Oscar Piastri topped the turbulent second practice session at the Singapore Grand Prix, while a pit lane collision involving Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Lando Norris created confusion and frustration. The incident, occurring amid frantic track activity, is currently under investigation as teams scrambled to complete laps around multiple red flag interruptions.
The session was heavily impacted by two significant crashes: George Russell’s large accident at Turn 16, followed shortly by Liam Lawson hitting the wall at Turn 17. These stoppages severely limited running time, forcing drivers and crews into a frantic rush that led to the unusual pit lane collision between Leclerc and Norris.
Details of the Pit Lane Clash Between Leclerc and Norris
Lando Norris suffered damage to his front wing due to the collision with Charles Leclerc during the congested pit lane moments. However, McLaren managed quick repairs, allowing Norris to complete a qualifying simulation. Although he finished fifth during this run, he remained almost half a second behind the pace set by teammate Piastri, who holds a 25-point lead over Norris in the Drivers’ Championship.
[It] cost the team a bit of money, which is a shame,
said Norris, reflecting on the incident and its impact on the team’s preparations.
Norris also described his day as challenging, stating he wasn’t feeling comfortable with the car, and acknowledged that his performance was below expectations compared to the previous year’s Singapore event.
Oscar’s quick so I’ve got nothing to complain about bar just not doing a very good job.
Strong Performances from Piastri, Hadjar, Verstappen, and Alonso Amidst Chaos
Rookie Isack Hadjar impressed on his Singapore GP debut by securing second fastest in the session, closely followed by Max Verstappen, who was just 0.143 seconds behind Piastri. Fernando Alonso, the fastest in the first practice, again demonstrated solid pace by finishing fourth despite the session’s chaotic flow.
The session’s interruptions made it difficult for teams to assess true running order, leaving many question marks over the competitive landscape ahead of Saturday’s final practice and qualifying.
The Ferraris, driven by Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, ranked ninth and tenth respectively, with Hamilton recording his best time on medium tires. Earlier competitiveness from Ferrari faded as Russell’s crash halted progress for much of the session.
Crashes and Red Flags Mark Practice Session
George Russell’s crash at Turn 16 early in the session damaged his car and ended his running for the day. Russell described the incident as
“a bit of a weird one,”
explaining how he braked earlier and slower but still lost control of the car’s rear. He credited the front-end impact for limiting damage but accepted the session was over for him.
A bit of a weird one to be honest. I’m not too sure what happened,
said Russell.
I braked a bit earlier, went in a bit slower, but lost the rear. Thankfully I went in front-end on and didn’t do too much damage but it was game over. A bit annoying, sorry to the team for that, but better it happened today than tomorrow.
Within minutes of the session restarting, Liam Lawson also crashed at Turn 17, hitting the concrete wall and causing a second red flag. This incident broke the front right corner of his car and further disrupted running schedules, with 22 minutes lost overall during the hour-long session.
Upcoming Practice and Qualifying Sessions Ahead of Singapore GP
With remaining doubts about car performance following the disrupted practices, the final session on Saturday morning will be critical for teams. The third practice starts at 10:30 a.m., followed by qualifying at 2 p.m., both broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.
The Singapore GP continues to be pivotal in the 2025 Formula 1 title battle, played out under the city lights and drawing attention from global fans. Max Verstappen, Alonso, Piastri, and the rest of the field will all look to sharpen their pace and position before Sunday’s race, as the intense championship fight moves forward.
