Oscar Piastri topped a jam-packed FP2 in Singapore — with two red flags and a bizarre pit-lane clash — in a session full of drama and pace.
Oscar Piastri put his McLaren at the top of the timesheets during a frantic Free Practice 2 at the Singapore Grand Prix. The session was anything but smooth — punctuated by two red flags and a peculiar pit-lane collision between Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris.
In conditions more akin to what teams expect in qualifying and the race — cooler track, floodlights on — Piastri delivered a stellar lap and took advantage of the chaos around him. Below, you’ll find a full breakdown of what went down, what it means, and what to watch for heading into FP3 and qualifying.
1. Track and Conditions
The session began under the Marina Bay floodlights, with ambient conditions slightly cooler than in FP1. Drivers and teams were now operating under conditions more representative of what they’ll face in qualifying and the race. The track had cooled, meaning grip and tyre behavior were shifting compared to earlier in the day. Formula 1® – The Official F1® Website+2Motorsport+2
Because of that, teams had to adapt quickly. It’s like trying to catch a train that changes track mid-journey — if your setup or timing is off, you’re left behind.
2. Session Start & Early Runs
Nico Hulkenberg led the field out first, followed by a flurry of early laps as teams probed the surface. The rookies were pushing boundaries: Gabriel Bortoleto went off in his Kick Sauber, while Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli had a small moment. Meanwhile, Lando Norris took an early lead — on medium tyres — with a time of 1m 31.716s. Formula 1® – The Official F1® Website+2Motorsport+2
Piastri, Norris’ teammate, quickly followed suit, laying down competitive times of his own.
3. Red Flag One – Russell Crash
The first major disruption came when George Russell lost control of his Mercedes at Turn 16, slamming into the barrier. The incident carried enough debris or damage to force a red flag to clear up the mess. The Brit called it “weird” over team radio as he limped back to the pits. Motorsport+2racer.com+2
Running was suspended for several minutes while track marshals worked to restore safety.
4. Mid-Session Jostling & Soft Tyres
After the restart, some drivers stayed on medium tyres (notably the Ferraris), while others switched to softs to chase fast laps. Esteban Ocon briefly led with a 1m 31.480s on softs. Motorsport+2racer.com+2
As the session progressed, drivers scrambled for clean windows — but with limited track time, every mistake was magnified.
5. Red Flag Two – Lawson Incident
Just as the session was returning to rhythm, Liam Lawson crashed out of Turn 17, damaging his Racing Bulls car badly. He came to rest at the pit entry, prompting the second red flag. Motorsport+2racer.com+2
The timing was cruel: many teams were preparing full qualifying simulations. That lost time would resonate for the remainder of the hour.
6. Pit Lane Drama: Leclerc vs Norris
When the session was rescheduled to resume, chaos reigned in the pit lane. Charles Leclerc was released from his garage directly into Lando Norris’ path, causing contact. Norris was forced into the pit wall and had his front wing damaged. He was wheeled back into the garage for repairs. Sky Sports+3Motorsport+3racer.com+3
McLaren lodged a protest. Later, Ferrari was fined €10,000 for an unsafe release. Sky Sports+2racer.com+2
As Norris later radioed, “He just drove straight into me.” Formula 1® – The Official F1® Website+2Motorsport+2
7. Final Five Minutes & Piastri’s Move
With chaos behind them, drivers piled onto the track for one last push. Most were on soft tyres now, looking to string together their best laps. In the final moments:
- Piastri punched in a 1m 30.714s to seize the top spot. PlanetF1+3Formula 1® – The Official F1® Website+3Motorsport+3
- Isack Hadjar followed closely, just 0.132s behind in P2. PlanetF1+3Motorsport+3racer.com+3
- Max Verstappen landed P3, 0.143s off Piastri. Motorsport+2racer.com+2
- Fernando Alonso, who had topped FP1, ended fourth. Formula 1® – The Official F1® Website+2Motorsport+2
- Norris, after his repairs, clocked P5 but was 0.483s down. Motorsport+2racer.com+2
It was a hectic finish, and Piastri capitalized on the window that others were denied.
8. Top 10 Wrap & Surprise Names
Here’s how the top 10 looked at the end of FP2:
- Piastri
- Hadjar
- Verstappen
- Alonso
- Norris
- Lance Stroll
- Esteban Ocon
- Carlos Sainz
- Charles Leclerc
- Lewis Hamilton
Formula 1® – The Official F1® Website+3Motorsport+3racer.com+3
A few surprises:
- Hadjar, a rookie, punching into P2
- Ocon grabbing a strong P7
- Leclerc and Hamilton, both inside top 10, despite Ferrari’s turbulence
9. What This Means for Qualifying
Because FP2 is typically seen as the closest simulation of qualifying pace, Piastri’s top time sends a strong signal: McLaren may be sharper than many expected under the lights.
However, because more than 20 minutes of track time was lost to red flags, the pecking order is murkier than usual. racer.com+2Motorsport+2
Teams that managed to get clean laps in late might have the edge going into FP3 and qualifying.
10. Teams’ Takeaways & Adjustments
- McLaren will be pleased: Piastri leading, Norris still competitive despite the incident
- Ferrari must digest the pit release mistake and poor tyre timing
- Red Bull (Verstappen) showed consistency, still in the hunt
- Aston Martin (Alonso, Stroll) remain quietly strong
- Smaller teams like Haas and Williams will fight to extract usable data from a compromised session
Teams will now scrutinize tyre degradation, balance under lights, and pit-lane protocols.
11. Looking Ahead to FP3
FP3 will be a vital “clean slate” session. Teams will want to see:
- How tyres behave over longer stints
- Whether Piastri’s pace is repeatable
- Ferrari’s recovery now that they may focus less on pit chaos
- Which drivers can unearth surprise laps
That session sets the tone for qualifying later that evening.
12. Dark Horse Watch
Isack Hadjar is one to keep an eye on: his P2 is no fluke. He might trouble the usual top-gun names. Also, Ocon’s mid-pack strength could pay dividends in sticky sessions.
13. Risks & Uncertainties
- Limited clean track time due to red flags
- Pit lane chaos undermining fair runs
- The street circuit’s nature: one mistake and your lap is gone
- Tyre drop-offs under night conditions
Think of it like running an obstacle course in darkness — one surprise slip, and your pace is gone.
14. Conclusion & What to Expect Next
In a session that felt like a thriller, Oscar Piastri emerged unfazed — taking top spot amid red flags, crashes, and pit-lane drama. His 1m 30.714s lap now sets the benchmark heading into FP3 and qualifying.
But this is F1: the pace sheet can flip as track conditions evolve, strategies shift, and mental resolve is tested. Will Piastri hold firm? Can Ferrari rebound? Will underdogs like Hadjar surprise us again?
Let’s find out when FP3 rolls.
