Author: Barkha Roy
Ferrari continued their impressive form from the Monza race by dominating the opening practice sessions of the Singapore Grand Prix. Charles Leclerc led the way, narrowly beating teammate Carlos Sainz in the first practice session, with Max Verstappen in third.
The Marina Bay circuit welcomed the drivers with scorching temperatures, adding an extra challenge to the demanding street circuit. McLaren’s Lando Norris stood out by opting for medium tires and setting the pace in the early part of the session.
The drivers later switched to soft tires to set faster lap times, but the session had some amusing interruptions, including a lizard on the track in the second sector. Despite these distractions, Leclerc set the fastest time, ahead of Sainz by just 0.078 seconds, highlighting Ferrari’s strong performance.
A huge impact ended Lance Stroll’s qualifying session early#SingaporeGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/xnpOGSsgsZ
– Formula 1 (@F1) September 16, 2023
Verstappen, seeking his first win in Singapore, took third, while Norris impressed with his updated McLaren, finishing fourth. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, from Mercedes, followed close behind.
Sergio Perez, winner of last year’s Singapore GP, took seventh place, and Fernando Alonso, a two-time Singapore GP winner, finished eighth for Aston Martin. AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda and Esteban Ocon completed the top ten.
Got your breath back yet?
Watch the last 60 seconds of an incredible #SingaporeGP qualifying session👇 pic.twitter.com/gLc6bDeS6j
– Formula 1 (@F1) September 16, 2023
In second practice, Ferrari continued to dominate, with Sainz ahead of Leclerc. They comfortably beat the competition under the lights of Marina Bay. However, Red Bull faced unexpected challenges, with Pérez and Verstappen finishing seventh and eighth, struggling with handling and brake problems.
The rest of the top ten in Practice Two included Fernando Alonso in fourth, Lewis Hamilton in fifth and Lando Norris in sixth. Kevin Magnussen’s Haas and Valtteri Bottas’ Alfa Romeo completed the top ten.
Alex Albon had problems with his Williams, ending the session after just 10 minutes due to a problem with the power unit.
Ferrari, buoyed by their recent success at Monza, go into the Singapore Grand Prix weekend as favorites, thanks to their impressive performance in practice. Sainz and Leclerc’s ability to navigate the challenging streets of Singapore makes them strong contenders.
Red Bull, despite a run of 15 consecutive wins, struggled with handling and braking in second practice, setting the scene for an intense battle between the two powerful teams.
As the weekend unfolds, fans are eagerly awaiting the clash between Ferrari and Red Bull on this high downforce circuit.