Formula 1’s two main title contenders will start together on the front row at the Singapore Grand Prix as Lando Norris edged ahead of his title rival Max Verstappen in qualifying on Saturday.

The session turned into a one-lap shootout for the top positions when a crash for Carlos Sainz Jr. interrupted the final session on a troubled day for Ferrari.

“I was finding it a little difficult to progress much and to get a lot of lap time and more of the guys around seemed to get quicker and quicker,” Norris said.

“So it put me under a little bit more pressure, especially with just one lap at the end, but it was good enough for pole and I’m happy with that.”

The McLaren driver was .203 of a second ahead of Verstappen to start on pole, with Lewis Hamilton third for Mercedes, .316 off Norris’ time.

Pole position for Norris was a contrast to qualifying in Azerbaijan last week, when he was 15th on the grid after a yellow flag warning ruined his lap, but recovered to finish fourth, ahead of Verstappen.

Verstappen, who said he was happy with second after struggling for grip in practice in his Red Bull, leads Norris in the standings by 59 points. There are seven rounds of the championship remaining, including Sunday’s race. A front-row start means Verstappen could limit the damage to his lead even if Norris wins.

Verstappen has never won in Singapore, which was also the only track where the all-conquering Red Bull team didn’t win last season.

Hamilton had his best qualifying result since the British Grand Prix in July - which he went on to win - in a season where the seven-time champion has struggled for single-lap pace.

“Qualifying has been a disaster for me all year long and I’ve just been working and working and working, trying to get myself back up there,” he said. “All of a sudden the car came alive in qualifying for the first time in a long time.”

large lizard on the track: A large lizard scampered onto the track and stopped the third and final Formula 1 practice session for the Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday.

The session was briefly red-flagged after Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso reported over the radio that he’d seen the lizard in the middle of the track.

Two track marshals chased the long-tailed reptile and the session resumed shortly after.

Title challenger Lando Norris of McLaren set the fastest time, while standings leader Max Verstappen was fourth-fastest and reported his Red Bull car felt better than it had during a difficult second practice session the day before.

Agencies