HAMILTON DELIGHTED WITH ‘MEGA START’ IN SINGAPORE SPRINT

Lewis Hamilton turned a frustrating P6 Sprint Qualifying into a podium finish with a blistering wet-weather opening lap in Singapore. The Ferrari driver vaulted past both McLarens and teammate Charles Leclerc on the damp track, inheriting P2 when George Russell binned it early. He crossed 2.5 seconds behind Max Verstappen's Red Bull.

"I had a mega start," Hamilton said. "I love driving this track in the rain." He closed on Verstappen mid-race but backed off to manage tyre temperatures, settling for the runner-up spot on a circuit notorious for its single racing line.

The performance has Hamilton eyeing Qualifying with renewed confidence. A fifth Singapore victory would equal Sebastian Vettel's circuit record. Leclerc salvaged P3 despite severe tyre degradation, benefiting when the McLarens collided fighting for the final podium spot on the last lap. Ferrari showed the pace is there—now they need to unlock it on Saturday.