Image: Holiness X @F1BigData
Benjamin Foster | Staff Writer with Agencies
McLaren had a busy Friday at the Marina Bay Circuit, with their two drivers delivering contrasting performances and their session schedule affected by red flags. Oscar Piastri ended the day with the fastest time in the second free practice session, while Lando Norris continued to search for the right balance with the car as he adjusted to the circuit for the Singapore Grand Prix weekend.
Piastri was upbeat after a solid performance, reflecting on his consistent pace throughout the day. “A good first day. We have a lot to analyze, but I think it was a good start,” said the Australian, who was fifth in the first practice session (FP1) before topping the second session (FP2). “The pace was consistent, and I learned a lot, which was the main goal today. Everything is looking very good right now, so I’m excited to see what we can do tomorrow,” he added.
Norris, on the other hand, had a more challenging day. He finished sixth in FP1 and fifth in FP2, expressing frustration at not being able to replicate the same confidence he had in the car during previous races in Singapore. “A bit of a tricky first day on track here in Singapore, still not quite finding the feel I had last year. We’ve got a few things to work on, but it’s just a matter of finding a little more rhythm. We’ll analyze it overnight and make sure we’re in the best position possible for tomorrow,” said the British driver.
🚨OPTIMAL LAPS IN SINGAPORE FP3
1 – McLaren – 1:30.023
2 – Mercedes – 1:30.107 (+0.084s)
3 – Red Bull – 1:30.148 (+0.125s)
4 – Williams – 1:30.210 (+0.187s)
5 – Kick Sauber – 1:30.394 (+0.371s)
6 – Racing Bulls – 1:30.436 (+0.413s)
7 – Ferrari – 1:30.517 (+0.494s)
8 – Haas -… pic.twitter.com/mPNBLzSA3a— Holiness (@F1BigData) October 4, 2025
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella provided an overview of the day, highlighting the difficulties the team faced, including multiple red-flag interruptions that affected their practice plans. One of the key challenges was a collision between Charles Leclerc and Norris in the pit lane, which caused Norris to hit the wall. “It was a mixed first day on track in Singapore, with multiple interruptions due to red flags, which created several challenges for the team, including a collision in the pit lane with Charles Leclerc touching Norris and pushing him into the wall. Obviously, this is not ideal at this stage of the weekend,” Stella explained.
Despite the disruptions, Stella emphasized that McLaren managed to complete most of their planned work. “Even with a second session that wasn’t straightforward, we were able to progress with much of our program, but like the rest of the field, we’re still short on laps to fully understand the ideal car setup and tire behavior for this weekend,” he added.
Stella concluded by reflecting on the fierce competition McLaren faces in the 2023 season. “As we have seen in several weekends this season, the competition is extremely tight, with multiple teams fighting at the front of the grid. We’ll keep working hard overnight to maximize our track time in FP3 before qualifying tomorrow,” he said.
With the battle for positions intensifying, McLaren will be hoping for an improved performance from Norris as he looks to find more rhythm with his car in the final practice session ahead of the all-important qualifying. As the Singapore Grand Prix weekend continues, the team will aim to build on Piastri’s strong performance while refining their setup for Norris.