The glittering lights of the Marina Bay Street Circuit illuminated a surprising narrative during the second free practice session for the Singapore Grand Prix, as Ferrari showcased unexpected dominance. Carlos Sainz Jnr set the fastest lap, narrowly edging out his teammate Charles Leclerc, solidifying a commanding one-two for the Scuderia. This performance marked Ferrari’s second successive top-two lockout on Friday, sending a clear message to their rivals and igniting excitement among Tifosi.
In stark contrast, the reigning champions Red Bull Racing encountered an uncharacteristically challenging session. World championship leader Max Verstappen could only manage the eighth quickest time, while his teammate Sergio Perez finished seventh. This unusual struggle from the dominant Red Bulls immediately became the session’s most significant talking point, raising questions about their pace and setup on the demanding street circuit.
Singapore Grand Prix FP2: A Glimpse into the Weekend Ahead
With the sun having fully set and the circuit enveloped in complete darkness, the conditions during Free Practice 2 (FP2) were highly representative of what drivers would face in both qualifying and Sunday’s main race. This made the session critically important for teams to fine-tune their car setups, assess tyre performance, and gather crucial long-run data. Consequently, the pit lane was a hive of activity from the moment the green light signaled the start of the session, with most cars eager to accumulate as much mileage as possible.
The 4.940-kilometer Marina Bay Street Circuit is renowned for its technical layout, requiring immense precision, robust traction, and efficient cooling in the humid tropical air. As a night race, the fluctuating track temperatures between FP1 (daylight) and FP2 (night) add another layer of complexity. Drivers must contend with 23 corners, many of them tight and low-speed, demanding excellent mechanical grip and strong braking performance. The unforgiving concrete barriers that line the circuit mean that even the slightest error can have severe consequences, adding to the pressure and excitement of this iconic event.
Ferrari’s Unforeseen Ascent: A Double Threat in Red
Ferrari’s performance in Singapore has been nothing short of a revelation. Having topped the timing sheets in FP1, the team continued its formidable form into the night session. The early runs saw many drivers opting for the medium compound tyres, a strategy Ferrari also embraced. Carlos Sainz initially set a benchmark of 1’34.150, but he quickly improved upon this, eventually posting a 1’33.213. Fernando Alonso, ever the wily competitor, slotted in second, half a second adrift of the Ferrari driver.
As the session progressed, Charles Leclerc seized an opportunity during a quieter period on track to set a new fastest time of 1’32.974 on medium tyres. However, the true pace of the SF-23 was unleashed when teams switched to the soft compound tyres for their qualifying simulation runs. Sainz delivered a blistering lap of 1’32.120, reclaiming the top spot. Leclerc, seemingly on course to surpass his teammate, lost precious time in the final sector, ultimately finishing just 0.018 seconds behind Sainz. This incredibly tight margin between the two Ferrari drivers underscores the potent package they seem to have in Singapore, suggesting that the SF-23 is particularly well-suited to the circuit’s characteristics, especially its numerous low-speed corners.
Red Bull’s Perplexing Struggles: A Rare Off-Day?
The biggest enigma of FP2 was undoubtedly Red Bull’s struggle for pace. Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, typically at the forefront of every session, found themselves languishing outside the top six. The RB19, which has been virtually unbeatable for much of the season, appeared unsettled and difficult to handle around the twisty Marina Bay layout. Traction, a critical element for street circuits, proved particularly elusive for the Red Bull drivers.
Verstappen himself was seen battling his car, notably catching a dramatic power-slide at the exit of turn 13, highlighting the inherent instability he was experiencing. Perez, too, seemed unable to extract the usual performance from his machine. Their struggles indicate either a significant setup misstep or that the unique demands of Singapore simply don’t align with the RB19’s strengths as effectively as other circuits. Given Red Bull’s impeccable record, a swift turnaround for qualifying is expected, but the gap to Ferrari was considerable and concerning.
Midfield Dynamics: Mercedes, Aston Martin, and McLaren Show Promise
Behind the surprising Ferrari one-two, the battle for the best of the rest was intensely fought. George Russell emerged as the closest challenger to the red cars, putting his Mercedes W14 into third position, a respectable two-tenths of a second off Sainz’s pace. His teammate Lewis Hamilton secured fifth, with Fernando Alonso splitting the two Mercedes in fourth for Aston Martin. Alonso’s consistent performance further emphasized his ability to maximize the potential of his AMR23, even as his teammate Lance Stroll had a minor brush with the wall at Turn 13, thankfully without serious damage.
McLaren showed encouraging signs of progress with their upgraded MCL60, as Lando Norris secured an impressive sixth position. The Woking-based squad has been on an upward trajectory, and their strong showing in Singapore suggests the upgrades are delivering dividends. Oscar Piastri, in the other McLaren, finished 15th, still acclimatizing to the demands of an F1 street circuit. The top 10 was rounded out by Kevin Magnussen for Haas and Valtteri Bottas for Alfa Romeo, demonstrating the tight competition in the midfield.
Session Incidents and Tyre Insights
Beyond the headline lap times, FP2 offered several glimpses into the challenges faced by drivers and teams. Even on the fastest soft compound tyres, drivers were visibly battling their cars. Lewis Hamilton ran wide over the exit kerb at Turn 7, while George Russell had to make a swift correction to catch a snap of oversteer coming out of the final corner. These moments highlighted the fine margins and the difficulty of finding the limit on a circuit with zero room for error.
Traffic also proved to be a persistent nuisance, especially during the crucial qualifying simulation runs. A particularly hairy moment involved Carlos Sainz almost running into the back of Max Verstappen on the approach to Turn 13. The incident underscored the importance of clear communication from race engineers, as Red Bull reportedly failed to adequately warn Verstappen of the approaching Ferrari, leading to a potentially dangerous situation.
The latter half of the session was predominantly dedicated to high-fuel runs, with most of the top-ranked drivers reverting to the medium compound tyres. This phase is vital for understanding tyre degradation, fuel efficiency, and race pace. Encouragingly, there were no yellow flag interruptions or unusual occurrences – such as the lizards that briefly graced the track in FP1 – allowing drivers to complete their long runs without incident. This clean run of data will be invaluable for strategists plotting their approach to Sunday’s Grand Prix.
What Lies Ahead: Qualifying and Race Prospects
The results of Free Practice 2 have certainly shaken up the typical pecking order and injected a palpable sense of anticipation into the Singapore Grand Prix weekend. Ferrari’s unexpected form makes them genuine contenders for pole position, with both Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc showing exceptional pace and confidence. The key question for them will be whether they can maintain this blistering speed and manage tyre degradation over a full race distance.
For Red Bull, the focus will undoubtedly be on understanding and rectifying their current struggles. Their engineering team will be working tirelessly to make significant setup changes overnight, hoping to unlock the RB19’s usual formidable pace. While a recovery is certainly possible, the gap they need to close to Ferrari and potentially Mercedes is substantial. The Marina Bay Street Circuit is notorious for its unpredictability, and with qualifying set to be a fierce contest under the lights, followed by a physically demanding race, the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix promises to be one of the most exciting and tightly contested events of the season.
2023 Singapore Grand Prix Second Practice Result
| Position | Number | Driver | Team | Model | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | SF-23 | 1’32.120 | 26 | |
| 2 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | SF-23 | 1’32.138 | 0.018 | 27 |
| 3 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | W14 | 1’32.355 | 0.235 | 25 |
| 4 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR23 | 1’32.478 | 0.358 | 25 |
| 5 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | W14 | 1’32.585 | 0.465 | 23 |
| 6 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL60 | 1’32.711 | 0.591 | 23 |
| 7 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | RB19 | 1’32.812 | 0.692 | 23 |
| 8 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | RB19 | 1’32.852 | 0.732 | 23 |
| 9 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas-Ferrari | VF-23 | 1’33.017 | 0.897 | 25 |
| 10 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | C43 | 1’33.105 | 0.985 | 24 |
| 11 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas-Ferrari | VF-23 | 1’33.139 | 1.019 | 22 |
| 12 | 40 | Liam Lawson | AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT | AT04 | 1’33.285 | 1.165 | 27 |
| 13 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | A523 | 1’33.361 | 1.241 | 25 |
| 14 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR23 | 1’33.390 | 1.270 | 25 |
| 15 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL60 | 1’33.461 | 1.341 | 23 |
| 16 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT | AT04 | 1’33.477 | 1.357 | 27 |
| 17 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | C43 | 1’33.575 | 1.455 | 25 |
| 18 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine-Renault | A523 | 1’33.824 | 1.704 | 24 |
| 19 | 2 | Logan Sargeant | Williams-Mercedes | FW45 | 1’34.327 | 2.207 | 28 |
| 20 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | FW45 | 1’35.558 | 3.438 | 5 |
2023 Singapore Grand Prix Related Articles
- Sainz’s Singapore win made Leclerc focus on improving his race pace – Clear
- Singapore and Austin retirements cost me top 10 championship place – Ocon
- How Ocon’s “extreme” height for an F1 driver is helping other tall racers
- Steward’s admission Verstappen should have had penalty frustrates his rivals
- Drivers back Singapore qualifying tweak as rule changes again for Japanese GP
Browse all 2023 Singapore Grand Prix articles