HAMILTON MUST SING ...OR SINK
LEWIS HAMILTON will need to produce one of his best-ever drives in today’s Singapore GP to avoid surrendering his championship lead to Sebastian Vettel.
The Brit could only qualify in fifth place on the street circuit, with his Mercedes struggling for pace on the tight and twisty track.
Vettel put his Ferrari on pole position and can retake the lead in the title race if he claims his fifth win at the track.
Hamilton said: “We knew it was going to be tough for us, it’s still really hard on this circuit.
“I did not think the Ferrari would be so fast, but I suspected it for Red Bull.
“I really gave it all, I pulled the best out of the car. It is a complicated circuit for overtaking. The start and strategy should offer opportunities, the safety car also, if it goes out.
“I do not know where Ferrari found this rhythm. It’s weird, it changes from race to race between them and us. We will be stronger on the next races.“
Vettel was 0.323seconds quicker than Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who edged out teammate Daniel Ricciardo in third.
Ferrari’s Finnish star Kimi Raikkonen was 0.578sec slower than the German in fourth, with Hamilton 0.635sec adrift of Vettel.
“I don’t know where that time came from,” said Vettel, who has now secured four poles of the 10 events staged here.
“I struggled also this morning. I shouted as loud as the crowd. It was unbelievable.
“I love this track. The car was tricky, but was getting better, better and better. So I am pleased we got it done.
“It’s an amazing track when you feel the car coming together. I knew we had it in us, but we had to get there.”
Verstappen said: “It is promising, but a shame we couldn’t put it on pole. The final lap wasn’t great.
“During the race it will be difficult to pass him, so we will have to see in the first lap.”