Friday Report - Norris and Leclerc dominate Singapore practice

Lando Norris
© McLaren

By Peter Habicht

Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc delivered standout performances under the lights at the Marina Bay circuit in Singapore, setting the tone for what promises to be an intense and unpredictable race weekend. The two drivers were in a league of their own, battling for supremacy during the first night session. Norris ultimately topped the time sheets, edging Leclerc by just 0.058 seconds. More remarkable than the close duel between the McLaren and Ferrari drivers was the enormous gap to the rest of the field, with the nearest competitor trailing by more than 0.6 seconds.

This early dominance by Norris and Leclerc raised eyebrows across the paddock, as such a large margin this early in the weekend is uncommon. Both drivers had minor run-ins with the unforgiving Singapore street circuit, with Norris brushing the wall at Turn 14 and Leclerc also making slight contact. However, these incidents were far from unique, as many drivers were clearly pushing to the limit. Oscar Piastri, Alex Albon, and Franco Colapinto also had close encounters with the barriers, showcasing just how demanding and treacherous the track can be.

The session, which started under the humid night sky, was abruptly cut short when Mercedes driver George Russell collided with the wall at Turn 7 in the final moments. Although he managed to reverse and slowly drive back to the pits, the yellow and white flags waved for the remainder of the session, effectively preventing any further fast laps. The early conclusion left drivers and teams with unfinished business as they scrambled to optimize their setups for the weekend ahead.

McLaren’s strong form stood out, with Norris looking confident and dialed in, while teammate Oscar Piastri was still catching up after losing valuable time in the earlier practice session. Piastri finished fifth but had clear room for improvement as he aimed to close the gap to Norris. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was another notable figure, backing up Leclerc with a solid third-place performance. Sainz, like Piastri, has work to do to match the leading pace of his teammate, but his early showing suggested Ferrari has the potential to be competitive this weekend.

The surprise of the session came from Team VCARB, with Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo both placing inside the top six. Tsunoda’s impressive fourth-place finish, ahead of Ricciardo in sixth, marked a rare strong showing for the Italian outfit. Tsunoda was so surprised by his own performance that he asked his race engineer if the positive feedback he received was sarcastic, only to be reassured he was indeed doing an excellent job. For a team that has struggled for consistency, this session provided a much-needed confidence boost.

In contrast, Mercedes and Red Bull were left scratching their heads after a challenging session. Max Verstappen, who has been nearly unstoppable all season, struggled with the handling of his RB20. The Dutchman repeatedly complained over the radio about the lack of grip in low-speed corners, a critical issue on a street circuit like Singapore. Verstappen’s frustration was evident as he finished the session in a disappointing 15th place, more than 0.4 seconds slower than his teammate Sergio Perez, who only managed eighth.

Lewis Hamilton, similarly, voiced his dissatisfaction with the balance of his Mercedes. Traction issues plagued the veteran driver, who expressed disbelief when told of the lap time gap between himself and the frontrunners, which hovered close to 0.9 seconds. Hamilton’s struggles were mirrored by his teammate George Russell, whose crash at the end of the session highlighted just how difficult it has been for Mercedes to find the right setup. Russell had shown some promise earlier in the session, particularly during race simulations, but his accident served as a reminder of the fine margins that exist on this challenging circuit.

As the session progressed into long-run simulations, the picture became clearer: Norris and Leclerc remained the benchmark, their pace marginally faster than anyone else. Russell’s performance also stood out in the long runs, as he was competitive with Sainz and Piastri, but his late crash underscored the risks he was taking to push the limits. For Red Bull, there were no such positive takeaways. Verstappen’s car continued to suffer from severe understeer, and there was little indication that the reigning world champion could turn things around in time for qualifying. Perez, who typically prefers a car with understeer, fared slightly better but was still well off the pace, finishing eighth, nearly 0.8 seconds behind Norris.

Williams continued their impressive weekend, with Alex Albon breaking into the top ten and showcasing solid pace once again. Albon’s performance was a bright spot for the team, as he managed to beat the likes of Nico Hulkenberg and Fernando Alonso. His teammate Franco Colapinto had a more challenging session, finishing down in 16th place after making a few costly mistakes on his fastest laps. Despite this, Williams looked promising in long runs, and there is optimism within the team that they can score valuable points come Sunday.

As the paddock prepares for the next round of practice and qualifying, it is clear that McLaren and Ferrari hold the upper hand. However, with the unpredictable nature of the Marina Bay circuit and the rapid evolution of track conditions, nothing can be taken for granted. The session has already claimed several victims in the form of wall brushes and crashes, and as teams scramble to make setup adjustments, there is every chance that the balance of power could shift as the weekend progresses.

For Mercedes and Red Bull, a significant amount of work lies ahead. Finding the right balance and extracting the maximum from their cars will be crucial if they are to challenge for pole position on Saturday. Verstappen’s uncharacteristic struggles have opened the door for rivals to capitalize, but it remains to be seen whether McLaren and Ferrari can maintain their advantage through to qualifying.

With another practice session still to come, and drivers and teams pushing their cars to the limit in search of the perfect setup, the stage is set for an exciting and unpredictable Singapore Grand Prix. As it stands, Norris and Leclerc are the drivers to beat, but on a street circuit as challenging as this, anything can happen.