 driver decked in blue. “It’s what I’ve worked towards my whole life,” the caption read.
Only the most unsympathetic of observers could not have felt a dose of compassion. But now, for the first time in his disorderly F1 career, the 23-year-old is settled. In fact, Lawson is in the midst of a fine stretch of form for Red Bull’s sister team, Racing Bulls, and comes into this weekend in Singapore off the back of a career-best fifth place in Azerbaijan last time out. The only question now, with a 2026 seat far from certain, is: how long will that last?
Oscar Piastri, who starts P3:
12:14
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Kieran Jackson
“Depends how good my start is, we’ll see what happens - will try and take the opportunity if it comes up.”
Lando Norris, after finishing fifth in qualifying:
12:08
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Kieran Jackson
On illness: “Last place you want to feel a bit ill. I was struggling a little bit, it hit me pretty quickly but it went away – I;m not optimal but no excuses for today.
On qualifying: “Mercedes are doing a very good job, Singapore has always been a bit of a weird one, we’ve been struggling with the front tyres, every time someone struggles with front tyres, Mercedes is usually the team that comes out on top. The front of the car hasn’t been strong enough, then you have to make compromises.
“Making improvements is the thing we have to work on, we’re trying to win the constructors’ this weekend and it feels disappointing when you’re not quick enough. You feel too slow, haven’t done a good enough job.
On prospect of win on Sunday: “I think you’re asking for a lot, I’m sure I’ll go back to my room and we’ll ask ourselves the same question, there’s always chances in the race but not many, it’s about getting to third or second. A lot of work to do tomorrow.”
Starting grid in Singapore:
12:00
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Kieran Jackson
1. George Russell (Mercedes)
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
4. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
5. Lando Norris (McLaren)
6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
7. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
8. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
9. Ollie Bearman (Haas)
10. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
11. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)
12. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
13. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
14. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)
15. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
16. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
17. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
18. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
19. Carlos Sainz (Williams)*
Pit lane. Alex Albon (Williams)*
*Albon and Sainz were disqualified for falling foul of rear-wing inspections after qualifying
Singapore Grand Prix race odds:
11:50
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Kieran Jackson
Singapore GP winner
- Max Verstappen - 1/1
- George Russell - 33/20
- Oscar Piastri - 13/2
- Lando Norris - 22/1
- Kimi Antonelli - 45/1
- Lewis Hamilton - 80/1
- Charles Leclerc - 100/1
- Isack Hadjar - 150/1
- Fernando Alonso - 200/1
- Oliver Bearman - 300/1
Kimi Antonelli after qualifying in fourth:
11:42
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Kieran Jackson
“I like to make my life harder, I felt I had a real shot for front-row - the car was there and we had the pace.
“In Q3, I let my emotion took over.
“I’m a bit more relaxed in the car overall, focusing more on the process, today’s Q3 was another big learning for the future, sometimes doing less brings in more. In Q3, I went beyond the car’s potential - was asking too much.”
Lewis Hamilton, after qualifying sixth:
11:35
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Kieran Jackson
On this weekend: “I’ve enjoyed it, have felt on it all weekend and felt good with the car. It was maybe silly of me but I thought we were fighting for top positions.
“But the way the plan goes, where we are in the pit-lane, using tyre temperature, all these different sessions mean we don’t optimise the session. We have to do some work.
On fixing those issues: “We’ll talk in the background, just have to have a conversation about it – everyone is working as hard as they can and we should look at what the others are doing, Meredes were out first
“When I got to Q3, I lost performance in the tyres.”
F1 driver standings heading into Singapore:
11:30
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Kieran Jackson
4. George Russell (Mercedes) – 212 points
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 165 points
7. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 78 points
8. Alex Albon (Williams) – 70 points
9. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – 39 points
10. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) - 37 points
11. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 32 points
12. Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 31 points
13. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 30 points
14. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 30 points
15. Esteban Ocon (Haas) – 28 points
16. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 20 points
17. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – 12 points
18. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – 18 points
19. Ollie Bearman (Haas) – 16 points
20. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – 0 points
21. Jack Doohan (Alpine) – 0 points
F1 constructor standings heading into Singapore:
11:16
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Kieran Jackson
1. McLaren - 623 points
2. Mercedes - 290 points
3. Ferrari - 286 points
4. Red Bull - 272 points
5. Williams - 101 points
6. Racing Bulls - 72 points
7. Aston Martin - 62 points
8. Sauber - 55 points
9. Haas - 44 points
10. Alpine - 20 points
Starting grid:
10:30
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Kieran Jackson
1. George Russell (Mercedes)
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
4. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
5. Lando Norris (McLaren)
6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
7. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
8. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
9. Ollie Bearman (Haas)
10. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
11. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)
12. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
13. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
14. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)
15. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
16. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
17. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
18. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
19. Alex Albon (Williams)*
20. Carlos Sainz (Williams)*
*Albon and Sainz were disqualified for falling foul of rear-wing inspections after qualifying
Piastri after qualifying
08:00
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Kieran Jackson
A Quali day summary, ft. A special guest #McLaren | #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/cGeKwvPzVe
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) October 4, 2025
Martin Brundle on Oscar Piastri's lead:
05:00
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Kieran Jackson
“It’s a seven-race championship, plus a couple of sprints. He’s got a race in his pocket over his teammate and three races over Max Verstappen. You can get away with one rough weekend, but he doesn’t need two.”
Bernie Ecclestone shrugs off Felipe Massa’s legal case over Lewis Hamilton’s 2008 F1 title
04:00
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Kieran Jackson
Bernie Ecclestone has dismissed Felipe Massa’s legal case over the 2008 Crashgate scandal, with the former F1 supremo insisting: “There is no way in the world anyone could change or cancel that race.”
Ex-F1 driver Massa is seeking £60m in damages from F1, the FIA and Ecclestone over an alleged cover-up of the scandal at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, when Nelson Piquet Jnr crashed deliberately under instruction from his Renault team.
The subsequent impact of the crash, Massa argues, cost him the 2008 F1 world championship, which Lewis Hamilton claimed on the final lap of the final race in Brazil, with Ferrari star Massa missing out by one point.
Having filed suit in London’s High Court last March, an initial court date has now been set for 28 October.
Full details below:
Cadillac F1 announce three new drivers with 2026 entry taking shape
03:00
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Kieran Jackson
Cadillac have completed their full line-up ahead of their F1 entry next year with three simulator drivers added to their roster.
Ex-IndyCar champion Simon Pagenaud, former Haas reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi and Northern Irish endurance driver Charlie Eastwood will all drive the American team’s new simulator ahead of their debut next March.
Cadillac announced its driver line-up for their debut season in August, with the experienced duo of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez picked over the likes of Mick Schumacher and Felipe Drugovich.
Helmut Marko on Alex Dunne:
02:00
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Kieran Jackson
"We're in discussions, now that he's free,” said Red Bull’s motorosport adviser about the 19-year-old Irishman, released from McLaren yesterday.
“He's very aggressive, fast and has good car control. He's making lots of mistakes as well, at the moment.
“But he's very like a Red Bull driver."
Christian Horner ‘ringing up pretty much every owner’ in search for F1 job
01:00
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Kieran Jackson
Christian Horner has been in contact with "pretty much every team owner" in Formula 1, Aston Martin chief Andy Cowell has claimed.
Horner is plotting his return to the F1 paddock after reaching a settlement with Red Bull which allows him to make his comeback next year.
More detail below:
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies:
Saturday 4 October 2025 20:00
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Kieran Jackson
“It’s a strong qualifying from Max, it’s good to see long faces when you get the front row!
“We’d have been closer to George without that last corner traffic, Max would’ve been there or thereabouts.
“We’re not on pole but we’re able to fight with McLaren and Mercedes. We are in that group on these sort of tracks, in Zandvoort we could not be in close range, testimony to all the hard work.”
Singapore GP qualifying report: George Russell claims pole with Lando Norris struggling in Singapore GP qualifying
Saturday 4 October 2025 19:00
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Kieran Jackson
George Russell kept Max Verstappen at bay to land an impressive pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix.
In his rejuvenated Mercedes machinery, Russell danced his way to top spot to see off Verstappen by 0.182 seconds at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
Verstappen was unable to live with Russell, but he delivered a world title statement of intent by out-qualifying championship leader Oscar Piastri and McLaren team-mate Lando Norris.
Full report below:
BREAKING: Albon and Sainz disqualified
Saturday 4 October 2025 17:46
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Kieran Jackson
Williams drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz have both been disqualified from qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix after their cars failed technical checks.
Albon had qualified 12th on the grid, with Sainz a spot behind in 13th, but the pair will now start at the back of the grid for Sunday’s race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
More detail below:
Full Singapore GP starting grid:
Saturday 4 October 2025 16:15
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Kieran Jackson
1. George Russell (Mercedes)
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
4. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
5. Lando Norris (McLaren)
6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
7. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
8. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
9. Ollie Bearman (Haas)
10. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
11. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)
12. Alex Albon (Williams)
13. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
14. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
15. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
16. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)
17. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
18. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
19. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
20. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
NEW: Sainz and Albon set to be disqualified
Saturday 4 October 2025 16:03
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Kieran Jackson
Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon's rear wings have fallen foul of an FIA inspection.
"Both cars exceeded the maximum limit of 85 mm on both sides of the rear wing outer area.”
This could see Sainz (P13) and Albon (P12) get disqualified.
Oscar Piastri, after qualifying third:
Saturday 4 October 2025 15:50
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Kieran Jackson
“I would have wanted more but I don’t think we had four-tenths in it.
“Ultimately pretty happy, it was a pretty clean session.”
Max Verstappen after finishing second:
Saturday 4 October 2025 15:38
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Kieran Jackson
“That’s what happens when there’s a car in front of you just cruising!
“That was a shame otherwise it could have been close to pole. But this weekend so far has been really good.”
We think it was Lando Norris who obstructed him at the end there, giving him some dirty air...
George Russell, after finishing on pole:
Saturday 4 October 2025 15:26
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Kieran Jackson
“Amazing to be on pole, yesterday was very challenging but good to come back and get a result. A long sweaty race tomorrow. Very happy to be on pole.
“Singapore has not been the kindest to me in the past, I’m not going to get carried away. There’s a good pole-side advantage.”
Top-10 in qualifying
Saturday 4 October 2025 15:17
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Kieran Jackson
1. George Russell
2. Max Verstappen
3. Oscar Piastri
4. Kimi Antonelli
5. Lando Norris
6. Lewis Hamilton
7. Charles Leclerc
8. Isack Hadjar
9. Ollie Bearman
10. Fernando Alonso
George Russell:
Saturday 4 October 2025 15:10
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Kieran Jackson
“Yep, good job.”
Not too much excitement from the Mercedes man!
Verstappen: “F***!”
George Russell on pole position!
Saturday 4 October 2025 15:09
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Kieran Jackson
Russell goes even quicker and takes pole in Singapore!
Verstappen backed off at the end of his lap but settles for second, with Oscar Piastri in third - three-tenths off Russell!
Only fifth for Lando Norris!
4-10: Antonelli, Norris, Hamilton, Leclerc, Hadjar, Bearman, Alonso
Russell on provisional pole!
Saturday 4 October 2025 15:03
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Kieran Jackson
Wow - Mercedes and Red Bull some way clear!
George Russell is top, 0.175 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen, after a stunning on-the-limit lap, with Oscar Piastri a few tenths down in third!
4-10: Antonelli, Norris, Hamilton, Leclerc, Hadjar, Bearman, Alonso
They’ll all head into the garages and go again - big lap coming up for Lando Norris!
Q3 underway!
Saturday 4 October 2025 14:59
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Kieran Jackson
Here we go then - who will be on pole position here?!
10 drivers involved: Russell, Antonelli, Hadjar, Alsono, Bearman, Verstappen, Norris, Piastri, Leclerc, Hamilton
Leclerc saves himself!
Saturday 4 October 2025 14:49
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Kieran Jackson
He left it late, but did just enough! Leclerc up to P6.
Albon and Tsunoda don’t make it though!
Out in Q2 (11-15): Hulkenberg, Albon, Sainz, Lawson, Tsunoda
Time for the top-10 shootout!
Kimi Antonelli goes P1
Saturday 4 October 2025 14:45
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Kieran Jackson
How about that from the teenager?!
He goes from 15th to 1st with his final flying lap in Q2... what about the rest?!
Verstappen quickest after first set of laps
Saturday 4 October 2025 14:43
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Kieran Jackson
Verstappen, Piastri and Hamilton are the top-3, separated by two-tenths.
But at the bottom, there’s trouble brewing for Antonelli and Leclerc who are both in the bottom-five.
Current bottom-five (11-15); Lawson, Tsunoda, Leclerc, Albon, Antonelli
5:00 to go in Q2.
Q2 underway!
Saturday 4 October 2025 14:31
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Kieran Jackson
Second phase of qualifying underway now where, once again, we’ll lose the slowest five drivers ahead of the top-10 shootout!
Gasly out in Q1
Saturday 4 October 2025 14:21
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Kieran Jackson
Gasly has stopped at turn 11 - a hydraulic issue!
Yellow flags only though - and the Alpine driver will be out in P20.
Bottom-five and out in Q1 (16-20): Bortoleto, Stroll, Colapinto, Ocon, Gasly
They’ll play no further part in qualifying!
Antonelli goes P2
Saturday 4 October 2025 14:16
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Kieran Jackson
Brilliant lap from Antonelli - he goes second fastest, 0.104 seconds off Norris.
Current bottom-five (16-20): Bortoleto, Hulkenberg, Ocon, Gasly, Tsunoda
Two minutes left in Q1! Big moments for Yuki...
Lando Norris fastest
Saturday 4 October 2025 14:14
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Kieran Jackson
Ten minutes gone in Q1 and Norris is quickest - but Tsunoda and Antonelli are in the bottom-five as it stands.
Was Antonelli blocked by Sainz at turn 1? I think so, but no further investigation!
Current bottom-five (16-20): Hulkenberg, Ocon, Gasly, Tsunoda, Antonelli
Q1 underway!
Saturday 4 October 2025 14:00
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Kieran Jackson
Here we go then!
18 minutes for this first qualifying session where we will lose the slowest five drivers from the rest of qualifying.
Who will make an early statement at the top - and will we have any surprises?!
Big session for Lando Norris
Saturday 4 October 2025 13:55
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Kieran Jackson
After being unable to take a huge chunk out of Oscar Piastri’s lead in Baku - despite the Australian’s lead - it is a big session for Lando Norris in this title race, at a track he won at last year.
Can he make a statement with a pole position here?
Qualifying in Singapore
Saturday 4 October 2025 13:50
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Kieran Jackson
We’re just 10 minutes away from a critical qualifying session in Singapore.
With overtaking at a premium around here, this is pivotal ahead of the race tomorrow.
Who are the favourites? It’s hard to tell. You’d think it’d be between Norris, Piastri and Verstappen - but don’t discount Mercedes or Ferrari given this circuit can usually trigger a surprise!
F1 issues first-ever ‘heat hazard’ warning for Singapore Grand Prix
Saturday 4 October 2025 13:25
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Kieran Jackson
F1’s governing body have issued a first-ever “heat hazard” warning for this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.
With temperatures set to reach a humid 31C in the city-state, new regulations this year state that drivers may fit a cooling device to their cars if they so wish.
The cooling system pumps liquid around a series of tubes but it is not mandatory, with ballast being added to cars for drivers who opt not to use the device, in order for every car in the field to be equal in weight.
More detail below:
Oscar Piastri looks ahead to Singapore:
Saturday 4 October 2025 12:44
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Kieran Jackson
"I think even without disregarding who won the race, I think we don't want to have weekends like Baku. And we know we can't afford to have weekends like Baku.
"Certainly from my side of things, there was some tough lessons to take, but I think as a team, we kind of recognised a few opportunities from the weekend to try and improve.
"So that's always an important thing. I'm not that fussed with kind of what the championship picture looks like.”
Top-10 in FP3
Saturday 4 October 2025 11:45
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Kieran Jackson
1. Max Verstappen
2. Oscar Piastri
3. George Russell
4. Kimi Antonelli
5. Lando Norris
6. Carlos Sainz
7. Isack Hadjar
8. Lewis Hamilton
9. Nico Hulkenberg
10. Charles Leclerc
Verstappen quickest in third practice
Saturday 4 October 2025 11:33
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Kieran Jackson
Final practice done and dusted then and it’s Max Verstappen who goes quickest in an intriguing session!
The Dutchman goes 0.013 seconds quicker than a late lap set by Oscar Piastri, who is second.
A good hour for Mercedes, in third and fourth for Russell and Antonelli, with Norris completing the top five – the Brit has set the exact same time as Antonelli, but the Italian set it first so goes fourth!
6-10: Sainz, Hadjar, Hamilton, Hulkenberg, Leclerc
Max Verstappen goes P1
Saturday 4 October 2025 11:27
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Kieran Jackson
By just 0.049 secs over George Russell, now in second, ahead of Norris.
Final laps coming in now!
Hamilton to be investigated after the session
Saturday 4 October 2025 11:23
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Kieran Jackson
Hamilton is believed to have slowed down at the site of Lawson’s crash before speeding up again, despite the red flag.
Could the Ferrari driver be in trouble ahead of qualifying? We’ll soon find out.
Lando Norris back up to P1
Saturday 4 October 2025 11:20
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Kieran Jackson
Track is very much ramping up now.
Leclerc goes P1 before Norris takes top spot from the Ferrari driver, while Hamilton then slots into P2!
10 minutes left. Times set to tumble here.
Piastri down in P11
Saturday 4 October 2025 11:14
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Kieran Jackson
Qualifying simulation laps are on their way, but championship leader Piastri is now down in P11 - 1.5 seconds off his teammate Norris in second!
15:00 left in FP3...
Kimi Antonelli surges to P1
Saturday 4 October 2025 11:06
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Kieran Jackson
Bit of a statement from the teenager, with Antonelli going quickest by two-tenths!
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton is being investigated for a red flag infringement.
Oh. Dear.
25:00 left in FP3...
Lewis Hamilton P4
Saturday 4 October 2025 11:03
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Kieran Jackson
First proper push lap from Lewis Hamilton on the mediums and he slots into P4, four-tenths off Lando Norris in first.
Albon and Sainz are second and third respectively for Williams, with Max Verstappen completing the top-five.