Max Verstappen emerged fastest in a highly competitive final practice session ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday. The Red Bull driver narrowly outpaced Oscar Piastri, with the top five separated by less than a tenth of a second as the field prepared in restless conditions.
The session included a dramatic crash involving Liam Lawson and concluded with Lewis Hamilton facing an investigation by stewards for a possible red flag violation. The unfolding events added tension to the track atmosphere as teams made final preparations for qualifying.
Early Track Activity and Set-Up Challenges
The hour-long session began with Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon first out on track, joined shortly after by Yuki Tsunoda and Franco Colapinto. Despite the lingering afternoon sun preventing full floodlight illumination, Bearman immediately set a benchmark time on medium tyres, although it was significantly slower than Friday’s fastest laps. The track conditions diverged notably from what is expected during qualifying or race runs.
The pace quickly improved as most drivers ventured out, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri ascending the timesheets within the first eight minutes. Norris clocked a 1:31.021, a sign of the track rubbering up rapidly following overnight rain. Engineer Will Joseph encouraged Norris after his improvement, saying,
Image of: Lewis Hamilton
“Lando, welcome back. That was a very good lap,”
Will Joseph, engineer.
Williams showed early promise with Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon running on soft tyres, the red-walled compounds exclusively utilized by the pair initially. Tensions rose when Williams’ Albon narrowly avoided collision with Norris while exiting the Singapore Sling, highlighting the crowded and challenging opening moments when all 20 cars were on track simultaneously.
Liam Lawson’s Crash Disrupts Session Progress
The practice session abruptly halted after 15 minutes when Liam Lawson crashed at Turn 7. His Racing Bull car bottomed out on the exit kerb before collecting the wall on the drivers’ right side, damaging the front-right section of the vehicle and scattering debris across the circuit. This marked Lawson’s second crash of the weekend, compounding difficulties for the Kiwi driver ahead of qualifying.
The resulting red flag caused a nine-minute stoppage, with cars lining up at the pit exit before gradually returning to the track. Once the session resumed, Norris retained the quickest time, closely followed by Sainz and Bearman.
Mid-Session Developments and Tyre Strategies
Shortly after restarting, Sainz lost control after braking too hard off the Esplanade Bridge, sliding into the run-off area and thwarting a potential fast lap while still running the soft compound. Meanwhile, Albon improved to sit second, trailing Norris by just over a tenth of a second on mediums.
Mercedes made a strategic tyre choice by fitting red soft tyres mid-session. Kimi Antonelli rapidly set competitive sector times, concluding a lap of 1:30.760—the quickest through the middle section—even though he failed to record a personal best in the first part of the lap.
Verstappen reported early tyre wear concerns on the rear, suggesting he was running a race simulation rather than focusing on a qualifying pace, positioning him seventh fastest, nearly eight tenths off the session lead.
With approximately 20 minutes remaining, the track quietened as only Isack Hadjar, Charles Leclerc, and Fernando Alonso continued flying laps, setting the stage for a final push in the closing moments.
Closing Laps Deliver Intense Competition and Investigation for Hamilton
The last minutes of practice saw a surge of activity as Charles Leclerc first topped the timesheets with a 1:30.651 on soft tyres. Lando Norris responded by setting purple sector times in the first and third splits, moving himself into the lead with a 1:30.384. Piastri soon followed with a close 1:30.627, placing him second temporarily before Lewis Hamilton slipped between the McLaren drivers.
The session’s intensity was undercut by the announcement that Hamilton would be investigated for potential red flag infringement. Reports indicated the Ferrari driver may have accelerated after safely passing Lawson’s stationary car, an action that drew scrutiny from stewards and heightened tensions within the team garages.
Meanwhile, Lance Stroll disrupted Leclerc’s flying lap by passing him into the final chicane, then slowing to create space for his own timed attempt, adding to the chaotic final stages.
George Russell expressed his unease, suggesting a lack of confidence despite being the second fastest with a time just 0.049 seconds off Verstappen’s benchmark. The Dutchman locked in the fastest lap of 1:30.148, pushing Norris into third place as the session edged to a close.
The fragility of soft tyres became evident, excelling for a singular hot lap but quickly dropping in performance thereafter. Notable close calls included Verstappen and Franco Colapinto narrowly avoiding contact while allowing Pierre Gasly through near the Esplanade Bridge, a fortunate avoidance that allowed Gasly to continue without delay despite his low position.
The concluding moments featured impressive late laps by Mercedes’ Antonelli and Piastri, with Antonelli finishing fourth and Norris holding fifth, all within fractions of Verstappen’s fastest time.
Official Singapore GP Practice 3 Standings
1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull – 1:30.148
2. Oscar Piastri, McLaren – 1:30.165
3. George Russell, Mercedes – 1:30.197
4. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes – 1:30.237
5. Lando Norris, McLaren – 1:30.237
6. Carlos Sainz, Williams – 1:30.392
7. Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls – 1:30.489
8. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari – 1:30.559
9. Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber – 1:30.637
10. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari – 1:30.651
11. Alex Albon, Williams – 1:30.668
12. Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber – 1:30.697
13. Esteban Ocon, Haas – 1:30.784
14. Oliver Bearman, Haas – 1:30.799
15. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin – 1:30.923
16. Franco Colapinto, Alpine – 1:31.047
17. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin – 1:31.260
18. Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull – 1:31.440
19. Pierre Gasly, Alpine – 1:31.643
20. Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls – 1:33.628
Implications of Hamilton’s Steward Investigation and Practice Session Outcome
The announcement of Lewis Hamilton’s investigation has cast a shadow over what was otherwise a fiercely contested practice session, increasing the intensity and uncertainty as qualifying looms. This situation exemplifies the tight regulations drivers must navigate, especially under the pressure of race weekend build-up where every fraction of a second matters.
As teams analyze the data collected on tyre wear, track evolution, and traffic management, the fine margins seen at the top of the timesheets bode well for a thrilling qualifying session. Verstappen’s pace underlines Red Bull’s ongoing strength, with McLaren’s Piastri and Norris closely trailing, while Mercedes continue to challenge with Russell and Antonelli’s strong pace hints at an intense battle for grid positions.
With the investigation outcome pending, Hamilton’s position remains uncertain, but his performance shows he remains among the frontrunners, adding to the intrigue for tomorrow’s sessions and the race itself. The Singapore Grand Prix weekend has already unfolded with a mixture of tension and high stakes, signaling a volatile motorsport event ahead.
