‘This is the one I wanted’ – Verstappen boosted by ‘very special’ pole for Singapore Grand Prix

Max Verstappen was suitably delighted after securing pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix, declaring that “this is the one I wanted” as he chases a maiden triumph at the event.

Fresh from victory in the Sprint race, Verstappen charged to the top spot once more in Saturday night’s main Qualifying session around Marina Bay’s streets – marking the 50th pole of his Grand Prix career.

Singapore is one of only two venues – along with the new-for-2026 Madring track – where Verstappen has yet to claim a Grand Prix win, but the Dutchman will be doing all he can to change that statistic on Sunday.

Reflecting on Qualifying, Verstappen said: “It was good! Just very close; the margins are very close I think between us [the frontrunners] throughout the whole of Qualifying.

“Of course, I’m very happy to be on pole, because this is the one that I wanted. The car has been pretty strong the whole weekend. There are always things that you look into that can be better, but it was enough for pole, so I’m very happy with that.”

Asked specifically about his win-less record in Singapore, having debuted in F1 back in 2015, and why things look more favourable for Red Bull this year, he added: “Yeah, new regulations, and I think our car now works a little bit differently compared to the previous regulations, where we were stronger in different areas of the corner.

“We take it. We’ve been really on a positive trend, so it’s for us I think very special to take the pole here.”

A potential obstacle for Verstappen on race day could come at the start, having described his getaway in the Sprint – where he lost out to Mercedes’ George Russell on the run down to Turn 1 – as “awful”.

“Well, you have to look at it positively,” he commented, when asked if he has any lingering concerns from the Sprint, and his similar struggles last time out at Sepang. “It cannot get worse. It can only get better, right? We’ll see how it goes tomorrow.”