Singapore Grand Prix – Free Practice 2: Norris the fastest, Ferrari lurking behind

After apprehending the Marina Bay layout during FP1, during which Charles Leclerc set the fastest time, the 20 drivers on the grid were back on the Singapore tarmac for this second practice session. This was an opportunity to gather important data for Saturday’s qualifying and Sunday’s race, which will take place in a similar time slot and therefore under conditions that could be similar. Provided that the weather doesn’t play tricks on the paddock.

Benefiting from the addition of a fourth DRS zone on the Marina Bay circuit, lap records have already fallen this Friday. Setting the fastest time in Free Practice 2, it is therefore Lando Norris who took it with a time of 1:30.727 before Saturday’s session.

McLaren still in good shape

Discreet at the start of the session, the McLarens raised their voices when all teams fitted their cars with soft tires. Lando Norris quickly set the fastest lap of the session. His teammate Oscar Piastri, winner last week in Baku and more discreet this Friday, was the 5th fastest driver at the end of Free Practice 2.

The different teams have decided to put on medium or hard tires for the first relay of this session. During this relay, the two Ferraris seemed comfortable, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz setting several reference times on medium tires. The Monegasque driver even finished the first relay in the lead. With soft tires, they finished the session with the 2nd and 3rd best times behind the number 4 of the Papayas.

Find here: The TV schedule and timings of the Singapore Grand Prix 2024

Throughout the session, the Racing Bulls can hope for good things this weekend. Provisionally 5th and 6th in the middle of this FP2 session, Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo finished 4th and 6th respectively.

Red Bull and Hamilton at odds

From the beginning of the session, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton reported problems encountered on the track. The Dutchman complained about the lack of grip of his car, sliding on each of his tires. Lewis Hamilton, for his part, shared with his engineers concerns about the traction of his Mercedes.

Failing to solve their problems throughout the session, the British and the Dutch drivers respectively set the 11th and 15th fastest times. Far behind their two teammates, George Russell finished 7th and Sergio Perez 8th. The session actually ended under yellow flags in sectors 1 and 2 after Russell hit a wall.

Alpine still lagging behind

There was no miracle for the French team this Friday in Singapore. Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly achieved the 17th and 18th best times in Free Practice 2. With only 13 points taken since the start of the season, the French will have to hope for a reaction to reach Q2 on Saturday. Only the Alfa Romeo cars of Guanyu Zhou and Valtteri Bottas finished behind them in this session.

Next appointment this Saturday for the Singapore Grand Prix, with the third and final Free Practice session starting at 11:30 (French time).

The ranking of the second Free Practice session