Norris Leads Practice as Verstappen Faces Challenges in Singapore

Lando Norris recorded the fastest time during Friday practice for the Singapore Grand Prix, showcasing a stark contrast to his championship rival Max Verstappen, who struggled to secure a competitive position, finishing in 15th place.

Norris's best lap placed him just 0.058 seconds ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, while Verstappen trailed by 1.294 seconds. Norris, who is aiming to close a 59-point gap to Verstappen, stated that his car was “feeling good.” Verstappen, however, described his experience as “difficult,” indicating issues with grip.

Mercedes drivers also encountered challenges during practice. George Russell ended the session seventh overall but crashed at the end of the second session. Lewis Hamilton expressed that the team was “a little bit lost” regarding their performance.

Norris commented, “Pace is good. It was also a nice lap. We're doing what we expect, I guess, to be up at the front and together with Ferrari but it was a very nice lap and Charles is just behind.” He acknowledged the speed of Ferrari, saying, “I was hoping to have a much bigger gap which means they're quick. Ferrari are very, very fast.”

Verstappen remarked, “Difficult. Not having the grip that we would like. We have a few things to look at.” He explained that he was not struggling with the bumps or kerbs, but rather with general grip, stating, “We have to look at the trade-off between the two.”

The FIA also took action against Verstappen for swearing during Thursday's press conference, mandating him to complete some community service.

Last year, Singapore was the only race where Red Bull did not secure a victory in what became a historically dominant season. This time, the team anticipated difficulties as they face competition from Norris and McLaren.

Despite winning seven of the first ten races this season, Verstappen has not claimed victory in the last seven races. Singapore presents Norris with a potential opportunity to reduce Verstappen's lead, although he remains cautious about Ferrari's competitiveness, particularly from Leclerc, who secured pole position in Monaco in May.

Norris noted, “Charles is very good at street circuits; we have seen in Baku and Monaco what he's capable of doing. I felt like I got a lot out of Friday. We're in a good place, and if we can keep it up, I'll be happy.”

Leclerc commented on his performance, stating, “It felt good but there is still some work to be done, the car didn't exactly feel like I wanted so we still have to try and improve it.” He recognized the unpredictability of the weekend's weather, indicating a need for quick adaptations.

The performance in both one-lap and race simulations highlighted Norris and Leclerc as the front-runners. Russell's crash at Turn Eight, caused by a wheel lock, left him 0.761 seconds off the pace, while Hamilton was 0.982 seconds behind Norris, expressing frustration with the car's setup.

Hamilton remarked, “The car feels very difficult. A very challenging day. We have tried everything set-up wise and nothing seems to work.” He conveyed uncertainty about their performance heading into qualifying.

Carlos Sainz from Ferrari finished the session third, 0.629 seconds off Norris's time, followed by Yuki Tsunoda from Red Bull and Oscar Piastri from McLaren. Russell noted the surprising performances of other teams, stating, “There are a lot of surprises out there. The RBs really quick, the Williams really quick.”