Small victories matter: Hamilton out-qualifies Leclerc
Lewis Hamilton will line up sixth for the Singapore Grand Prix, one spot ahead of Charles Leclerc in seventh — a result 2009 world champion Jenson Button labels a "big deal" given the Briton’s up-and-down season. Hamilton felt an even higher grid slot was on the table but pointed to tyre temperatures dropping amid slow pit-lane traffic. It is just the fifth time this year he has out-qualified Leclerc in a grand prix, after the Chinese, Spanish, Canadian, and British GPs.
Pundit reactions: momentum and mindset
Button urged Hamilton to bank the "small victories" as confidence markers, noting he was only around a tenth and a half off Lando Norris’s McLaren in qualifying pace. Jamie Chadwick admitted surprise that Hamilton has outperformed Leclerc at circuits many expected to suit the Monegasque, including Baku and now Singapore. Leclerc, meanwhile, has been wrestling with understeer and balance, contributing to Ferrari’s recent aura of unpredictability.
Ferrari’s form vs. the pack
With Mercedes finding one-lap speed in challenging conditions and McLaren still a constant threat, Ferrari’s window for error is razor-thin. Track evolution, traffic management, and tyre prep are decisive here; any misstep can cascade into lost grid spots and compromised race pace.
The ever-present Hamilton vs. Verstappen debate
As Hamilton shows flashes of form, the broader conversation about F1’s modern greats continues to rumble. An F1 icon has publicly stated who he believes is the superior driver between Hamilton and Max Verstappen, underscoring how the rivalry frames contemporary narratives — even on weekends where they are not fighting wheel-to-wheel. With Hamilton’s 104 career poles and Verstappen’s four world titles referenced across the paddock discourse, comparisons are inevitable.
What it means for Sunday
- Starting P6, Hamilton has a platform to pressure the front-runners if strategy and tyre life align.
- Leclerc and Ferrari need rapid clarity on balance to unlock race pace and limit damage.
- A tightly bunched top 10 raises the stakes for starts, pit timing, and any weather-induced gambits.
In a field this compact, incremental gains — and the mindset to value them — can tilt outcomes.
