Image: SingaporeGP – X @F1NightRace FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE AIRLINES SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX 2025
Benjamin Foster | Staff Writer with Agencies
Max Verstappen dominated the final free practice session ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, setting the fastest time at 1:30.148, just 17 thousandths of a second ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. The session, held at the Marina Bay Circuit on Saturday morning, saw an incredibly close battle in the top five, with less than one-tenth of a second separating the fastest cars.
The reigning World Champion Verstappen’s performance was remarkable, considering the tight nature of the circuit, with just a sliver of time separating him from Piastri, who had been impressive all weekend. Mercedes showed their strength in the sweltering heat of Singapore, with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli securing third and fourth places, respectively. Lando Norris, also from McLaren, rounded out the top five, equaling Antonelli’s time of 1:30.237.
Ferrari Struggles in Singapore
Despite strong performances earlier in the weekend, Ferrari had a tough session. Charles Leclerc could only manage 10th, while his teammate Lewis Hamilton, who has had a series of struggles, finished in 8th. It seems that the Prancing Horse is struggling to find the right balance in the tricky conditions of the Singapore circuit.
Strong Showing for Williams and Racing Bulls
Carlos Sainz, driving for Williams, continued to impress, finishing in 6th place with a time of 1:30.392. The Williams driver, along with teammate Alexander Albon, who finished 11th, showed that the team is maintaining its strong pace in 2025. Racing Bulls, a newcomer to the grid, also showed good form, with Isack Hadjar securing a solid 7th place, ahead of Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg, who finished 9th.
Brazilian Talent Bortoleto Improves
Gabriel Bortoleto, the young Brazilian talent, continued to show progress, moving up the ranks from his position on Friday. The Sauber driver finished 12th in the session, just 0.138 seconds behind Hülkenberg, which is a promising sign for the weekend ahead.
Alonso and Lawson Hit Setbacks
Fernando Alonso, who had topped the first free practice session on Friday, found himself down in 15th place during the final session. The Spaniard, driving for Aston Martin, couldn’t find the pace needed to compete with the front-runners in the sweltering Singapore heat.
The session was marred by a red flag after Liam Lawson, driving for Racing Bulls, had another crash. This disrupted the final part of the session, and there were also whispers of a potential infringement by Hamilton during the red flag period, which will be reviewed by the race stewards.
The Stage is Set for Qualifying
As the weekend progresses, the drivers will now shift their focus to qualifying, which is set to determine the starting grid for Sunday’s race. Verstappen’s dominance in free practice, alongside Piastri’s strong challenge, suggests we are in for another thrilling battle for pole position.
Final Practice Results:
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Max Verstappen (Red Bull/Honda RBPT) – 1:30.148
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Oscar Piastri (McLaren/Mercedes) – 1:30.165
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George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:30.197
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Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 1:30.237
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Lando Norris (McLaren/Mercedes) – 1:30.237
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Carlos Sainz (Williams/Mercedes) – 1:30.392
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Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT) – 1:30.489
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Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 1:30.559
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Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber/Ferrari) – 1:30.637
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Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:30.651
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Alexander Albon (Williams/Mercedes) – 1:30.668
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Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber/Ferrari) – 1:30.697
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Esteban Ocon (Haas/Ferrari) – 1:30.784
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Oliver Bearman (Haas/Ferrari) – 1:30.799
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Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin/Mercedes) – 1:30.923
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Franco Colapinto (Alpine/Renault) – 1:31.047
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Lance Stroll (Aston Martin/Mercedes) – 1:31.260
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Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull/Honda RBPT) – 1:31.440
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Pierre Gasly (Alpine/Renault) – 1:31.643
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Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT) – 1:33.628
With a fierce competition expected in the qualifying session, the stage is set for a thrilling race at the Singapore GP. Stay tuned for more updates!
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