The exhilarating Marina Bay Street Circuit, known for its challenging night race conditions and unforgiving concrete walls, set the stage for a critical final practice session ahead of the highly anticipated 2023 Singapore Grand Prix. As teams and drivers made their last-minute preparations for qualifying, it was Carlos Sainz Jnr who once again asserted Ferrari’s dominance, topping the timesheets for the third successive practice session. His blistering pace underscored Ferrari’s strong form and set a compelling precedent for what promised to be a fiercely contested qualifying.
The session commenced with the sun casting long, dramatic shadows across the iconic Singapore skyline, creating a unique visual spectacle as drivers began their final data-gathering runs. Despite the lower sun, track temperatures remained warm, hinting at the challenging conditions that would persist throughout the remainder of the weekend. Initial moments of the session saw a measured approach from many teams, with drivers opting to stay in the pits, perhaps strategizing their tyre usage for the intense hour ahead.
However, it wasn’t long before the asphalt came alive. The Alfa Romeo duo of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu were among the first to venture out, eager to log their initial push laps on the soft compound tyres. Bottas quickly established an early benchmark with a 1’35.058, signaling the start of serious running. Soon after, some of the sport’s established frontrunners joined the fray, opting for the medium compound tyres to build up confidence and understand the track’s evolution. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen quickly showcased his intent, immediately going quickest with his first flying lap, clocking a 1’34.402.
But the session truly ignited when Carlos Sainz, fresh off his impressive performance in the earlier practice sessions, returned to the top of the timing sheets. Demonstrating exceptional consistency, he posted a formidable 1’33.778 on the medium tyre compound, reclaiming the position he had held at the close of Friday’s running. Verstappen, however, was quick to respond, snatching back the fastest time on his very next push lap, going a tenth quicker than the Ferrari challenger. The battle was intense, with Charles Leclerc also joining the mix, setting a purple first sector on used mediums, only to cross the line three-thousandths of a second slower than the Red Bull driver, highlighting the minuscule margins at play.
As the session progressed, the track became a hive of activity. Teams began their qualifying simulation runs, fitting their cars with the faster soft compound tyres. Mercedes, in particular, showed promising pace. George Russell surged to the top of the times, laying down a strong 1’33.440. Yet, his reign at the summit was fleeting; within mere seconds, Sainz, remarkably on used mediums, improved his time by over two tenths, once again proving his exceptional feel for the circuit and the SF-23 chassis. The Spaniard’s ability to extract such pace from older tyres was a clear indicator of Ferrari’s strong setup and his personal confidence.
Amidst the intensifying battle for pace, a momentary scare unfolded for AlphaTauri. Rookie driver Liam Lawson suffered a spin at Turn Two, sending his car skidding towards the outside of the track. Fortunately, for both driver and team, the car came to a halt just shy of the barriers, allowing Lawson to recover and continue his session without significant damage, a testament to his quick reflexes and perhaps a stroke of luck on a circuit known for punishing even minor errors. This incident served as a stark reminder of the fine line drivers walk on the challenging street circuit.
With just 20 minutes remaining on the clock, Mercedes committed fully to their qualifying preparations, equipping both Russell and Lewis Hamilton with fresh sets of soft tyres. Russell immediately capitalized, improving his personal best time of the session to an impressive 1’32.364. Hamilton followed suit, though he was two tenths slower on his subsequent lap. However, the rapidly improving Lando Norris, in his upgraded McLaren, then surprised many by eclipsing both Mercedes drivers, putting his MCL60 on top of the timesheets by a slender 0.061 seconds, a clear sign of McLaren’s resurgence and the effectiveness of their recent development package.
The drama continued as Red Bull unleashed Max Verstappen on fresh soft tyres for his own critical push lap. Despite the fresh rubber, the championship leader could only manage to improve to fourth-fastest, a tenth of a second behind Hamilton. Verstappen reportedly radioed in complaints about gear shift problems, suggesting underlying issues that hampered his ultimate pace – a rare sight for the dominant Dutchman. However, Carlos Sainz was not to be outdone. Finding even more pace from his soft tyres than Verstappen, he delivered a sensational lap, posting a new quickest time of the entire weekend with a 1’32.065, establishing a clear two-tenth advantage at the top of the timesheets and solidifying his position as a serious contender for pole.
In the frantic closing minutes of the session, Charles Leclerc mounted a final assault, setting the fastest first sector time. But his ambition was curtailed as he ran wide at Turn Seven, forcing him to abandon his lap. Despite pushing hard for one last flying lap before the chequered flag, Leclerc was unable to improve his standing, leaving him fifth fastest overall. The session concluded with Sainz firmly in command, having demonstrated a compelling combination of speed and consistency across both medium and soft tyre compounds.
At the close of the third practice session, Carlos Sainz emerged as the undisputed pacesetter, topping the times for the second consecutive session. George Russell, less than a tenth of a second behind, showcased Mercedes’ strong potential, securing second place. Lando Norris continued to impress with his upgraded McLaren, finishing third, while Max Verstappen’s fourth place, coupled with reported gear shift problems, was a notable deviation from his usual front-running performances. Charles Leclerc completed the top five, ahead of Lewis Hamilton, Oscar Piastri in seventh, and Sergio Perez in eighth. Nico Hulkenberg and Yuki Tsunoda rounded out the top ten, setting the stage for an incredibly tight and unpredictable qualifying session in Singapore. The margins were razor-thin, promising an electrifying battle under the lights.
2023 Singapore Grand Prix Third Practice Result
| Position | Number | Driver | Team | Model | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | SF-23 | 1’32.065 | 23 | |
| 2 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | W14 | 1’32.134 | 0.069 | 20 |
| 3 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL60 | 1’32.303 | 0.238 | 17 |
| 4 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | RB19 | 1’32.378 | 0.313 | 21 |
| 5 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | SF-23 | 1’32.381 | 0.316 | 25 |
| 6 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | W14 | 1’32.535 | 0.470 | 18 |
| 7 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL60 | 1’32.730 | 0.665 | 18 |
| 8 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | RB19 | 1’32.784 | 0.719 | 20 |
| 9 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas-Ferrari | VF-23 | 1’32.896 | 0.831 | 18 |
| 10 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT | AT04 | 1’32.945 | 0.880 | 18 |
| 11 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas-Ferrari | VF-23 | 1’32.970 | 0.905 | 16 |
| 12 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | A523 | 1’32.979 | 0.914 | 19 |
| 13 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR23 | 1’33.051 | 0.986 | 19 |
| 14 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR23 | 1’33.126 | 1.061 | 23 |
| 15 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine-Renault | A523 | 1’33.351 | 1.286 | 19 |
| 16 | 40 | Liam Lawson | AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT | AT04 | 1’33.357 | 1.292 | 19 |
| 17 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | FW45 | 1’33.370 | 1.305 | 15 |
| 18 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | C43 | 1’33.540 | 1.475 | 26 |
| 19 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | C43 | 1’33.637 | 1.572 | 24 |
| 20 | 2 | Logan Sargeant | Williams-Mercedes | FW45 | 1’33.708 | 1.643 | 16 |
2023 Singapore Grand Prix Combined Practice Times
| Position | Number | Driver | Team | FP1 time | FP2 time | FP3 time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | 1’33.428 | 1’32.120 | 1’32.065 | 1 | |
| 2 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1’33.695 | 1’32.355 | 1’32.134 | 0.069 | 3 |
| 3 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1’33.350 | 1’32.138 | 1’32.381 | 0.073 | 2 |
| 4 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’33.522 | 1’32.711 | 1’32.303 | 0.238 | 6 |
| 5 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | 1’33.476 | 1’32.852 | 1’32.378 | 0.313 | 8 |
| 6 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin-Mercedes | 1’33.974 | 1’32.478 | 1’33.051 | 0.413 | 4 |
| 7 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1’33.540 | 1’32.585 | 1’32.535 | 0.470 | 5 |
| 8 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’35.474 | 1’33.461 | 1’32.730 | 0.665 | 15 |
| 9 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | 1’33.725 | 1’32.812 | 1’32.784 | 0.719 | 7 |
| 10 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas-Ferrari | 1’34.985 | 1’33.139 | 1’32.896 | 0.831 | 11 |
| 11 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT | 1’34.042 | 1’33.477 | 1’32.945 | 0.880 | 16 |
| 12 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas-Ferrari | 1’34.887 | 1’33.017 | 1’32.970 | 0.905 | 9 |
| 13 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | 1’34.066 | 1’33.361 | 1’32.979 | 0.914 | 13 |
| 14 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | 1’34.802 | 1’33.105 | 1’33.540 | 1.040 | 10 |
| 15 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | 1’34.568 | 1’33.390 | 1’33.126 | 1.061 | 14 |
| 16 | 40 | Liam Lawson | AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT | 1’34.894 | 1’33.285 | 1’33.357 | 1.220 | 12 |
| 17 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine-Renault | 1’34.639 | 1’33.824 | 1’33.351 | 1.286 | 18 |
| 18 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | 1’34.657 | 1’35.558 | 1’33.370 | 1.305 | 20 |
| 19 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | 1’35.456 | 1’33.575 | 1’33.637 | 1.510 | 17 |
| 20 | 2 | Logan Sargeant | Williams-Mercedes | 1’35.778 | 1’34.327 | 1’33.708 | 1.643 | 19 |
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