World championship leader Max Verstappen and Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez both failed on Saturday to make it into final qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix.

Verstappen, who has won the last 10 races in a row, finished 11th fastest in Q2 and was eliminated along with Perez, who was 13th.

Verstappen is chasing a third world title and has a massive 145-point lead over Perez.

But the Dutchman has never triumphed under the lights in Singapore and faces an almost impossible task to end the drought after a torrid weekend when the Red Bulls were well off the pace.

Perez won in Singapore last year from second on the grid, but will make his 250th grand prix start in Sunday's night race from the back half of the grid.

Red Bull have won all 14 races so far this season but Singapore's Marina Bay street circuit is shaping up as the biggest challenge to the team's unprecedented quest to win all 22 races.

Verstappen has won 12 of the 14 races this season with Perez the only other driver to take the chequered flag.

Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon and Yuki Tsunoda were also eliminated in Q2.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/explained-when-could-max-verstappen-clinch-2023-formula-one-championship-636571">Explained | When could Max Verstappen clinch 2023 Formula One Championship</a>

Earlier Q1 was brought to a premature halt by a red flag after Lance Stroll crashed his Aston Martin spectacularly entering the pit straight at the end of a hot lap.

A huge impact into the wall sent his car spinning across the track with wheels and bodywork flying.

Lando Norris was close behind and did well to avoid the wreckage in his McLaren.

The crash eliminated Stroll, who remarkably managed to walk away unaided. Valtteri Bottas, Oscar Piastri, Logan Sargeant and Zhou Guanyu also failed to make it into Q2.

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World championship leader Max Verstappen and Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez both failed on Saturday to make it into final qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix.

World championship leader Max Verstappen and Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez both failed on Saturday to make it into final qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix. Verstappen, who has won the last 10 races in a row, finished 11th fastest in Q2 and was eliminated along with Perez, who was 13th. Verstappen is chasing a third world title and has a massive 145-point lead over Perez. But the Dutchman has never triumphed under the lights in Singapore and faces an almost impossible task to end the drought after a torrid weekend when the Red Bulls were well off the pace. Perez won in Singapore last year from second on the grid, but will make his 250th grand prix start in Sunday's night race from the back half of the grid. Red Bull have won all 14 races so far this season but Singapore's Marina Bay street circuit is shaping up as the biggest challenge to the team's unprecedented quest to win all 22 races. Verstappen has won 12 of the 14 races this season with Perez the only other driver to take the chequered flag. Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon and Yuki Tsunoda were also eliminated in Q2. ALSO READ | Explained | When could Max Verstappen clinch 2023 Formula One Championship Earlier Q1 was brought to a premature halt by a red flag after Lance Stroll crashed his Aston Martin spectacularly entering the pit straight at the end of a hot lap. A huge impact into the wall sent his car spinning across the track with wheels and bodywork flying. Lando Norris was close behind and did well to avoid the wreckage in his McLaren. The crash eliminated Stroll, who remarkably managed to walk away unaided. Valtteri Bottas, Oscar Piastri, Logan Sargeant and Zhou Guanyu also failed to make it into Q2. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Formula One: Max Verstappen out of qualifying at Singapore Grand Prix; Sergio Perez also fails

Max Verstappen will seek to extend his lead over Lewis Hamilton in the world championship at this weekend's Styrian Grand Prix as the cracks in Mercedes' armoury widen.

The 23-year-old Dutchman heads the defending seven time champion by 12 points after beating him at last Sunday's French Grand Prix as the Formula One circus prepares for the second part of a triple-header of three consecutive races, two in Austria following the closely-fought encounter at Le Castellet.

Hamilton, 36, and his Mercedes team were unable to find an answer to Red Bull's competitiveness, speed and superior tactical acumen in France and their hopes of retaining their titles could be badly damaged if they cannot recapture form and fortunes.

But after licking their wounds, they are determined to bounce back with an attacking response to prevent their rivals claiming a fourth straight win for the first time since 2014.&nbsp;

Last year, when the sweeping circuit in the Styrian Alps also hosted two successive season-opening events, Mercedes won both with Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas claiming one apiece.

However, Verstappen won in 2018 and 2019 and he has been the dominant force since Hamilton's last win in early May.

If he can triumph again in the Styrian race, he will be well-placed for a repeat seven days later in the Austrian Grand Prix and might then have a comfortable cushion in points advantage before Hamilton's home British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July.

Both men and both teams will know, however, that the Red Bull Ring, a down-sized version of its old Osterreichring predecessor, remains a majestic track with a habit of creating drama and, occasionally, controversy.

Red Bull go into the weekend with a 36-point lead in the constructors championship and, importantly, a straight-line speed advantage that they demonstrated at the Paul Ricard circuit, leaving Hamilton and his team baffled and frustrated.

The Briton, 36, could not explain if this was due to 'drag' – the use of less wing – or power from the upgraded Honda engines introduced in France and faces the prospect of extending his winless streak to four races for the first time since 2016, the only year since 2014 when he was not champion.

His erstwhile Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg won the 2016 title, when Hamilton went five without a win.&nbsp;

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<h2>- 'Have to improve' -</h2>

He also went six without winning from 2017 to 2018, three at the end of one season and the start of the next.

Cracks are appearing in Mercedes' once-impenetrable performance armoury as last Sunday's loss, after leading when Verstappen ran wide at the first corner, showed.

Strategic errors by the team undid both Hamilton and Bottas, as conceded by Mercedes team strategist James Vowles and boss Toto Wolff.

"In a season like this, every point will matter and make a difference," said Wolff.

"And we've left points on the table at the last few races. We've debriefed France and we understand where we have to improve.

"Now it's all about focusing on bringing those improvements to the next two rounds in Austria where, hopefully, we can swing the positive momentum back in our favour."

Verstappen, showing composure beyond his years, has ignored the title speculation.&nbsp;

"I just want to go to the next race and try to win again," he said.&nbsp;

"I know it's not always possible, but we try as a team every weekend to get the best out of it."

He shrugged aside a recent exchange of comments suggesting he was faster than Hamilton.&nbsp;

"It's just a bit of talk from both sides, which is fine. You have to believe in your own capabilities. I believe I'm the fastest, but he also believes he's the fastest.

"In Austria, we have to set up the car well again and read the conditions. I don't know what the weather forecast is, but I'm looking forward to it. For sure, it will be close again."

Max Verstappen will seek to extend his lead over Lewis Hamilton in the world championship at this weekend's Styrian Grand Prix as the cracks in Mercedes' armoury widen.

Max Verstappen will seek to extend his lead over Lewis Hamilton in the world championship at this weekend's Styrian Grand Prix as the cracks in Mercedes' armoury widen. The 23-year-old Dutchman heads the defending seven time champion by 12 points after beating him at last Sunday's French Grand Prix as the Formula One circus prepares for the second part of a triple-header of three consecutive races, two in Austria following the closely-fought encounter at Le Castellet. Hamilton, 36, and his Mercedes team were unable to find an answer to Red Bull's competitiveness, speed and superior tactical acumen in France and their hopes of retaining their titles could be badly damaged if they cannot recapture form and fortunes. But after licking their wounds, they are determined to bounce back with an attacking response to prevent their rivals claiming a fourth straight win for the first time since 2014. Last year, when the sweeping circuit in the Styrian Alps also hosted two successive season-opening events, Mercedes won both with Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas claiming one apiece. However, Verstappen won in 2018 and 2019 and he has been the dominant force since Hamilton's last win in early May. If he can triumph again in the Styrian race, he will be well-placed for a repeat seven days later in the Austrian Grand Prix and might then have a comfortable cushion in points advantage before Hamilton's home British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July. Both men and both teams will know, however, that the Red Bull Ring, a down-sized version of its old Osterreichring predecessor, remains a majestic track with a habit of creating drama and, occasionally, controversy. Red Bull go into the weekend with a 36-point lead in the constructors championship and, importantly, a straight-line speed advantage that they demonstrated at the Paul Ricard circuit, leaving Hamilton and his team baffled and frustrated. The Briton, 36, could not explain if this was due to 'drag' – the use of less wing – or power from the upgraded Honda engines introduced in France and faces the prospect of extending his winless streak to four races for the first time since 2016, the only year since 2014 when he was not champion. His erstwhile Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg won the 2016 title, when Hamilton went five without a win. - 'Have to improve' - He also went six without winning from 2017 to 2018, three at the end of one season and the start of the next. Cracks are appearing in Mercedes' once-impenetrable performance armoury as last Sunday's loss, after leading when Verstappen ran wide at the first corner, showed. Strategic errors by the team undid both Hamilton and Bottas, as conceded by Mercedes team strategist James Vowles and boss Toto Wolff. "In a season like this, every point will matter and make a difference," said Wolff. "And we've left points on the table at the last few races. We've debriefed France and we understand where we have to improve. "Now it's all about focusing on bringing those improvements to the next two rounds in Austria where, hopefully, we can swing the positive momentum back in our favour." Verstappen, showing composure beyond his years, has ignored the title speculation. "I just want to go to the next race and try to win again," he said. "I know it's not always possible, but we try as a team every weekend to get the best out of it." He shrugged aside a recent exchange of comments suggesting he was faster than Hamilton. "It's just a bit of talk from both sides, which is fine. You have to believe in your own capabilities. I believe I'm the fastest, but he also believes he's the fastest. "In Austria, we have to set up the car well again and read the conditions. I don't know what the weather forecast is, but I'm looking forward to it. For sure, it will be close again."

Formula One: Verstappen ready to pounce as cracks widen in Mercedes armour

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Formula One: Max Verstappen out of qualifying at Singapore Grand Prix; Sergio Perez also fails

Formula One: Verstappen ready to pounce as cracks widen in Mercedes armour