Max Verstappen – Foto: X.com/ F1
Max Verstappen took the lead in the third free practice session for the Singapore Grand Prix, held this Saturday at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. The Red Bull driver completed the fastest lap in 1min30s148, ahead of Oscar Piastri and George Russell, who rounded out the top 3. Gabriel Bortoleto, from Sauber, finished in 12th place with a time 0s549 slower than the Dutchman’s. The session, held in the morning Brasília time, serves as preparation for the qualifying session scheduled for 10 a.m.
The activity highlighted the alternation between teams in leading the practices in Singapore. After Alonso topping FP1 and Piastri FP2, Verstappen put Red Bull in front. Bortoleto improved his position throughout the session, moving from 17th to 12th.
The Marina Bay Street Circuit, with its 23 corners and urban layout, demands precision from drivers. The 4.94 km track favors cars with good aerodynamic balance. In 2025, the event is the 18th round of the 24-race Formula 1 season.
Key incidents in the session included:
- Liam Lawson’s crash on lap 17, triggering a red flag interruption.
- Notification to Lewis Hamilton for a possible red flag infringement.
- Alexander Albon’s early retirement in FP1 due to a car fire, affecting Williams.
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Evolution of times in FP3
The first ten minutes saw times recorded by only half the grid. Lando Norris led initially on medium tires, followed by Carlos Sainz on soft compounds. Verstappen, Piastri, and others took time to post competitive laps.
Lawson’s interruption altered the session’s flow. After the restart, Kimi Antonelli took the lead on soft tires. Leclerc and Norris switched to red-banded tires and improved, but Verstappen finalized with the best mark.
Bortoleto started on mediums in 15th. He switched to softs at the end and climbed to 12th. His teammate, Nico Hulkenberg, finished 9th.
Bortoleto’s performance with Sauber
Gabriel Bortoleto was one of the first on track during FP3. The Brazilian completed initial laps on medium tires and appeared in 15th after the grid’s first attempts. The Sauber team focused on setup adjustments for the night circuit.
With soft tires in the final minutes, Bortoleto posted 1min30s697, securing 12th place. This position marks an improvement from FP2, where he finished 15th. Sauber faces challenges with the Ferrari engine’s power in short straights.
The 20-year-old rookie is gaining experience in his debut season. In Singapore, the focus is on consistency to score in the midfield.
Final top 10 positions
The FP3 times table reflects the competitiveness among Red Bull, McLaren, and Mercedes. Verstappen held the lead since his quick lap. Piastri was just 0s017 behind, while Russell completed the podium at 0s049.
Other highlights included Antonelli in 4th and Norris in 5th, both at 0s089. Sainz surprised in 6th with 0s244. Hamilton and Leclerc, from Ferrari, finished 8th and 10th, respectively.
- Red Bull: Verstappen 1st, Tsunoda 18th.
- McLaren: Piastri 2nd, Norris 5th.
- Mercedes: Russell 3rd, Antonelli 4th.
- Ferrari: Hamilton 8th, Leclerc 10th.
- Sauber: Hulkenberg 9th, Bortoleto 12th.
Tire and setup strategies
Teams tested various compounds in FP3. Most started on medium tires to simulate race stints. Softs were used at the end for qualifying simulations.
Verstappen opted for a conservative sequence, prioritizing longevity. Piastri focused on quali simulations, completing 18 laps. Bortoleto ran 22 laps, gathering data for suspension tweaks.
Singapore’s humid heat, with 30°C air temperature, accelerated wear. Pirelli supplied hard C3, medium C4, and soft C5. Soft choice dominated the best times.
The 60-minute session allowed an average of 45 laps per driver. Red Bull and McLaren led in efficiency.
Preparation for qualifying
Qualifying takes place at 10 a.m. Brasília time on the same circuit. Drivers adjust setups based on FP3. Verstappen aims for pole to maintain momentum from recent wins.
Bortoleto targets Q3 for the first time in Singapore. Sauber plans aerodynamic updates. Sunday’s GP starts at 9 a.m., with 61 laps.
Marina Bay history favors McLaren, winners in 2024 with Norris. The night track tests energy management.
