Max third quickest after Friday practice in Singapore: 'Car wasn't too bad'

Published on 03 October 2025 by Stefan Meens

Following his P3 in the opening practice session of the Singapore Grand Prix, Max Verstappen was also third fastest in FP2. McLaren Oscar Piasti was quickest, ahead of Isack Hadjar’s Racing Bull.

“The car wasn’t bad at all”, said Max after Friday practice. “I think the first practice session went well. The car wasn’t bad, a bit like the previous two weekends and without big problems.”

The Dutchman added: “We tried some things in FP2 and in general I’m pretty happy, but we’ll need more pace to fight at the front. There are a few things we want to improve, and we’ll see tomorrow if that’s good enough to fight for pole.”

At the start of FP2, the darkness has set in and the artificial lights light up the Marina Bay Street Circuit, to reflect track conditions that will be similar to Saturday’s qualifying and Sunday’s race. As the pitlane opens, most drivers head out on the medium Pirelli tyre. Alex Albon is one of them, with the Williams driver keen to make up for lost track time in FP1, when a brake fire ruled him out of participating in the opening practice session.

Fifteen minutes in, Lando Norris is the pace setter, ahead of Max and the two Racing Bulls of Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar. Just when Max is attempting to better his lap time, a red flag interrupts the session. George Russell has destroyed his front wing on the barriers at turn 16. The Mercedes is able to drive back to the pits unaided, and the session is resumed shortly after.

Most drivers opt to bolt on the red side-walled soft compound in search of quicker lap times. Esteban Ocon is one of the first drivers to make the most of the additional grip and goes fastest. Before anyone else can dethrone the Haas driver, Lawson brings out the second red flag of the evening after breaking his right front wheel in turn 17. The stricken Racing Bull blocks the entry to the pits, prompting the red flag.

With thirteen minutes to go, the session resumes quickly followed by a peculiar incident taking place in pit lane. Norris has parked the nose of his McLaren in the pit wall after being pushed wide by Charles Leclerc, who was released unsafely by his Ferrari mechanics into the path of Norris.

After a brief delay, the session resumes for the final ten minutes. Max temporarily goes quickest before being usurped by championship leader Piastri and the Racing Bull of Hadjar, meaning the reigning champ has to settle for third at the end of FP2.

Contest GP Singapore: win a by Max Verstappen signed Red Bull Racing cap!

Results second free practice Singapore: