SINGAPORE -- George Russell took a surprise pole position for Mercedes at the Singapore Grand Prix ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen in second place and championship leader Oscar Piastri in third.

It was Russell's first pole position since the Canadian Grand Prix earlier this year -- which he went on to win -- and he held a comfortable margin of 0.182 seconds over Verstappen's Red Bull.

Piastri qualifying his McLaren in third place behind Verstappen adds to the narrative that the reigning champion has an outside shot at defending his title this year despite trailing by 69 points in the standings.

Following consecutive victories at the last two rounds, Verstappen has closed the gap to Piastri by 35 points at the last two rounds, with Lando Norris , who qualified fifth on Saturda

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