Ferrari's Charles Leclerc on pole for Singapore Grand Prix

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AFP Singapore
Last Updated : Sep 21 2019 | 9:20 PM IST

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc secured pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday as he looks to claim a stunning hat-trick of wins after triumphs in Belgium and Italy.

The Monegasque will be joined on the front row by championship leader Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes, with Leclerc's teammate Sebastian Vettel rounding out the top three, ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas.

Despite winning the last two races on power-friendly tracks, Ferrari had been given little chance of competing under the floodlights at the demanding 23-turn layout in Singapore.

But Leclerc, 21, and Vettel tore up the script to gatecrash what was expected to be a Mercedes and Red Bull party.

"I'm extremely happy about today. It was a good lap but I lost it a few times," Leclerc said after completing a 1:36.217 second final lap.

"I have to thank the team. We brought some new bits that worked properly. I worked hard after a bad Friday and today it paid off," added Leclerc, who recorded his fifth pole position of the season.

Hamilton holds a 63-point lead over Bottas of Mercedes in the title race with seven rounds remaining.

The Briton said he would adopt an aggressive approach to Sunday's race in search of a ninth victory of the season, as he seeks a sixth world championship.

"I don't know where Ferrari picked up their pace but they did a great job," said Hamilton, who lapped in 1:36.408.

"I'm really happy to be on the front row with them. Tomorrow we can be aggressive."

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First Published: Sep 21 2019 | 9:20 PM IST

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