The first free practice session for the Singapore Grand Prix is never too indicative of the performance hierarchy on the track, due to the difference in track conditions, which is still very dirty and environmental factors, with daylight and higher temperatures compared to what will be present in qualifying and the race. Nevertheless, the impression this year, unlike in past seasons, is that no team or driver held back, with everyone pushing significantly (as much as the track allowed) right from the start.
The standout performers from the beginning were Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris, who not only set the top two times but also delivered consistent on-track performances, showing a determined effort to post quick laps. The Ferrari came out on top in FP1, with Charles Leclerc’s number 16 car posting the fastest time, but only 76 thousandths of a second ahead of Lando Norris in the number 4 McLaren. Max Verstappen’s Red Bull clocked the fourth fastest time, behind the other Ferrari of Carlos Sainz, and while the Dutchman seemed slower than his competitors, he wasn’t as far off the pace as in recent races. Mercedes, on the other hand, continued to struggle to find a solid setup, with the car still highly sensitive to environmental conditions and failing to show any standout performance. We compared the data from Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen to get a clearer idea of what happened on track.
In the first sector, Lando Norris set the pace, thanks especially to an excellent run through Turn 5, where he was 4 km/h faster than both Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen. All the drivers, however, were within a tenth of a second. In the more challenging middle sector, the Monegasque driver began to pull ahead, clearly feeling comfortable with his car. The data shows Charles Leclerc applying his preferred driving technique, where he doesn’t fully lift off the accelerator while navigating corners, allowing for better traction, rear rotation, and, as he recently stated himself, managing the aerodynamic load distribution along the car’s longitudinal axis by modulating brake and throttle pressure. Like the Baku City Circuit, the Marina Bay track has limited corner radius variety, making it relatively easy to balance the car, and Charles Leclerc’s technique proves particularly advantageous.
The SF-24 single-seater performed well in terms of traction, for example, when exiting Turn 9 and especially Turn 14, confirming a well-set rear in terms of setup. Additionally, the switch from the old front wing to the new one on Carlos Sainz’s car has eliminated a bothersome initial understeer, which is certainly a good sign for Maranello’s engineers that this important update is heading in the right direction. Returning to the lap analysis, Max Verstappen struggled most in the middle sector, particularly in the tricky sequence of Turns 10-11-12, possibly due to the usual stiffness of the car’s suspension. However, the Dutchman excelled in the extremely fast final corner of the circuit, highlighting a car that is not yet perfect in slow corners but highly competitive in fast ones.
As mentioned, this first free practice session was only a preview of what is still to unfold over the Singapore weekend, but the impression is that we may see another duel between McLaren and Ferrari, while we wait to see how Red Bull and Mercedes can improve as the weekend progresses.
Leave a Reply