Piastri. – Foto: instagram
Oscar Piastri, driving for McLaren, led the second free practice session of the Singapore Grand Prix Formula 1 event on Friday (3) at Marina Bay, clocking 1m30s714. The session, held under nighttime conditions similar to the race, was disrupted by incidents on track and in the pits. Piastri outperformed direct rivals, solidifying McLaren’s favoritism for the weekend.
Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls surprised in second, 0.132s behind, followed by Max Verstappen of Red Bull, 0.143s off the pace. Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto, with Sauber, finished 15th with 1m32s319, after adjustments to handle the demanding street circuit.
The main disruptions came from collisions limiting track time. Two red flags forced teams to focus on qualifying simulations despite adverse conditions.
- Key incidents recorded: George Russell’s crash at Turn 16, Liam Lawson’s collision at Turn 17, and contact between Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris in the pits.
- Impact on times: about 20 minutes of effective track time lost, pushing fast laps to the final moments.
Early times and track evolution
The session began with medium tire tests, where Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli set the initial best lap at 1m32s. Ten minutes later, Lando Norris, Piastri’s teammate, took the lead with a soft tire attempt but spun at Turn 14 without major damage.
Piastri responded immediately, posting a lap 0.5s faster than Norris, showcasing McLaren’s strength in the final sector. Verstappen, the current championship runner-up, stayed consistently in the top 3, testing aerodynamic upgrades on the Red Bull.
The 4.94 km, 19-turn track demanded precision, especially on the lit straights and chicanes.
Collisions disrupt session flow
George Russell of Mercedes lost control between Turns 16 and 17, damaging the front wing and triggering the first red flag at 18 minutes. The stoppage lasted 12 minutes as debris was cleared.
Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls crashed at Turn 17 after the restart, losing his front right tire and stopping at the pit lane entry, temporarily closing it. Drivers were instructed to avoid the area.
These events reduced clean lap opportunities, particularly impacting midfield teams seeking setup data.
Mercedes reported struggles with traction out of corners, while Racing Bulls adjusted suspensions for Hadjar, who climbed the final standings.
Leclerc-Norris pit lane incident
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari was released from the garage at high speed with ten minutes remaining, colliding with the rear of Lando Norris’ McLaren. The Monegasque’s move caused Norris to hit the pit lane wall, requiring a front wing change.
Norris returned to the track with eight minutes left, completing laps to offset lost time. Ferrari continued without interruption, but Leclerc finished ninth, 0.752s behind Piastri.
Stewards are investigating the episode as an unsafe release, with Leclerc and a Ferrari representative summoned for a statement. The incident caused no injuries but highlighted risks in Marina Bay’s tight pit lane.
Teams like Williams and Haas used the remaining time for pit stop simulations, prioritizing efficiency.
Bortoleto’s performance and Brazilian challenges
Gabriel Bortoleto started eighth on medium tires but slipped to 19th after early interruptions. The 20-year-old Brazilian faced traffic, including a slow Alpine ahead, disrupting a fast lap.
On soft tires in the final minutes, Bortoleto climbed to 15th, 1.605s off the lead, focusing on stability in sector 2. His teammate Nico Hulkenberg finished 14th, suggesting potential for Sauber in qualifying.
Bortoleto voiced frustration over the radio about traffic but completed 18 laps. Sauber is testing floor updates to improve downforce in slow corners.
Final standings confirm favorites
McLaren dominated with Piastri in first and Norris in fifth, 0.483s back, reinforcing their championship lead with a 25-point advantage for the Australian. Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin held a strong fourth, 0.163s off, after leading FP1.
Lance Stroll completed Aston Martin’s top 6, while Esteban Ocon of Haas surprised in seventh on soft tires. Carlos Sainz of Williams took eighth, testing fuel strategies.
Yuki Tsunoda and Oliver Bearman closed the top 10 with close times. Drivers like Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto struggled, finishing in the lower ranks.
The third free practice is scheduled for Saturday at 6:30 AM (Brasília time), followed by qualifying at 10 AM.
