McLaren's Lando Norris topped the timesheets on Friday, leading Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in the second practice session for the Singapore Grand Prix. The session was a significant boost for Norris, who is currently 59 points behind Max Verstappen in the drivers' championship standings.
The second practice session in Singapore is crucial for teams as it is the only one conducted under the same night conditions as the race itself, which takes place around the 4.94-kilometre Marina Bay Circuit. However, Verstappen had a forgettable 60 minutes, finishing 15th fastest in a Red Bull that seemed unstable at times.
The Dutch three-time world champion was 1.294 seconds behind Norris's fastest lap of 1 minute 30.727 seconds. Leclerc, who had set the pace in the first practice, clocked 1:30.785, just 0.58 seconds slower than Norris. Sainz, the Singapore winner from 12 months ago, was nearly six tenths of a second behind his teammate.
Yuki Tsunoda in an improved RB was fourth, ahead of the second McLaren of Oscar Piastri, who claimed victory in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku last weekend. Daniel Ricciardo's second RB was sixth, followed by George Russell's Mercedes, Sergio Perez's Red Bull, Alex Albon's Williams, and the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg in the top 10.
Russell had a minor crash into a wall at turn eight towards the end of the session but managed to return to the pits without his front wing. His teammate Lewis Hamilton, a four-time Singapore winner, was well off the pace. Upon learning his qualifying simulation lap on soft tyres was only good enough for 11th place, Hamilton expressed frustration: "It's unbelievable, mate."
Singapore was the only race Red Bull failed to win last year during their dominant season. This year, they have lost their lead in the constructors' standings to McLaren, who are 20 points ahead. Verstappen won seven of the first 10 races this season but has not triumphed in the last seven, with McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes all securing race wins.
Historically, Verstappen's chances do not look promising around the unpredictable city centre track, where he has never won. Red Bull traditionally struggles in Singapore due to tropical storms, intense humidity, concrete barriers, safety cars, and red flags.
Sergio Perez did win in Singapore in 2022, but that was Red Bull's only victory here since Sebastian Vettel in 2013. Meanwhile, McLaren announced they would modify their controversial rear wing after other teams, led by Red Bull, questioned its legality.
The FIA had deemed the wing, which some observers dubbed a "mini-DRS," legal and did not require modifications. However, McLaren decided to make minor adjustments following discussions with the FIA.
