Canada's Lance Stroll walks away from big crash in Formula 1 Singapore GP qualifying

The Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix first qualifying session was red-flagged early when Canadian driver Lance Stroll lost control of his Aston Martin and speared into the wall on the final corner on Saturday.

The 24-year-old Montreal native was able to walk away and said he was unhurt, telling his crew over the radio that he was okay. He was estimated to be traveling at approximately 177 km/h when he slammed into a barrier on the left-hand turn of a qualifying lap at the Marina Bay street circuit.

"I'm okay," Stroll said in a statement. "I'm frustrated as we have a big job – in the garage and on the race track – ahead of us.

"I was struggling for grip throughout the qualifying session... When I saw my lap wasn't improving, I pushed really hard in the last corner to try and make up that extra time, and that's when it went wrong."

Aston Martin said Sunday that Lance Stroll will sit out the Singapore Grand Prix.

"The whole team are relieved that Lance was able to step out of the car after yesterday's accident — however, he is still feeling the after-effects of such a high-impact crash," team principal Mike Krack said.

"Our priority now is that he makes a full and speedy recovery. Together, we have decided that he will sit out this evening's race and instead focus fully on returning to the cockpit for next weekend's Japanese Grand Prix."

Crash causes lengthy delay

The crash caused a lengthy delay as crews worked to clear away the debris and repair the barrier. The damage to the car included a torn front left suspension and a wheel from the chassis.

One of those to lose out was McLaren's Oscar Piastri, who only narrowly missed the wreckage of Stroll's car and couldn't complete his lap before the red flag came out leaving him 18th. Stroll was 20th and last.

With his Aston Martin Fernando Alonso qualifying seventh, the incident was a reminder of Stroll's underwhelming record this season at the team headed by his father, Lawrence Stroll.

Alonso has racked up 170 points to Stroll's 47 and the Canadian has not reached the podium this season.

"The only thing that matters today is that Lance is okay after the accident in qualifying," said Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack. "To see him step out of the car unaided is a testament to the FIA's constant work to improve safety.

"After some precautionary checks in the medical centre, he was cleared and released."

Sainz Jr. takes pole

Carlos Sainz Jr. took pole for the race for Ferrari on Sunday, his second in a row after qualifying first in the Italian GP, ahead of George Russell of Mercedes and the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.

Max Verstappen's Red Bull team had its worst qualifying results of the season with the Dutchman qualifying in eleventh and his teammate Sergio Perez in 13th.

Verstappen said that will spell the end of his record string of 10 straight victories that began in May at the Miami GP.
 
"Yeah, you can forget about that," the back-to-back champion told reporters in Singapore about his chances to extend the streak to 11.