Verstappen tops tight FP3 ahead of 2025 Singapore Qualifying
Max Verstappen set the pace in the final practice session at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, clocking a 1:30.148 to edge out Oscar Piastri by just 0.017s in a thrilling FP3 ahead of the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix. George Russell was third, a mere 0.049s off the top, as the top five were covered by less than a tenth of a second in one of the tightest sessions of the season.
FP3 Recap: Verstappen Leads, But It's Wide Open
The final hour of practice was anything but straightforward. Hot and humid conditions — air temperature at 30.9°C and track temperature peaking at 39°C — challenged drivers and teams, while multiple yellow flags and a red flag stoppage disrupted running.
Early Drama: Lawson's Crash
Liam Lawson’s weekend went from bad to worse. After crashing in FP2, the Racing Bulls driver hit the wall again at Turn 8, damaging his front wing and suspension. The incident brought out the red flag and left him with minimal soft tyre running ahead of qualifying. His team now faces a second major rebuild in as many days.
The Battle at the Top
The session saw constant changes at the top of the timesheets:
- Charles Leclerc briefly led with a 1:30.651 before being displaced by Lando Norris.
- Norris looked strong after a tricky Friday, but Verstappen’s late flyer reclaimed P1.
- Kimi Antonelli impressed for Mercedes, going second at one stage and eventually finishing fourth, tied on time with Norris.
- Piastri’s final run pushed him to second, splitting the Red Bull and Mercedes drivers.
Standout Performances
- Isack Hadjar continued his strong form, finishing seventh and showing pace on both medium and soft tyres.
- Nico Hulkenberg returned to the top 10, hinting at a potential qualifying resurgence for Kick Sauber.
- Carlos Sainz was quick but had a lock-up at Turn 10, using the escape road before recovering to sixth.
Struggles in the Pack
- Yuki Tsunoda could only manage 18th despite a clean lap on softs, leaving work to do for qualifying.
- Aston Martin’s pace faded compared to Friday, with Fernando Alonso 15th and Lance Stroll 17th.
- Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto were stuck in the lower half of the table, with Alpine lacking one-lap speed.
FP3 Classification (Top 10)
- Max Verstappen – Red Bull Racing – 1:30.148
- Oscar Piastri – McLaren – +0.017
- George Russell – Mercedes – +0.049
- Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes – +0.089
- Lando Norris – McLaren – +0.089
- Carlos Sainz – Williams – +0.244
- Isack Hadjar – Racing Bulls – +0.341
- Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari – +0.411
- Nico Hulkenberg – Kick Sauber – +0.489
- Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – +0.503
Analysis: Qualifying Set to Be a Thriller
The margins at the front suggest qualifying will be fiercely contested. Verstappen has never won in Singapore, but his pace — particularly in the final sector — shows he’s ready to challenge. McLaren’s Piastri and Norris are both in the mix, with Mercedes looking unexpectedly strong in the heat thanks to Antonelli and Russell.
Ferrari’s times may be deceptive, as both Leclerc and Hamilton set their best laps earlier in the session. Williams, with Sainz and Albon, appear to have genuine top-10 potential, while Racing Bulls could spring a surprise if Hadjar maintains his form.
The tight gaps mean track position and clean execution will be critical under the lights. With the top five separated by under a tenth, a single mistake could cost multiple grid spots.
Key Takeaways for Qualifying
- Track evolution will be significant as temperatures drop in the evening.
- Red Bull vs McLaren vs Mercedes looks like the main fight for pole.
- Williams and Racing Bulls could disrupt the established order in Q3.
- Lawson’s lack of soft tyre data may hinder his qualifying performance.
- Tsunoda and Aston Martin need major improvements to avoid early elimination.