Singapore Sprint Qualifying Marred by FIA 'Human Error' as Verstappen Takes Pole and Drivers Bemoan Car Woes

Max Verstappen claimed sprint pole position at the Singapore Grand Prix, beating Mercedes' George Russell, but the session was overshadowed by a series of technical and organisational problems that drew sharp criticism from drivers.

The FIA admitted that "human error" was responsible for a power disparity between cars during sprint qualifying, leaving some drivers running in different power modes. Carlos Sainz was among the most vocal critics, blasting the governing body over the inequality the error created. The FIA also confirmed a second issue on top of a glitch in the timing and scoring system, which caused some drivers' lap times not to be displayed. The session was further disrupted when SQ1 was halted by a red flag after Sergio Perez hit the barrier.

Verstappen's own path to pole was not without complications, with the BBC reporting that he overcame another settings issue to secure top spot. His Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar had a far more difficult time, describing his RB22 as "undriveable" and saying the situation was "just weird." Hadjar had complained of excessive bottoming out during the only free practice session, where he had been fourth-fastest, but was left unable to explain his lack of pace when it mattered.

Mercedes also struggled, with both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli describing the team's new upgrade package as "very unpredictable" following their sprint qualifying difficulties. Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, owned up to a personal strategy mistake, acknowledging that his chosen run plan backfired after his car's balance shifted on soft tyres during the final session.