Fernando Alonso kicked off the 2025 Singapore GP weekend by topping FP1, while Oscar Piastri rose to the occasion in a red-flag troubled FP2. Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren, and Aston Martin were all in the mix, but drama in the pit lane appeared to be the most memorable for the day.
FP1: Alonso, He’s Still Got It
The 2025 Singapore GP FP1 session around Marina Bay brought a nostalgic yet refreshing sight: Alonso at the top of the timing screens. The Aston Martin veteran clocked a 1:31.116 to edge out Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari by just 0.150 seconds. Max Verstappen and his Red Bull slotted into P3, a further tenth back, while Lewis Hamilton ensured both Ferraris featured in the top four.
McLaren looked sharp from the outset, with Piastri narrowly behind Hamilton in P5 and Lando Norris close behind in P6. Rookie Isack Hadjar (my rookie-of-the-weekend pick) impressed again in P7 for Racing Bulls, ahead of Carlos Sainz, who finally seems to be settling into the Williams. Yuki Tsunoda closed out in P9 for Red Bull, 0.744 seconds behind Alonso. While Estaban Ocon wrestled his Haas around the tight streets of Singapore, 1.012 seconds off the time to round out the top ten.
Beyond Alonso’s headline lap, FP1 ran with relatively little drama. The one exception was Alexander Albon, who suffered a dual rear-brake failure that sidelined him for over 50 minutes, restricting the Williams driver to just two laps.
Despite being held under the nighttime lights of Marina Bay, much of the talk on Friday centered on heat and cooling. While commentators noted the ambient temperature was not extreme compared to previous Singapore editions, almost every driver opted for new FIA-approved cooling undergarments. Teams also fitted extra nose ducting, called ‘driver cooling ducts’ by technical analysts, a visible sign of how important the FIA is treating driver safety this season.
The street circuit’s rapid evolution also shaped the running. Alonso’s FP1 benchmark came late in the session, but Piastri’s FP2 best (1:30.714) would ultimately fall nearly a full second quicker. With grip levels climbing as the streets rubbered in, Friday showed just how quickly lap times can tumble around Singapore once cars and drivers find confidence.
FP2: Piasrti Conquers the Chaos This Time Out
If FP1 had been steady and representative, the 2025 Singapore GP FP2 session delivered the exact opposite. Piastri set the pace with a 1:30.714, confirming McLaren’s potential under the lights. But the session was far from straightforward, with two red flags breaking up the rhythm and leaving plenty of “what ifs” on the table.
Alonso, looking sharp again, might have been a potential P1. His push lap with around 26 minutes remaining was stopped when Liam Lawson crashed, stopping at the pit lane entry. The incident drew another red flag, forcing Alonso to abandon the attempt. Even so, he still later posted a 1:30.877, faster than his FP1 time and good enough for P4.
Meanwhile, Hadjar continued to impress. With nine minutes to go, the Racing Bulls rookie briefly topped the timesheets with a 1:31.440 on Softs, before improving again and settling into P2 at 1:30.846, just 0.132 seconds behind Piastri’s best. Verstappen slotted into P3, only 0.011 seconds behind Hadjar, while Alonso held onto P4, showing Aston Martin’s encouraging evolution across the two sessions. Notably, Lance Stroll quietly claimed P6, just over 0.3 seconds behind teammate Alonso.
The classification behind the front four showed further surprises. Norris backed up McLaren’s decent day with a P5 finish. Esteban Ocon impressed in P7 for Haas, ahead of Carlos Sainz in the Williams and the two Ferraris, where Leclerc edged Hamilton for P9 and P10, respectively.
The session’s stop-start nature made long-run data difficult to find. Russell was limited to just six laps, and several teams were unable to string together clean runs. But the talking point came late in the session. Ferrari released Leclerc into the path of Norris in the fast lane. The two cars made contact in the fast lane, triggering an immediate stewards’ review. Both cars continued, but the incident clearly stood out on the day. The FIA later issued a €10,000 fine to the Scuderia.
Technical Notes and Team Reactions
The FIA’s scrutineering report confirmed that all cars complied with technical regulations across both sessions. Fuel samples, MGU limits, and software versions all passed without issue. Meanwhile, the teams’ visible use of additional nose ducts for driver cooling went unchallenged, suggesting that their solutions fall well within the rules. Combined with the new FIA-approved cooling undergarments, it marked one of the best indications yet that driver health and safety is a priority this season.
The day’s main controversy came from the pit lane clash between Leclerc and Norris. The stewards fined Ferrari €10,000 for an unsafe release, ruling that Leclerc had been sent out directly into Norris’ path after a red flag restart. Both cars made light contact but continued without major damage. The decision underlined how operational errors can carry as much weight as on-track pace at Marina Bay.
Friday’s Reactions:
- Charles Leclerc insisted “the pace is in the car,” despite the pit lane clash. He added that Ferrari felt confident heading into Quali.
- Oscar Piastri kept his tone quietly confident after leading FP2. He acknowledged McLaren’s one-lap speed but admitted to the need for clean long runs in practice sessions to determine real race pace.
- Fernando Alonso described Aston Martin’s gains as “encouraging,” noting that the car felt stronger over a single lap than in recent Grands Prix.
- Max Verstappen admitted that Red Bull were still searching for balance in the RB21. His consistency across both sessions led many to suggest that he remains firmly within mathematical contention for the title.
What This Means for FP3 and Quali
Friday of the 2025 Singapore GP showed no clear favorite due to the disrupted FP2 session. Alonso’s and both Ferraris’ FP1 pace, Piastri’s FP2 benchmark, and Verstappen’s steady presence hinted at a genuine four-team fight between Aston Martin, McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull.
Track evolution played a big role, with Piastri’s FP2 best nearly a second quicker than Alonso’s top time from FP1. That trend should continue into Saturday, raising the stakes for Quali. McLaren leave Friday much happier than last GP weekend. Aston Martin can finally talk about momentum. Red Bull still look capable of stepping up when it matters most.
Further down the order, Haas, Sauber, and Alpine all showed flashes of pace. Hadjar stole headlines again with a stunning P2 finish in FP2. His performance highlights how unpredictable the 2025 season has been so far.
With four teams vying at the front and the midfield tighter than ever, Saturday under the lights has the makings of one of the most exciting sessions of the season.
Tune in for the Quali session tomorrow at the times below from wherever you are watching.
Feature Image Credit: EverythingF1