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Lando Norris arrives in Singapore under the spotlight. In 2024, the British driver won the Grand Prix with a huge margin over his rivals. This year, he’ll need to aim for the same result to further reduce the gap between him and his teammate, Oscar Piastri, and to extend his lead over a resurgent Max Verstappen, who is coming off two consecutive wins and has halved his deficit to Norris in the last three races—from 88 to 44 points. Speaking with journalists, Lando Norris expressed his love for the challenging Singapore street circuit but emphasized that Verstappen remains a serious threat at every race:
"I’m confident, because last year this was a really good race for me. We were very strong, and I’ve always enjoyed coming here since my first year in 2019. The weather this weekend looks a bit worse compared to previous seasons, but I’m still excited. This is one of my favorite tracks of the whole season. Verstappen? He can really challenge us in every race. If you look back at the start of the season, in the first few races, they could win anywhere and were putting pressure on us in the Drivers’ Championship. Then we brought upgrades and improved a bit, but they also brought updates that brought them back to maybe our level. So we expect them to be strong, even though we obviously come here aiming to win. We want to get back to the form we’ve had all season, but this is a track where Mercedes, Ferrari, and certainly Red Bull can all be strong. But especially him".
Norris showed some nervousness when asked again about the internal battle with Oscar Piastri, who currently leads him by exactly 25 points - the value of a win:
"You ask me this every time, the answer is always the same. You can go watch the video from the last time I answered it".
After 42 consecutive points finishes, Oscar Piastri retired in Baku. The championship leader endured a nightmare weekend, hitting the guardrail in both qualifying and the race. The short break seems to have helped the Australian, who showed up in the Singapore paddock energized and determined to increase his lead over Norris:
"I feel good. It’s nice to have a few days off to relax and recharge. I don’t want to repeat what happened in Baku, but mistakes happen. At the end of the day, I’m only human, so even if I don’t want to go through those experiences again, they will happen. The important thing is to move on and learn from those mistakes. I don’t think it was a pressure issue. In qualifying, we were just pushing a bit too hard—that happens. In the race, the crash was partly related to the start: it’s never easy to shake off a bad start quickly. There’s a lot to learn from the Baku experience. They were mostly silly mistakes, but I don’t feel the need to change my approach, not even from a championship perspective. Driving with a calculator in mind never works, even with fewer races left. The most important thing is doing my best, regardless of the standings. If I drive at my best and give everything, I’m more than capable of winning races - and that’s what wins you world titles".
Piastri remains focused on himself and not on Max Verstappen’s charge:
"Honestly, I don’t know if Max is in the title fight. If I focus on what I can do, the situation will take care of itself. He’s definitely done well in the last few races. This year, we’ve seen Max and Red Bull be strong at times. We’ll see if that continues, but I’m not focused on that. I’m just trying to give my best".
With a 69-point gap to the championship leader and only seven races left to close in on a dominant McLaren, most drivers are realistically out of the title fight. The fact that Max Verstappen is still considered in contention speaks volumes about the Dutch driver’s status. He, for one, hasn’t given up, even though he continues to say he’s not thinking about the title:
"McLaren has been incredibly dominant all season, and that hasn’t changed. But we have nothing to lose. Hopefully, we’ll see confirmation that the direction we’ve taken is right - even on this type of circuit. This is a high-downforce track, which is harder on the tires. In Hungary and Zandvoort - similar circuits - we weren’t very strong. I think we’ll do better than we did back then. How much better? That remains to be seen".
Lewis Hamilton, still emotionally shaken by the loss of Roscoe, his beloved bulldog, is trying to move forward. Sport can help turn the page, and there’s no doubt he’ll give his all for Ferrari once he puts the visor down:
"I expect to feel good in the car, as has been the case in recent races. But turning good sensations into a good result requires perfect execution, and that’s what we need to focus on from the first free practice session tomorrow".
At the Singapore GP, the FIA will allow drivers to wear a cooling kit connected to a system inside the car - something Hamilton plans to try:
"I think I’ll use it. Last year I really struggled with the heat here. But I’m not sure, because the vest is pretty uncomfortable and tight on my back. We’ll see how it goes in practice and then decide".
It’s impossible not to return to the topic of Roscoe. Hamilton thanked fans for the support:
"It’s been amazing to see how many people Roscoe touched around the world, and I was really moved by all the messages. I know so many people have been through this and understand what it’s like to have a pet that gives you such unconditional love. It’s an incredible bond. Now I just want to get back in the car and do what I love".
Charles Leclerc, though used to dreaming big, has seen his expectations scaled back this season. Despite five podiums, he's inching toward yet another winless year - his fourth in seven seasons with Ferrari. He enjoys the Marina Bay track, but admits a breakthrough is unlikely this weekend:
"I don’t think we should expect miracles. I don’t think we were slow in Baku, but we didn’t do a good job in qualifying. I didn’t manage to put everything together and deliver a strong Q3 lap. I don’t expect us to be more competitive here than in Azerbaijan - actually, McLaren will likely have a bigger advantage on a track like this, so we might be further behind. I hope it’s like Saturday in Hungary, when I didn’t have confidence but still took pole. That session is still hard to understand - there were swings of seven tenths from Q1 to Q2, and then from Q2 to Q3. Taking pole in such a difficult session was nice, but I don’t expect conditions to be the same here. It’s unlikely, but I’ll do everything I can to repeat that result".
Ferrari’s realistic goal is to beat Mercedes and reclaim second place in the Constructors’ Championship:
"We should be in a better position than them if it stays hot. They seem to be strong in cool conditions, while we’re stronger in the heat. So, looking at the upcoming races, I hope it’s as hot as possible - it might give us an edge. I think that’ll be the biggest performance factor, more than the characteristics of the track itself".
The Singapore Grand Prix marks the start of the final phase of the championship, with both titles still undecided. While McLaren could mathematically seal the Constructors’ title at Marina Bay, Mercedes faces uncertainty - less about performance and more about George Russell’s contract renewal, which remains unsigned:
"No updates yet. I think for every driver, once you reach a certain point in your career, things need to be done properly. Every contract becomes the most important of your life, so it has to be handled carefully. There’s nothing to worry about. We’ll get it done. I’m not difficult in negotiations. It’s just about finding a deal that benefits me - and of course, if there’s a benefit, we’ll go for it. Every driver is different; some have more negotiating power than others, but there’s nothing else to add. When we have something to share, we’ll share it".
After finishing second in Azerbaijan despite not being in peak physical condition, Russell now feels better—but the FIA’s heat warning remains a major concern:
"I feel better. Baku was really tough physically. I’m not at 100% yet, but I’m feeling better. Singapore is definitely a challenge. I’ll be fine, but maybe I won’t have much air to breathe. We’ve used the cooling kit in other races this year, but here it’s mandatory for the first time - and that’s good news. It’s not super comfortable for everyone. Some get used to it more easily than others. Over the years, we’ll probably adapt, but I do think the concept of a cooling suit is important when you’re racing in 90% humidity. The cockpit hits 60 °C - it turns into a sauna - so we all welcome it".
Still, Russell isn’t a fan of the cooling vest’s design
"I can’t speak for the other drivers, but there are tubes running along your back, connecting front and rear and passing over the ribs. So when you’re going through corners at high speed with lateral G-forces, you feel those tubes pressing on your ribs. That was a big issue for me, though some changes have been made. But the tubes are still there, and it’s not ideal. Luckily, Singapore doesn’t have many high-G corners, so I don’t think it’ll be a huge problem".
Regarding the expected performance, Russell fears two rivals in particular:
"In recent years we’ve done reasonably well here, but Ferrari has often been very strong. Two years ago they were on pole, and even last year they looked very fast until Q3, which basically ruined their weekend. McLaren is always extremely strong in high-degradation races on street circuits, so I expect Ferrari and McLaren to be tough to beat here".
After a forgettable European season, Kimi Antonelli bounced back with a P4 finish in Baku, behind Russell and Carlos Sainz. Azerbaijan was ideal for Mercedes, with cool temperatures and high traction demands. Singapore, despite its 90-degree corners, will be hotter, which might penalize the W16. Still, Antonelli remains optimistic in the Constructors' fight with Ferrari and Red Bull:
"It’s really hard to predict how it’ll go because this year we’ve been strong on tracks where we struggled in 2024 - and vice versa. I believe they’ve resurfaced the track, with lots of new asphalt sections, which is always helpful. The heat will definitely be challenging - not just for the car but also for us drivers. We’ll do our best. It’s important to build confidence in every session and aim for the best result possible since we’re in a big fight for second in the Constructors’ World Championship with Ferrari and Red Bull. As a driver, it’s always exciting to face a new circuit - it’s a fresh challenge. Sure, we have simulators to practice, but once you’re on the track it’s different, and you feel things the simulator can’t replicate. Baku was a good weekend - a great way to bounce back after a tough time in Europe. I was still a bit annoyed after the race because the podium was so close, but looking back, it was a really positive weekend - exactly what I needed to gain momentum. After Monza, I had an important meeting with the team. A lot changed, and since then everything has gone smoothly. I just have to keep focusing on the process and on driving well, and the results will follow".
On Friday, October 3, 2025, all twenty cars are quick to make an appearance when the green light switches on at the end of the pit lane, with most drivers opting for hard tyres - and the Aston Martins taking mediums - despite a few damp patches lingering. There is some early drama for Alex Albon when the Thai-British driver returns to the pits with some smoke coming from the rear of his Williams, forcing mechanics to get the air blowers and fire extinguishers out to keep the situation under control. While that unfolds, the remaining 19 drivers get laps on the board and try to find a rhythm around the Marina Bay Street Circuit - Lando Norris goes fastest (1'33"388) via a wobble through Turn 17 and Leclerc survives a lock-up at Turn 13. Just over a quarter of the way into the session, it is Alonso who holds P1 on a 1'32"592 with his medium tyres, followed by Max Verstappen, Leclerc, the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Norris, and Williams’ Carlos Sainz (all on the hard rubber). Bad news follows for Albon, with Williams confirming that his car is experiencing a rear brake hardware problem, ruling him out for the remainder of the session - although the team are confident of it being resolved ahead of second practice. Further moments follow when drivers begin to push that little bit harder, bringing a trip to the run-off for Alpine’s Pierre Gasly when he goes too deep at Turn 14, and a close call with the wall for Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton exiting the same corner. As the session moves past its halfway point, Alonso lowers the benchmark to a 1'32"054 before Sainz takes over on a 1'31"812, meaning times are already on the edge of those seen in FP1 last year, when Leclerc sets the pace with a 1'31"763. Attention then turns to drivers’ soft-shod running, with the first runs on Pirelli’s red-marked compound triggering another flurry of green and purple sector times - Leclerc goes quickest on a 1'31"266 from Verstappen, Norris and Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar.
"That feels very understeery".
Reports Piastri, meanwhile, after initially lapping more than half a second slower than team mate Norris - the Australian is looking to bounce back from a difficult Azerbaijan weekend that sees his championship lead cut to 25 points. As the final minutes tick by and more Qualifying-style simulations come in, Alonso follows up his early pace by clocking an eye-catching 1'31"116 and returning to the top of the timesheets over Leclerc, Verstappen and Hamilton - a lap that does not get beaten before the chequered flag. Despite some traffic and a brush with the wall, Piastri improves significantly to edge out Norris for fifth, followed by Hadjar, Sainz, the second Red Bull of Yuki Tsunoda and Haas racer Esteban Ocon, who rounds out the top-10 positions.
After Fernando Alonso emerges as the pacesetter of first practice earlier in the day, it is Piastri who eventually comes out on top in a session featuring track conditions more representative of those expected in Qualifying and the Grand Prix. Nico Hulkenberg leads the pack out amid a busy start to the session at 9:00 p.m. local time, the drivers returning to action in temperatures that have dropped a few degrees since FP1, while the floodlights are also on at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. One name who is perhaps particularly glad to be back in action is Alex Albon, whose running in the day’s opening practice session is brought to an early end following a rear brake hardware problem on his Williams. The rookies look to be exploring the limits during the early stages of the session, with Gabriel Bortoleto going wide in the Kick Sauber before Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli has a moment. Norris, meanwhile, sets the pace by the first quarter of the session via a time of 1'31"716 on the medium tyres. George Russell brings out the yellow flags just a few minutes later, the Silver Arrows driver ending up with a broken front nose on his W16 after hitting the barriers at Turn 16.
"That’s weird".
He remarks as he returns to the pits, while a red flag is thrown to recover the debris out on track. While the Mercedes crew get to work as Russell’s car goes up on the stands in the garage, the rest of the field wait for the session to resume. And after a few minutes’ wait, FP2 gets back underway with just over half an hour remaining on the clock. With that time having elapsed, several drivers return to the track with the soft tyres bolted on as they prepare to put some fast laps on the board. The Ferrari duo of Lewis Hamilton and Leclerc are the exceptions, continuing on the medium rubber, while Haas’ Esteban Ocon slots into the top of the timesheets on a 1'31"480. However, the action is again brought to a halt shortly afterwards as Liam Lawson hits the wall out of Turn 17, resulting in his damaged Racing Bulls machine coming to a stop at the pit entry. The New Zealander - who is 12th on the timesheets - is seen walking back to his garage before the recovery process of his stricken car begins. But as a session resumption time is announced, contact occurs between Leclerc and Norris in the pit lane when the Ferrari driver emerges alongside the McLaren, resulting in Norris being wheeled back into the garage to have his front wing replaced after making contact with the pit wall.
"He just drives straight into me".
The Briton reports. It is subsequently confirmed that the incident will be investigated after the session, with Ferrari later receiving a fine of €10.000 for an unsafe release. Both drivers are able to get back out on track for what proves to be a busy final segment of FP2 as the pack look to make up for lost time. And as the final five minutes arrive, Piastri displaces Max Verstappen at the top, the McLaren driver pumping in a time of 1'30"714. During the closing moments - with the majority of drivers running the soft tyres - Isack Hadjar slots his Racing Bulls into P2, just 0.132s behind Piastri, while Verstappen holds onto third ahead of Alonso in fourth. In another decent showing for Aston Martin, the Spaniard’s team mate Lance Stroll is not far behind in fifth, the duo separated by Norris who sounds somewhat frustrated with himself over the radio towards the end of the hour. Ocon claims P7, with the Williams of Sainz and the Ferrari duo of Leclerc and Hamilton rounding out the top 10. The first two Free Practice sessions of the Singapore Grand Prix kicked off track activity at the Marina Bay street circuit, where McLaren could clinch the Constructors’ World Championship for the second consecutive time. If the Woking team succeeds, it would mark their tenth Formula 1 title (surpassing fellow Brits Williams for second place in the all-time standings), but to seal the deal with six races remaining, solid results are essential. That McLaren remains the team to beat is clear from Oscar Piastri, who set the fastest lap, edging out Isack Hadjar and Max Verstappen by 0.1s in a session marked by two red flags due to crashes by Russell and Lawson:
"A good first day. There’s still a lot to review, but I think it was a solid start. The pace was good, and I learned quite a bit, which was the main goal today. At the moment, the feeling is pretty good, so I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do tomorrow".
The feeling was less positive for his teammate, Lando Norris, who ended FP1 in sixth position (right behind Piastri) and moved up to fifth under the lights of Marina Bay. In FP2, the Brit was also involved - without fault - in a pit lane contact with Charles Leclerc:
"A bit of a tricky first day on track here in Singapore. I haven’t quite found the same feeling I had last year yet. There are a few things we need to work on, but it’s mainly about finding a bit more rhythm. We’ll evaluate things overnight and make sure we’re in the best possible position for tomorrow".
Max Verstappen’s position remained unchanged across both Free Practice sessions of the Singapore GP: the Dutchman posted the third-fastest time in both the afternoon and evening runs. Overall, the Red Bull Racing driver’s impressions were positive:
"It wasn’t too bad. FP2 went pretty well and we found the rhythm early on, similar to the last two weekends where we didn’t have major issues. We tried a few things here; some worked, others we need to optimize better. But overall, I’d say it was a satisfying day, even if we need more pace to fight at the front".
That extra step is what Verstappen needs not only to finally join the list of Singapore GP winners—a race he’s never won—but also to reignite the title fight with Oscar Piastri, who was the fastest in FP2:
"It was a positive day, but we still need to change a few things. That doesn’t mean we have to change the whole setup, which is good. We’ll see tomorrow if what we have is enough to fight at the top, because it’s a bit hard to judge after FP2, especially considering what setups others were running. We’ll see in qualifying. We’ll work on a few details overnight; we can improve a bit in all areas to get the car into the right window and push more".
It wasn’t an entirely positive day for Lewis Hamilton at Marina Bay. The Brit started strong with a fourth-place finish in FP1 but dropped to tenth in FP2, just behind Charles Leclerc. However, this placement doesn’t fully reflect the solid laps he was putting together, as the session was interrupted twice. Hamilton himself acknowledged the encouraging performance of the car:
"Overall, it was a productive first day. It’s my first time here with Ferrari and I’m happy with how the car is behaving and reacting on this track. We spent today’s sessions getting used to the circuit, and I think we made good progress from the first run into the second. The evening was a bit fragmented due to the red flags, so we couldn’t complete the long runs as planned, but there are still encouraging signs. There’s work to do overnight - as always - but we’ll build on the positives heading into tomorrow".
Charles Leclerc’s frustration during the second half of FP2 became evident, especially after a misunderstanding with his chief mechanic that led to the pit lane collision with Lando Norris. His frustration also came across in several team radio messages, where the Monegasque driver complained about being unable to complete a clean lap:
"Overall, it was a bit of a difficult day. The first session gave us some positive signs and we were able to build a good base, while the second one, for everyone really, was much more chaotic, and we couldn’t put everything together as we wanted. I think the pace is there and we just need to maximize the potential by executing each phase cleanly and aligning all the pieces. I don’t know if we’ll be fighting for pole, but the goal is to qualify well and give ourselves the best chance for Sunday’s race".
It was a complicated day for Mercedes, as neither driver made it into the top ten in either Free Practice session. In FP1, both George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli ran on Hard and Medium tyres, unlike most of the field, who opted for Softs. The strategy didn’t yield good results for either driver. Russell’s FP2 ended prematurely after he hit the wall at Turn 16 during the first half of the session, bringing out a red flag. Although he managed to return the car to the pits, the damage prevented him from continuing:
"It was a disrupted first day of practice here in Singapore. FP1 was challenging as we struggled to get the tyres working and manage the balance. Things improved in FP2, but my session ended early after hitting the wall with only a few laps completed. It was a strange crash—I braked earlier than on previous laps, but lost the rear. Thankfully the car hit nose-in, so the damage wasn’t too bad. It was frustrating to miss the rest of the session, so I apologize to the team. Even though we didn’t complete our full program, the pace we saw looked decent. We didn’t set a lap time, but when we combined our sectors, the feeling was positive. Not our best Friday, but things can change quickly here in Singapore and I’m looking forward to getting back on track tomorrow".
In a FP2 shortened by Russell’s crash and another red flag due to Lawson hitting the barrier, Antonelli was posting promising sector times before the incident, but the red flag forced him to abort his flying lap:
"The final result on the timesheets doesn’t reflect how the day went for us or what we could’ve achieved. In FP2, I had to abort my only push lap on the soft tyre due to the red flag. I was in the final sector and on a strong lap that could’ve put us close to the top times at that point. So we can take encouragement from that and hopefully keep up the pace for the rest of the weekend. I felt good in the car today. There are still things to improve, but obviously, being my first time here, there’s also a lot of room for improvement in my own driving. If we can take a step forward both with the car and on my side, then I think we could be in the fight for a good grid position tomorrow. It’s a fun track—I felt at ease straight away and I’m really looking forward to tomorrow and Sunday".
After a disrupted FP2 on Friday evening - featuring two red flags and various moments for a number of drivers - Saturday’s final practice hour offers a last opportunity for the drivers and teams to make final preparations ahead of Qualifying later in the day. It is a relatively quiet start as the session begins at 5:30 p.m. local time in temperatures higher than during the previous day, with the Haas pair leading the early runners out - the majority sporting the medium tyres for their initial laps. As the track starts to get busier and most drivers have put a time on the board - with just Verstappen and Russell yet to venture out by the 15-minute mark - Lando Norris goes fastest on a 1'31"021, prompting his engineer to respond:
"Welcome back".
Moments later, a red flag is thrown when Liam Lawson hits the wall approaching Turn 8 after riding over the kerbs, the damaged Racing Bulls car again coming to a halt on the track as it did during an earlier incident for Lawson in Friday’s FP2. Following a stoppage while the VCARB 02 is recovered and any debris on the circuit cleared, the action resumes with just over 35 minutes left on the clock. The Mercedes pair of Russell and Kimi Antonelli return to the track with the soft tyres bolted on, having switched focus to their Qualifying simulations. A yellow flag is thrown after Carlos Sainz runs down the escape road at Turn 14 before reversing back onto the circuit, just as Williams team mate Alex Albon - running the soft C5 rubber - slots into second place on the timesheets. At just over the halfway point, Norris remains on top by 0.152s from the Thai driver, while Sainz has claimed P3. While Antonelli then goes quickest on a 1'30"760, it is confirmed that Lewis Hamilton - the driver he replaces at Mercedes - has been noted for a red flag infringement, an incident that is later confirmed will be investigated after the session. Meanwhile another yellow flag appears after Albon mirrors his team mate’s earlier moment by briefly making a trip down the escape road, this time at Turn 16. There is frustration for FP1 pacesetter Fernando Alonso, the Aston Martin man being asked to limp his car home with just over 15 minutes remaining in the session. Elsewhere, more drivers are switching to the soft tyres for their flying laps. Charles Leclerc initially shoots to the top after his opening effort on the soft compound before being pushed down by Norris - who is then displaced by Verstappen, the Dutchman going quickest on a 1'30"148. Russell slots in-between them in second place, though admits that he is struggling for confidence in the corner where he suffers a crash during Friday’s FP2. Amid a few moments of traffic in a busy final minutes - with one seeing Verstappen with little room to manoeuvre alongside Alpine’s Franco Colapinto as they try to leave room for Pierre Gasly - Verstappen holds on to P1 with a margin of 0.017s from Piastri, the McLaren driver slotting in a fast lap in the closing moments. Russell has to settle for third ahead of Antonelli in a decent showing for Mercedes, followed by Norris, Sainz and the Racing Bulls machine of Isack Hadjar. Hamilton - who faces a stewards’ investigation over that red flag infringement - is eighth, while Kick Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg and the other Ferrari of Leclerc round out the top 10.
After three practice sessions topped by three different drivers, with just 0.089s covering Verstappen’s Red Bull, the McLarens and the Mercedes cars in FP3, attention turns to Saturday’s all-important Qualifying hour at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. As the green light switches on at the end of the pit lane at 9:00 p.m. local time, plenty of drivers are quick to hit the track and get some banker laps on the board - Pirelli’s soft compound tyre being chosen up and down the order from the outset. Hamilton is the first driver to experience a moment when he goes too deep at Turn 1 and drifts onto some dust, prompting another preparation lap from the seven-time World Champion while the first efforts roll in from his rivals. Verstappen continues where he left off at the end of final practice to set the early benchmark on a 1'30"317, just ahead of high-flying Haas rookie Bearman and Russell’s Mercedes, before Hamilton recovers to go fourth over Norris. There is further drama when Piastri has to abandon his first lap due to a car on the run-off area at the first chicane.
"Ah man, come on… You can’t give a yellow flag for someone getting out of the way".
Sighs the Australian over the radio. The second runs bring another flurry of green and purple sector times as Q1 passes its halfway mark, bringing a 1'30"214 from Hadjar and then a 1'29"932 from Norris. Piastri, meanwhile, gets a time on the board to move into the top 10. At this point, replays show Antonelli approaching a slow-moving Sainz (who has just left the pits) at the start of a flying lap - the stewards look into the incident but opt against any further action. Undeterred, Antonelli goes second shortly afterwards. In the final couple of minutes, Hamilton prompts cheers in the grandstands around the track by going quickest on a 1'29"765, with Russell also posting a solid improvement to slot into second position over Norris, Verstappen, Antonelli and Hadjar. There is another twist just before the chequered flag when Gasly grinds to a halt in the middle sector and brings out the yellow flags, meaning several drivers still on their laps are required to back off sufficiently or risk a penalty. Around that jeopardy, championship leader Piastri makes it safely through in seventh from Leclerc, Bearman and Tsunoda, while another typically tight midfield battle sees Bortoleto, Stroll, Colapinto, Ocon and Gasly fall at the first hurdle. After a short delay while stewards note those possible yellow flag infringements, the Qualifying action resumes and Verstappen again picks up where he left off - pumping in a 1'29"747 with his first lap to lead from Piastri, Hamilton and Norris. Hadjar continues to impress by going fifth over Alonso, Russell and Sainz, as Hulkenberg and Bearman get themselves into the final top-10 spots.
That is after Leclerc’s opening lap, which includes a touch with the wall exiting Turn 14, leaves him only 13th. Lawson, who has bounced back from his two practice crashes, is just the wrong side of the Q3 cut in 11th, with Tsunoda, Albon and Antonelli (the latter losing a time due to exceeding track limits) also in danger ahead of the decisive second runs. Under that pressure to deliver, Antonelli pulls a lap out of the bag to go fastest on a 1'29"649, before team mate Russell edges ahead on a 1'29"562 and Verstappen moves back up to second. Norris and Piastri can only go fourth and fifth for McLaren. As the final laps come in, with spots in Q3 on the line, Leclerc puts together a much better lap to go sixth, in front of Hamilton and Hadjar, while Alonso and Bearman deliver when it matters to narrowly deny Hulkenberg, the Williams drivers, Lawson and Tsunoda. After another pause to the action, it is time for Q3 and the eagerly anticipated battle for pole position. Russell does his best to answer that immediately by clocking a 1'29"165 - surviving a tap with the wall at the exit of Turn 17 in the process. Verstappen emerges as his nearest challenger when the rest of the top 10 post laps, but sits 0.175s back. Seemingly now at one with his Mercedes after a difficult start to the weekend, which sees him crash out of FP2, Russell goes slightly faster on his second run to lower the benchmark to a 1'29"158, asking even more of his rivals as the chequered flag drops. None of them can do enough, though, with Verstappen a frustrated second after appearing to be hindered by traffic in the form of Norris, and Piastri completing the top-three positions as he looks to rebuild a buffer in the race for the championship. Antonelli backs up Russell with a strong run to fourth, from Norris and the Ferraris of Hamilton and Leclerc, as rookies Hadjar and Bearman and the experienced Alonso complete the top-10 positions for race day in Singapore. It was supposed to be a track where Mercedes would struggle, and yet in Singapore George Russell takes pole position, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli secures fourth place - a sign that this car is competitive and capable of fighting for the win:
"This track hasn't been too kind to me, it's punished me several times in the past. Taking pole is a fantastic result, but I don’t want to get carried away, even though I’m honestly very happy with the car’s performance. I’m really pleased. It’s been a strange weekend. I struggled, I didn’t have confidence - neither in myself nor in the car. The car has a lot of pace, and we saw that with Kimi too, who’s doing a fantastic job this weekend. I managed to give my best in Q3, and that pole lap was a really good one".
If the positive surprise is called Mercedes, the negative one is McLaren, who were expected to dominate but are instead facing a difficult weekend:
"We’re all surprised by McLaren’s lack of performance today, because if I had to bet, I never would have guessed we’d be more competitive than them this weekend. The race is tomorrow and it will be tough, but I’ll give it a go".
A year on from their 2024 title battle, tensions have flared up again between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. This time, it was the Dutchman who, at the end of Q3, openly expressed his anger toward the McLaren driver for allegedly blocking him during his final flying lap. In the last sector, Verstappen came across Norris’ slow-moving car as the Brit was heading back to the pits. Although it seemed unlikely Verstappen would have been able to beat Russell’s time anyway, the Red Bull driver was clearly annoyed by what he perceived as interference. Verstappen first gestured angrily in the car, cursing Norris and commenting over the radio with his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, and then confronted the issue again in front of the media. Speaking with David Coulthard in the usual post-qualifying interviews for the top three, Verstappen said:
"This is what happens when there’s a car two seconds in front of you. So I take note of that - I’ll remember it".
The frustration stemmed from the belief that if Norris had slowed down earlier, he could have let Verstappen through with less interference. Verstappen doubled down in the press conference, where he said he had no plans to speak with Norris about the incident:
"Will I talk to him? No. I think it’s quite clear that it wasn’t a great move. In general, we drivers are pretty good at staying out of each other’s way - sometimes it's tricky, but in this case it could have been avoided".
Verstappen wasn't just the driver who lost out in qualifying - along with the two Ferraris - but also became the focus of post-qualifying controversy after blaming Norris for ruining his final lap and thus costing him pole position. Lando Norris ended the day being accused - not very subtly - by his friend Max of spoiling his fast lap and effectively handing pole position to George Russell. Norris didn’t hold back in his response:
"All they do is complain - they always complain about everything. That’s just how they do things at Red Bull! I didn’t even know that Max was behind me, and I had something like a three-second gap. I couldn’t have done anything differently".
A justification that, at least at first glance, seems to be backed up by the replays - which show Verstappen making a small error at the entry of Turn 16 and only encountering Norris (off the racing line) after exiting the chicane. Later, Norris commented on his underwhelming Q3 performance:
“I couldn’t quite put the lap together, and I’m talking about tiny margins. But clearly, as a team, the car’s not in the right place. We’re not fast enough, and especially doing a 1'29”1 was beyond our reach. Things have changed and it looks like everyone is struggling a lot with the front tyres this weekend. We know that’s sometimes a weak point of our car, and when there’s understeer, it’s also my worst nightmare".
In a weekend where McLaren could potentially win its 10th world title, the Woking-based team must first face off against Mercedes and Red Bull Racing in the Singapore Grand Prix. Oscar Piastri will start third on the grid - an unremarkable performance both for the Australian and for Lando Norris in the other McLaren. Piastri said after qualifying:
"I think there was still a little margin to go for pole, but it wasn’t enough. We were doing quite well during practice, as well as in Q1. We made a small step, but others improved a lot. It’s a bit surprising we couldn’t find more performance, I don’t think the car had the potential to take pole today, so I’m quite happy with the job I did. The weekend hasn’t been perfect, but I came close to the car’s full potential".
The end of the season is starting to look like a slow agony for Ferrari and its drivers. Charles Leclerc couldn’t do better than seventh in qualifying, and will start behind his own teammate - Lewis Hamilton:
"It’s been a really tough weekend. FP1 was good, we were actually quite fast even without pushing to the limit, we still had margin. Then we had to make some changes to the car and from FP2 onwards we struggled a lot. There’s always an explanation, but in the end, the explanations aren’t good enough. When a team like Mercedes - who should struggle in the heat on a track like this - puts it on pole, there’s no room for excuses. We just have to do better. I don’t know what else to say, I’m really sorry, I gave it my all, but the car was extremely difficult to drive".
Having narrowly avoided a penalty for speeding on his in-lap during FP3 after Liam Lawson’s crash, Lewis Hamilton’s weekend seemed to be headed in a positive direction. But the British driver ultimately had to come to terms with a car that simply doesn’t excel in any area. The result? Sixth for Hamilton, seventh for Leclerc - securing a third and fourth row start that seems like the best possible outcome for Ferrari in Singapore’s sweltering night:
"All weekend I felt good in the car. We saw in the first run of Q1 that I felt really strong, and I thought we’d be able to fight for the top positions. But then something happened - not a specific issue, but rather the usual story of execution problems. The way we run the program, the wait times in the pit lane, tyre temperatures, using a tyre for just one lap and then pitting - all of that affects the temperatures, and so on... All these things prevent us from optimizing the session as it evolves. These are the things we need to work on to make the most of qualifying. We’ll talk about it within the team - we need to calmly discuss and try to improve everything. The team is working as best as it can, but we also have to look at what the others are doing".
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur was blunt:
"It’s been a really tough weekend. When a team like Mercedes - who on paper should struggle in the heat on a track like this — puts it on pole, we can't make excuses. We have to do better. I don’t know what else to say, I’m really sorry, I gave it my all, but the car was extremely difficult to drive".
Charles Leclerc didn’t hide his disappointment after qualifying, but Vasseur didn’t quite see it the same way:
"The result is disappointing considering how things went in FP1 and the fact we were first at the end of Q1. Mercedes? They’re improving, they’ve made a huge step forward compared to yesterday - a step forward not just compared to us, but to everyone. The point is, everything is on a knife’s edge. The SF-25 is not an easy car to drive, it’s hard to find the right prep lap for the tyres, and sometimes if you have good conditions at the start of the lap, you lose them by the end. But I want to focus on the positives - we were there on Friday morning, we were there in Q1, and we have to keep developing with that approach. We need to keep pushing and believe we can do it, because today we were just a tenth behind McLaren".
His expression says it all: someone who knows he’s made mistakes, but also knows there’s finally a little light at the end of the tunnel. So even if his teammate took pole, Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s fourth place is still a decent base to build on, especially with a car that has surprisingly shown its competitiveness:
"A small mistake on the final run? Well, actually it was a big one! Honestly, I felt really good in Q1 and Q2, and in Q2 the lap would’ve been great if I hadn’t had a massive slide out of Turn 3. But I knew I could fight for pole. In Q3, I wasn’t sharp - I tried to do more than the car could handle. I went beyond the limit of the car and the grip and made a lot of mistakes. On both laps I was more sideways than straight, and that’s a shame because the front row was definitely within reach".
Antonelli also reflected on his improvement over the past few races, after a disappointing mid-season - ironically, on tracks he knew best:
"During the European part of the season, there were a lot of factors that affected me. I put more pressure on myself in general because I was racing on tracks I already knew. And surely, with the new suspension, I really struggled and lost a lot of confidence. It was a tough period, but since qualifying in Monza I’ve started to feel better again, and now we’re on a positive trend. We’ll try to keep it going".
After a busy Qualifying session sees Russell claim a surprise pole position - beating Verstappen and Piastri in the process - the paddock reconvenes on Sunday ready for the 62-lap Singapore Grand Prix. A few changes are made to the starting order in the build-up to the race, with the first being due to the disqualification of both Williams drivers from Qualifying after the rear wing on each car fails DRS slot gap checks. As a result, Sainz lines up at the back of the grid, while Albon is confirmed to start from the pit lane due to the team opting to modify his suspension settings. Also starting from the pit lane is Gasly, with Alpine changing the floor on his car as well as the suspension set-up under parc ferme conditions. With rain having fallen at the Marina Bay Street Circuit earlier on Sunday, questions remain over the weather forecast in the run-up to lights out. While the drizzle seems to have stopped as start time approaches, the teams and drivers are doubtless keeping a close eye on conditions during another humid night in Singapore, with sections of the track remaining damp. Once all 20 drivers assemble and the tyre blankets are removed, it is confirmed that the majority start on the medium tyre, with the exceptions being Verstappen, Hadjar, Alonso, Tsunoda, Stroll and Colapinto on the soft compound. Once the formation lap is completed and the lights go out, Russell makes a strong start from pole, holding the lead from Verstappen as the McLaren pair of Piastri and Norris go side-by-side, with an aggressive Norris finding a way past his team mate to move up into third.
"That isn’t very team like".
Disgruntled Piastri reports over the radio, while Norris picks up damage to his front wing to leave the endplate hanging off. Replays show that the Briton clips the rear of Verstappen’s Red Bull before then banging wheels with the other McLaren. Elsewhere Leclerc gains a position on Antonelli to run in fifth, with Hamilton in seventh ahead of Alonso, Hadjar and Bearman. A potential collision between the latter two is noted by the stewards, though no further investigation is deemed necessary. This also is the case for the incident between Norris and Piastri, but the latter is keen to hear whether the team chooses to take any action. The championship leader is subsequently informed that the incident is discussed after the race, leading Piastri to respond:
"That’s not fair".
Up ahead, Russell builds up a lead of over four seconds from Verstappen as the race reaches the Lap 10 mark, the Dutchman going on to report difficulties with the downshifts on his RB21. Norris, meanwhile, is a further 1.5s back as he tries to hunt down the Red Bull. Further back, a gap of more than seven seconds develops between seventh-placed Hamilton and Alonso in P8, with Hadjar hot on the tail of the Aston Martin. But as Lap 14 arrives, attentions turn to the pit lane as Tsunoda and Bortoleto become the first drivers to stop, the latter having picked up damage to his front wing endplate from earlier contact during Lap 1. Back out on track, Norris clips the wall but appears to have avoided any damage, while Antonelli seems to be experiencing a steering issue down the straights during his first F1 race in Singapore. The McLaren pit crew appears to be readying themselves for a Norris stop on Lap 18, only for the Briton to be told to stay out on track instead. But just two laps later, Red Bull brings Verstappen in for the hard tyres, the Dutchman emerging back on track in seventh ahead of Alonso. How do Norris and McLaren respond? Leclerc is the next frontrunner to pit on Lap 22, also for the hard compound. This initially puts him in P10 behind Hulkenberg, but it does not take long for the Ferrari to overtake. As for Verstappen, the World Champion is informed that he is free to push, leading him to respond:
"Everything is working against me this race".
At the front, Russell admits that his tyres are struggling, his lead still remaining at just under nine seconds from Norris. Hamilton, meanwhile, pits for the hard tyres after being chased down by Verstappen - only to experience a slightly slow stop, with a delay on the front right bringing him out in P9. Russell is the next to stop with Antonelli following as part of a double stack, bringing the former race leader out into third. Over at McLaren, Norris is asked if he is happy for Piastri to pit before him to protect from Leclerc, but the Briton’s response is a no. With this seeing Norris pit first, Piastri inherits the lead of the race. The Australian is subsequently called to pit but an issue with the left rear results in another slow stop at 5.2s, the McLaren then returning to the track in fourth. Another driver to experience a delay during their visit to the pits is Alonso, the Spaniard dropping down to P15 as a result. Also experiencing problems is Hadjar, with the Frenchman left frustrated by an engine issue on his Racing Bulls as he circulates in P14. As the race reaches its halfway point on Lap 31, Russell leads Verstappen by more than three seconds, ahead of Norris, Piastri, Leclerc, Antonelli, Hamilton - all of whom have stopped - Lawson, Stroll and Sainz, the latter three yet to pit. Verstappen is not giving up in P2, however. The Red Bull driver - on a track that he has never previously claimed victory at - looks to be cutting into the gap to Russell. Elsewhere, Antonelli is looking quick in P6, while Sainz is chasing down Stroll for P9, the Aston Martin driver impressively still running the soft tyres. That charge from Verstappen hits a snag when the Dutch driver locks his front tyre on Lap 37, narrowly avoiding contact with the barriers whilst losing two seconds to Russell, prompting a sweary response from Verstappen over the radio. Elsewhere Alonso is engaged in a feisty battle with Hadjar, the Spaniard getting past before radioing in:
"Trophy for the hero of the race".
His team mate Stroll, meanwhile, finally pits for the medium tyres, emerging back on track in last place.
"The rear is like a handbrake".
A struggling Verstappen reports on Lap 40 as he seeks help for the issue - just as Norris looks to be closing in on the Red Bull, the margin coming down to just under 1.5s. It is not all smooth sailing for Norris, however, with replays showing the McLaren man having a moment that sees him just avoid hitting the wall. Further back there are plenty of squabbles playing out, as Albon locks up during a scrap with Alonso while Colapinto fights with Hulkenberg, an incident that is noted by the stewards. There is further trouble for Hulkenberg on Lap 45 after spinning off the track at Turn 7, briefly triggering the yellow flags before the Kick Sauber gets going again, rejoining at the back of the pack. Russell vents his frustration as he approaches the backmarkers, the Mercedes driver calling for blue flags as he shouts:
"Get out of the way".
The gap back to Verstappen remains at 4.4s - but, crucially, Norris is now only around half a second behind the Red Bull man with 15 laps remaining. Back in fourth, Piastri seems disgruntled as he sarcastically comments:
"This race is so much fun".
The Australian is told that opportunities remain during the race, all while Norris continues to chase Verstappen. Hamilton, meanwhile, pits for soft tyres as he emerges in seventh into fresh air, while others to make late stops include Lawson and Sainz, dropping both further down the order. Elsewhere Antonelli snatches P5 from Leclerc - just as Hamilton is also closing in on the Monegasque, with the team then opting to allow the seven-time World Champion through to chase the Mercedes ahead. With just a few laps to go, Norris is still trying to catch Verstappen, the scrap allowing Piastri to close the gap down to 3.1s.
And while the gap closes further in the next few tours, it does not seem to be enough for the Australian to get involved in the battle. There are problems for Hamilton who reports issues with his brakes, leading Ferrari to swap their drivers back around. But there are no such troubles for his former team mate Russell, who crosses the line by 5.430s from Verstappen to take victory. Despite Norris’ best attempts, Verstappen holds on to cross the line in second place, but Norris’ P3 - and Piastri’s P4 - are enough for McLaren to wrap up the Teams’ Championship for a second consecutive year. Antonelli claims fifth place, with the Ferrari pair of Leclerc and Hamilton following in sixth and seventh respectively on the road, though it is confirmed after the race that Hamilton's five-second penalty for exceeding track limits drops him down a place. After securing pole position, George Russell also claimed victory at the Singapore Grand Prix following a flawless race. For the Briton - whose future at Brackley remains uncertain - this marks the fifth win of his career, a tally that places him alongside two World Champions, Giuseppe Farina and Keke Rosberg, as well as other notable drivers like John Watson, Clay Regazzoni, and Michele Alboreto in the all-time rankings:
"I’m very satisfied. As I’ve said this weekend, this track hasn’t been my best friend over the years, mostly due to my own mistakes. It’s been a tense weekend for me, and Friday wasn’t great - I wasn’t feeling well. But in Q3, I felt really on it. The race was under control the whole time. It was incredibly long, just crazy. It feels about half an hour longer than most others, but I’m really happy to have seen the chequered flag".
The Singapore curse continues for Max Verstappen this year as well. The Dutchman, who has never won at Marina Bay, had to settle for second place behind the dominant Mercedes of George Russell, though he still finished ahead of both McLarens - Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. This result gives Verstappen a few more championship points: he now trails Piastri by 63 points. It’s still a substantial gap with only six races to go, but the current trend remains in the Dutchman’s favor:
"I don’t think we had the pace to win today, and I also believe McLaren was quicker than us. So with a faster car behind, we got the best result we could under the circumstances, and that’s something we can accept. The car wasn’t in the right window to push today. I also had issues with downshifting gears, so it was really hard to get a good performance. Still, I think it was a great result. Compared to the past? Yes, it went better. It’s still not our favorite track, unfortunately, but we’re learning and doing better. Obviously, there’s still work to do on circuits like this".
Lando Norris secured the final spot on the podium in Singapore, not a bad result considering he started two places behind teammate Oscar Piastri and still managed to finish ahead. Norris’s race changed dramatically at the start, particularly due to contact with Piastri - a moment that angered the Australian driver at the time. In the incident, Norris damaged the right-hand flap of his front wing but took a crucial position he held until the end:
"I need to look at the footage. The last thing I wanted was contact - it could’ve led to retirement, and that’s the last thing I can afford. There was a lot of space on the inside, so I went for it. Then Max braked in front of me, and I had to make a correction. Otherwise, nothing would’ve happened, and I would’ve passed easily. The goal was to avoid Max, not to hit Oscar".
Norris also commented on his resistance to a team suggestion that Piastri pit before him - an opposite strategy to what had happened in Monza, where a slow stop had cost Norris track position:
"I’m not sure if that episode was on my mind. Recent pit stops hadn’t been great, but I always trust the team. I know they did a lot of practice this weekend and everything went well. I just wanted to avoid unnecessary risks - going in first was the simpler choice. It’s something we’ll need to review and see if it can be handled differently".
There’s a celebratory atmosphere at McLaren after the race results from Norris and Piastri helped the Woking team clinch the Constructors’ Championship title with six races to spare. This marks McLaren’s 10th world title, and their second consecutive one. However, the Singapore Grand Prix may have sparked internal tension between Norris and Piastri in the fight for the drivers’ title. The controversial moment came at the start, with the contact between teammates - a move not appreciated by the Australian, who, after the race, chose not to stir controversy:
"Obviously, it was a tough race and a tough first lap. I haven’t seen the replay yet - I only experienced it from inside the car. I’ll review what happened, but overall, it was a great night for the team. It’s not the result I wanted, but this is the culmination of a lot of hard work - not just this year, but in previous ones. I’m proud to be part of this team. I’ve always felt that Lando and I race hard but fair. I don’t think there was any intention behind the contact, but it happened. Again, I’ll have to look at the footage to see exactly what occurred".
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, who was in front of the cameras early in 2023 trying to explain the team’s poor performance, now finds himself matching Red Bull Racing’s 2023 record of clinching the Constructors’ Championship with the most races remaining. The Italian engineer said after the race:
"I’m happy, happy, happy! Last year it already felt incredible to achieve this result. And now we’re Constructors’ Champions again. Considering how young our project is, this year feels even more amazing - we managed to confirm ourselves with great determination, with six races to go. We would’ve liked to do it with a win, but it wasn’t possible. We must recognize that there are very strong competitors right now, which makes Formula 1 spectacular. Hopefully, we’ll return to winning soon, but today is a great day for McLaren. I want to thank the entire team - the men and women who did an incredible job and made this possible".
The contact between Norris and Piastri at the start inevitably caused tension, and Stella didn’t shy away from addressing the matter:
"Piastri’s attitude doesn’t scare me - on the contrary, I like it. I like determined drivers who assert themselves clearly. We also need to keep everything in perspective. A driver inside an F1 car sees what he sees - and sees Lando coming up from behind and forms an impression. It was also an intense moment - the start of a Formula 1 race. So we have to consider all that. I’m sure, as always, there will be constructive and effective conversations to understand everyone’s point of view, learn what we need to, and come back even stronger. The Drivers’ Championship is still very much open - and Verstappen is certainly in the fight".
Charles Leclerc started the weekend with his usual Thursday interviews, warning that Ferrari might be in with a chance of winning and challenging Mercedes for second in the Constructors’ standings. But just three days later, Leclerc’s world had turned upside down: Russell won almost unchallenged, Andrea Kimi Antonelli passed him on track, and Brackley celebrated on a circuit that initially seemed like it would be their worst due to Singapore’s high nighttime temperatures. Instead of fighting for second, Leclerc had to accept a distant fourth-best performance behind the other three top teams. The post-race mood mirrored the confusion seen after disappointing qualifying. Ferrari’s positions - sixth and seventh - remained unchanged by the end of the 62 hot laps of Singapore. A technical issue related to brake management, which cost Hamilton in the final laps and tested Leclerc’s patience, only added to the frustration. Leclerc had to manage the brakes with the usual annoying lift-and-coast technique throughout the race.
"I think we lost around 15 seconds in the last 10-15 laps, even though it wasn’t fully representative. I had to manage the brakes pretty much all race - it wasn’t great. I believe everyone had to manage them on a track like this, but maybe it was more extreme for us. Especially at the end, it was very tough. But really, from lap one, after the overtakes, until the last lap, it was a very complicated day".
From fifth to eighth in just a few laps - that's how Lewis Hamilton’s Singapore GP ended. After making an extra pit stop and switching to Soft tires, he had climbed to fifth ahead of Mercedes teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli. But his SF-25’s brakes couldn’t handle the stress of Marina Bay’s challenging layout. Hamilton was passed by Antonelli and then Leclerc, before finally dropping to eighth after receiving a 5-second penalty for exceeding track limits on the final lap:
"These have been challenging days, but there are positives to take away. I felt comfortable in the car all weekend, and we had great pace in the final third of the race. The Soft tires gave us a strong stint to attack and close the gap to the cars ahead. Unfortunately, a brake issue cost us a position and the chance to score more points. We had the potential to be further up this weekend, starting from qualifying. Now the goal is to maximize our package heading into Austin and execute everything perfectly to score as many points as possible".
Finishing ahead of both Leclerc and Hamilton, Andrea Kimi Antonelli delivered a strong performance - praised by Team Principal Toto Wolff - on a circuit he had never raced on before, not even in junior categories. Still, in a post-race interview, he expressed a few regrets, especially about the start, despite showing solid pace and a clear step forward after some underwhelming weekends:
"Let’s start by saying the grip on the left side was much worse than on the right. I don’t know about the others’ grid slots, but mine wasn’t ideal - it was a bit damp, and I struggled to put the power down in the second phase, got wheelspin right away, and lost ground. Norris got alongside, I still tried to brake late but went too far inside. Leclerc had a much better line and passed me - and that kind of defined the race. The pace was really good, as George showed - congrats to him for the win, he had a great weekend. In the few laps I had with clean air, we were really fast, even on the hard tires. For the next races, we just need to qualify further up".