Singapore Grand Prix: Free Practice Three Highlights and the Road to Qualifying
In the third free practice session for the Singapore Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz of Ferrari posted the best lap time, setting a benchmark at 1 minute 32.065 seconds. The session offered a clear snapshot of form ahead of qualifying and the race, with teams carefully assessing pace, tire behavior, and fuel strategies on the Marina Bay Circuit. This practice session is a key milestone in the 16th race weekend of the Formula 1 calendar and often foreshadows who might lead the pack when the lights go out for qualifying.
Close behind Sainz was British driver George Russell, piloting for Mercedes, trailing by 0.069 seconds. It was a strong showing for Russell, who demonstrated consistent speed and a solid feel for the car on Singapore’s tight and twisty layout. In third place, Lando Norris for McLaren clocked in 0.238 seconds off the pace, signaling that the British teams were ready to contest the upper echelon of the standings as night fell on the Singapore skyline.
Defending world champion and season leader Max Verstappen for Red Bull managed to extract a respectable time in the session, finishing 0.313 seconds off Sainz and securing fourth place on the timing sheets. Verstappen’s performance reaffirmed his consistency this season, even as rivals continue to push for moments of peak speed to swing the championship momentum. Not far behind was Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, who completed the top five with a gap of 0.316 seconds to the pacesetter, underscoring Ferrari’s ongoing competitiveness in the Singapore heat and humidity.
As the afternoon gave way to the evening in Singapore, the schedule moved toward qualifying, with the session commencing at 16:00 Moscow time. The anticipation around qualifying was high, given Singapore’s demanding street course, where a few tenths can separate Q2 from Q3 and a single mistake can erase a lap time. The date for the race itself remained set for September 17, a night race that typically delivers dramatic overtakes and a distinctive buzz in the region.
Top ten times from Free Practice Three
1. Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1.32.065; 2. George Russell Mercedes +0.069; 3. Lando Norris McLaren +0.238; 4. Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.313; 5. Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.316; 6. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.470; 7. Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.665; 8. Sergio Perez Red Bull +0.719; 9. Nico Hülkenberg Haas +0.831; 10. Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri +0.880.
A noteworthy note from the weekend was a former Formula 1 driver discussing preparations for an upcoming major event. The remarks touched on the kind of readiness and mindset that drivers draw on when approaching high-stakes races, including those that occur in late-season blocks where every session can influence a team’s strategy for the rest of the championship. This context helps fans understand how teams balance pace, reliability, and long-term objectives during a packed schedule.
Singapore’s night circuit tests drivers’ nerves and skills in a way that daytime sessions cannot. With the track evolving as the asphalt cools and the lights illuminate the concrete, teams gather critical data about tire wear, brake behavior, and aero balance. The standings after Free Practice Three provide a useful barometer for observers, but the real drama tends to unfold in qualifying when teams settle on the final grid and the race plan becomes explicit. In this environment, any small improvement can translate into decisive gains when it matters most.
The Singapore Grand Prix remains a focal point for fans across the region and a proving ground for teams seeking to optimize their setups for a circuit that demands precision, patience, and a fearless approach to overtaking in tight corners and long straights. As the night air settles over the marina, the stage is set for a compelling qualifying session and a race that could reshape the momentum of the season for multiple contenders. The world watches, while teams analyze every scatter of data and every moment under the floodlights to chart their path forward.