Dutch Red Bull driver Max Verstappen set the fastest time in qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday, hours after winning the speed race held on a wet track that witnessed dramatic events after British Mercedes driver George Russell was involved in a collision while he was leading at the end of the first lap.
Verstappen set a record time of 1:31.373 minutes, beating the Ferrari duo, Charles Leclerc from Monaco and Britain's Lewis Hamilton, while Italian Kimi Antonelli, who leads the drivers' standings, came fourth in a Mercedes car.
British McLaren driver Lando Norris, the current world champion, was the fifth fastest driver, while Russell was sixth, knowing that he will start from the last positions after the team was penalized for violating the law related to the use of spare parts.
Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren), Frenchman Pierre Gasly (Alpine), New Zealander Liam Lawson and Arvind Lindblad (both Racing Bulls) completed the top ten.
The trials were held on a completely dry track after rain affected the speed race earlier, in which Verstappen also started from first place.
Starting from the front of the starting line gives Verstappen (29 years old) an ideal opportunity to strive for his first victory in the Singapore race.
Verstappen has never reached the highest threshold on the podium in Singapore during his nine previous races since his debut in 2015.
Verstappen said: “I am certainly very happy to get the pole position, as this is the position I was aspiring to.”
“The car was very strong all weekend,” he added. There is always room for improvement, but this was enough to get me pole position.”
The four-time world champion continued: “We have been moving in a positive direction, so obtaining the first starting position here has a very special place for us.”
Trabzonspor defeated its host Samsunspor 3-0, on Saturday, in the seventh round of the Turkish Football League.
Trabzonspor raised its score to 13 points to advance to third place, one point behind Amed Sportif, the second-placed team, and three points behind Galatasaray, the defending champion and top of the standings.
On the other hand, Samsunspor's score froze at four points in sixteenth place.
Trabzonspor took the lead in the 27th minute through Ernest Monshi, then his teammate Chibuike Nwano added the second goal in the 38th minute.
Two minutes later, Trabzon scored the third goal through Francolino Gloda, following a magical pass from Egypt's national team captain Mohamed Salah, to complete his team's hat-trick in the first half.
The match witnessed Melih Kabaksal, a Trabzonspor player, being sent off in the 43rd minute, and his team completed the match with ten players.
Samsun failed to take advantage of the numerical shortage in Trabzon's ranks, and the match ended with a major victory for Salah's comrades.
