Lando Norris takes pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix ahead of title rival Max Verstappen... as he aims to close the 59-point gap to the triple world champion

Lando Norris kept his world championship hopes alive by taking pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix.

The McLaren man was dominant around the city state's Marina Bay circuit, beating his title rival Max Verstappen into second place by 0.203sec – holding his nerve in what turned into a one-lap shootout.

Norris will today have 62 laps to capitalise on his advantageous starting position as he aims to narrow a 59-point deficit to the Dutchman. Including this weekend's race there are seven rounds – and three sprint races – remaining with a total of 206 points on the table.

This was Norris's sixth career pole and fifth of the year. On none of the previous occasions he has started at the front has he finished the first lap in front. He is determined to set that record straight, with his dream depending on it, but Verstappen will breathe fire on him from the other side of the front row.

Lewis Hamilton was an impressive third quickest on a track where he drove one of the laps of his life in qualifying six years ago.

Verstappen's impressive performance, meanwhile, was benchmarked by his Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez qualifying only 13th.

Norris had to hold his nerve through a red-flag interruption when Carlos Sainz, who took pole here a year ago for Ferrari, crashed with less than two minutes of Q3 completed. Repairs were carried out at the final corner, where the Spaniard was embarking on his flying lap, while his car was hoisted off.

By this stage only two drivers had posted times – Norris's McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri and Haas's Nico Hulkenberg.

The delay lasted 16 minutes, as the remaining drivers prepared for the single flying lap left open to them in the eight minutes left.

George Russell was fourth best for Mercedes with Piastri fifth.

What is expected to be Daniel Ricciardo's final qualifying session in Formula One ended with a whimper. The Australian, an eight-time grand prix winner, was only 16th best for the RB team.

Ricciardo, 35, is likely to be moved aside before the next race in Austin, Texas, on October 20. New Zealander Liam Lawson is in line to move up from reserve driver responsibilities to go into the hot seat.