Of course McLaren is still favourite, with Oscar Piastri ending the day fastest, but Red Bull Racing is clearly in the hunt, with Max Verstappen a competitive third.<\/p>\n
And despite ending FP2 way down the order, both Ferrari drivers clearly have pace to match Piastri, with Lewis Hamilton in particular looking strong.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
It\u2019s only Friday, and it\u2019s only practice. But what we\u2019ve seem so far suggests Singapore could be about to deliver another twist to the from guide.<\/p>\n
PIT TALK PODCAST: After his disaster in Azerbaijan, can Oscar Piastri bounce back in Singapore to reassert himself as the championship leader?<\/p>\n
PIASTRI QUICKEST IN 2024 FORM FLIP<\/p>\n
Anyone wondering whether there\u2019d be a repeat in Singapore of Piastri\u2019s scrappy Azerbaijan performance got an immediate answer during Friday practice.<\/p>\n
The Australian has looked as calm as ever \u2014 no surprises there \u2014 but has exhibited a certain determination to move past his Baku disaster and reset the tone.<\/p>\n
By Friday night, with his name next to the fastest time, he was tellingly upbeat about how the weekend has gone so far.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I found my feet on the medium [tyre] at the end there and the soft felt good,\u201d he enthused. \u201cObviously not much representative race running, but the car\u2019s been in a good place.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like I\u2019ve learnt a lot through today, and that\u2019s the aim of practice, so it\u2019s been a good day.\u201d<\/p>\n
This was a tough track for Piastri last year \u2014 he finished third and 40 seconds behind winner Lando Norris.<\/p>\n
But it was his qualifying performance that let him down \u2014 he started fifth after failing to improve on his Q2 time, leaving him with too much to do on Sunday.<\/p>\n
One year on and with the value of qualifying at this circuit was clear to him, he\u2019s made single-lap pace his priority.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere qualifying is a massive part of the weekend,\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019d rather qualify further up and deal with the unknown for the race than qualify further back and know exactly what\u2019s going to happen in the race, because it\u2019s not really going to help you.\u201d<\/p>\n
But so far Piastri is doing is best to leave few unknowns at all. He\u2019s the form man heading into a crucial qualifying session on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Norris is enduring a similar reversal of 2024 form, with the Briton struggling to replicate his teammate\u2019s pace or his glorious speed of last season.<\/p>\n
He ended the day fifth and a chunky 0.483 seconds off the pace. Though he was able to keep up with Piastri through to turn 10, thereafter he haemorrhaged time, suggesting his teammate was doing a better job at managing the soft tyre through the lap to prevent it from dropping off late.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust a difficult day for me,\u201d Norris lamented. \u201cI\u2019m not feeling too great with the car \u2014 missing all of the feelings that I had here last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cOscar\u2019s quick, so I\u2019ve got nothing to complaining about bar just not doing a very good job.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlenty of things to work on. Just a bad day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Street tracks like Singapore are confidence venues, and there\u2019s no doubt Piastri will start Saturday a step ahead on that front.<\/p>\n
‘Certainly not my finest moment’ | 02:58<\/p>\n
VERSTAPPEN IS IN THE MIX<\/p>\n
While the dynamics of the internal McLaren battle continue to shift from round to round, Verstappen\u2019s trajectory seems clearly and consistently upwards.<\/p>\n
Friday in Singapore was another good day for the Dutchman in his apparently rejuvenated RB21.<\/p>\n
He was only 0.143, but most of that difference was through the turn 16-17 chicane. Around the rest of the lap he looked like a match.<\/p>\n
But more telling than the time is the vibe.<\/p>\n
Verstappen has never been afraid to be honest about his car\u2019s difficulties this season, but his Friday debrief was notably positive.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe car was not too bad \u2014 a bit like the last two weekends where there were no major problems,\u201d he said, referencing his last two victories. \u201cThen in FP2 a few things that we tried. Some were good, so we just need to try and optimise that a bit more.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn general I\u2019m quite satisfied, but definitely need a bit more pace to fight up at the front tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Verstappen has never won in Singapore, and Red Bull Racing has won only once here in the last 11 years, and even then it didn\u2019t have the fastest Sunday car.<\/p>\n
The reigning champion said his strong Friday was a good sign that this run of form could be set to turn.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely very positive,\u201d he said. \u201cThere are still a few things that we want to do better, but it\u2019s not like we need to throw around the set-up completely, so that\u2019s a good thing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll see tomorrow. Is it going to be good enough to fight upfront? I don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess we\u2019ll see in qualifying.\u201d<\/p>\n
It may be that Red Bull Racing gets left behind by a McLaren with more in the tank \u2014 Piastri certainly looked relaxed on Friday night.<\/p>\n
But Verstappen has looked very comfortable all weekend in a situation that applies no pressure on him. He\u2019s enjoying being a hunter with no expectations, and he needs only the hint of pole position or a sniff of victory to find another level of performance that will see him disrupt the McLaren drivers \u2014 or more.<\/p>\n
Max claims Azerbaijan as Piastri crashes | 02:20<\/p>\n
DON\u2019T DISCOUNT FERRARI<\/p>\n
But Verstappen isn\u2019t the only driver who had Piastri-threatening pace.<\/p>\n
Hamilton, 10th and 0.777 seconds off the pace, cannot be discounted despite his lowly FP2 result.<\/p>\n
His second practice session needs to be unpacked to be understood.<\/p>\n
The seven-time champion attempted two laps on soft tyres but was forced to abandon both of them \u2014 the first after a mistake at turn 10 and the other after snap out of turn 14 that had him brushing the wall.<\/p>\n
Before both errors he was neck and neck with Piastri\u2019s McLaren.<\/p>\n
His fastest lap resultantly was set on the medium tyre. His fastest logged time therefore wasn\u2019t representative of the pace he clearly has around Marina Bay.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s generally been a good day,\u201d he said, his tone upbeat. \u201cI\u2019ve enjoyed driving the car.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously McLaren\u2019s very fast, and getting clean lap is not easy, but I feel like there\u2019s lots of positives to take form today, lots of learnings, and I\u2019m quite happy with the progress that we made from session to session.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of course Hamilton was similarly buoyant at this time two weeks ago after topping FP2 in Baku before his and Ferrari\u2019s weekend completely fell apart.<\/p>\n
Part of the problem there was a misguided set-up choice that left him struggling in qualifying.<\/p>\n
This week he says he won\u2019t make the mistake of chasing more speed from a car that already feels fast to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt like we\u2019ve made steps forward today, so I feel like overnight we probably won\u2019t change much,\u201d he said. \u201cBut of course we\u2019ll be trying to refine the set-up and see if we can extract a little bit more to get as close as we can to the McLarens.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leclerc ended the day marginally faster than Hamilton, though he did complete his first lap on softs.<\/p>\n
The Monegasque was a close match for Piastri and Hamilton up until turn 10, after which the lap got away from him.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been just a very messy FP2 with the traffic and with the red flags,\u201d he said. \u201cLots of things going on which haven\u2019t been very positive, but we\u2019ll reset and com back stronger. I think the pace is in the car, so that\u2019s a good thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leclerc did generate one highlight, however, when he punted Norris into the pit wall as both attempted to leave pit lane following the second red flag of FP2.<\/p>\n
It was a bizarre and highly clumsy bit of choreography from Ferrari that earnt the team a fine from the stewards after a post-session investigation.<\/p>\n
Vamos! Sainz ECSTATIC with podium result | 01:03<\/p>\n
HORNER HUNTING FOR F1 COMEBACK<\/p>\n
Off the circuit, Ex Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner has been scoping out options to return to Formula 1.<\/p>\n
It turns out Haas has been one of his first ports of call for a comeback \u2014 though it hasn\u2019t been his only target.<\/p>\n
Haas principal Ayao Komatsu has revealed that Horner sounded out a member of staff at the American-owned team about a role but said that the championship-winning former boss was quickly turned down.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s true that he approached us,\u201d Komatsu said, per Autosport. \u201cOne of our guys had an exploratory talk, and that\u2019s it.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing has gone any further. It is finished.\u201d<\/p>\n
Horner is believed to want more than just a high-ranking role to come back to the paddock, with a stake in the team widely viewed as a key criterion for the Englishman.<\/p>\n
Haas is independently owned by eponymous founder Gene Haas and on paper would be an logical option, though the American machining mogul has long refused to entertain the prospect of selling his team.<\/p>\n
Haas has also only recently entered into a partnership with Toyota. While a works deal is not publicly on the cards, a closer relationship with the Japanese marque would be preferable to inducting a new independent investor.<\/p>\n
Aston Martin has also admitted to contact with Christian Horner, but after having been ambiguous in his response to questions on the matter on Friday, CEO Andy Cowell definitively dismissed the idea that he could join the Silverstone team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a chat with Lawrence [Stroll] this morning to find out what he knows,\u201d he said. \u201cIt looks as though Christian\u2019s ringing up pretty much every team owner at the moment, so you can pass the question along [to another team].<\/p>\n
\u201cI can clearly say there are no plans for involvement of Christian either in an operational or investment role in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alpine is also a heavily rumoured possible destination, with Renault reportedly open to selling a significant stake in the team, though the longstanding British-based constructor has denied it is for sale.<\/p>\n
Team managing director Steve Nielsen was less equivocal in denying Horner could join the predominantly French-owned squad.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs far as I know, no,\u201d he said when asked whether Horner had approached Alpine. \u201cBut Flavio [Briatore, de facto principal] and Christian are old friends, that\u2019s no secret. What they\u2019ve talked about, I don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut [from] everything I see and everything I know, there\u2019s no truth in Christian coming to Alpine. But that doesn\u2019t mean it won\u2019t happen. This is Formula 1, after all.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A McLaren led practice on Friday night, but the form guide at the Singapore Grand Prix looks anything…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":188254,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[573],"tags":[2620,119697,16188,1724,64,63,18503,961,52629,31300,22777,1199,119709,119692,119694,817,119706,119704,813,816,841,119700,119707,119701,37234,1737,39008,119693,119695,114904,825,25612,13756,119710,117426,2119,2114,106478,16280,119699,119708,22297,13777,119705,42720,119696,22305,942,119703,2812,85,2053,7663,41547,106464,119702,917,12000,119698],"class_list":["post-188253","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-formula-1","tag-agence-france-presse","tag-american-machining-mogul","tag-andy-cowell","tag-asia","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australian-driver","tag-azerbaijan","tag-bounce-back","tag-championship-battle","tag-championship-leader","tag-christian-horner","tag-clean-qualifying-style-lap","tag-confidence-venues","tag-crucial-qualifying-session","tag-f1","tag-form-man","tag-form-man-heading","tag-formula-1","tag-formula1","tag-grand-prix","tag-incomplete-lap-times","tag-independent-investor","tag-investment-role","tag-japanese-marque","tag-lando-norris","tag-lawrence","tag-led-practice","tag-lengthy-red-flags","tag-marina-bay-street-circuit","tag-max-verstappen","tag-medium-tyre","tag-mid-season-break","tag-misguided-set-up-choice","tag-night-race","tag-pit-talk","tag-pit-wall","tag-podium-resultformula","tag-pole-position","tag-post-session-investigation","tag-practice-analysis","tag-practice-session","tag-qualifying-session","tag-race-running","tag-red-flags","tag-representative-race-running","tag-seven-time-champion","tag-singapore","tag-single-lap-pace","tag-south-eastern-asia","tag-sports","tag-steve-nielsen","tag-talking-points","tag-team-owner","tag-title-gap","tag-tone-upbeat","tag-toyota","tag-western-asia","tag-works-deal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188253","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=188253"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188253\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/188254"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=188253"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=188253"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=188253"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}