In the second practice session, it was clear that McLaren has a significant advantage over Ferrari, but what exactly is holding back the Scuderia? Telemetry data provides the answers.
The FP2 telemetry from the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix paints a clear picture: Oscar Piastri in the McLaren managed to put over seven-tenths between himself and Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari, showing a clear advantage in several key sections of the track. Let’s break down the data in detail.
Speed and traction are McLaren’s strengths
Looking at the speed graphs, Oscar Piastri consistently maintains a higher average speed through nearly all sections. The McLaren driver carries more speed into corners and, crucially, maintains better traction on exit. Charles Leclerc loses significant time during acceleration, as the Ferrari is more unstable in the traction phase compared to the papaya car. The delta shows that the gap opens mostly in the middle of the lap: up to Turn 10, the two drivers are very close, but after that, the Australian driver gains most of his advantage. Oscar Piastri can apply the throttle earlier and more progressively, while Charles Leclerc often has to lift and reapply in corners, losing precious meters. Additionally, the McLaren allows for more aggressive braking: in Turn 7, Piastri brakes later than the Monegasque driver.
McLaren also superior in race pace
Across all valid FP2 laps, Oscar Piastri’s McLaren consistently beat Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari. During the second session, both drivers used the yellow tires, and according to Oscar Piastri, he felt very comfortable on them. By contrast, Charles Leclerc performed better on the white tires used in FP1, showing stronger consistency across nearly all laps. It should be noted, however, that FP1 took place during the day in Singapore, while FP2, like the race, runs in the evening. This small change significantly affects car behavior, making FP2 performance a more accurate reflection of likely race pace.
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