Marina Bay: Singapore GP FP2 Session Results: Verstappen Tops the Timesheet, Leclerc and Perez Close Behind
The second free practice session for the Singapore Grand Prix saw Max Verstappen claim the top spot, setting a blistering pace around the Marina Bay Street Circuit. The Red Bull driver edged out Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez in a thrilling session that saw the top three drivers separated by less than half a second.
Verstappen Leads the Way, but Bottas Sets the Fastest Lap
Verstappen's time of 1:42.228 put him comfortably ahead of the field, while Leclerc and Perez finished in second and third place respectively, just 0.184 and 0.219 seconds behind the leader. However, it was Valtteri Bottas who set the fastest lap of the session, despite finishing in fifth place, with a time of 1:41.520.
Fernando Alonso continued his impressive form, finishing fourth ahead of Bottas. Lewis Hamilton struggled in the session, finishing only ninth, behind Pierre Gasly, Lando Norris, and George Russell.
Ferrari Strong, McLaren Lagging
The Ferrari drivers demonstrated strong pace, with Leclerc and Perez both within striking distance of Verstappen. Sainz also showed strong performance, finishing in seventh place.
McLaren, however, seemed to be struggling, with Norris and Ricciardo finishing in eighth and 11th respectively. Ricciardo had a particularly challenging session, encountering mechanical issues that forced him to pit early.
Tight Competition in the Midfield
The midfield battle was particularly close, with several drivers within a tenth of a second of each other. Alonso, Gasly, Norris, and Russell all fought for positions in the top ten.
Esteban Ocon, Kevin Magnussen, and Alex Albon also impressed, finishing in the top 15.
FP2 Highlights:
- Verstappen sets the fastest time in FP2
- Bottas sets the fastest lap of the session
- Ferrari drivers look strong, with Leclerc and Perez close behind Verstappen
- McLaren struggles, with Ricciardo encountering mechanical issues
- The midfield battle is intense, with several drivers within a tenth of a second of each other
FP2 Takeaways:
- Verstappen looks set to be the driver to beat in Singapore, but Ferrari are close on his tail.
- Bottas's strong performance suggests that Alfa Romeo could be a factor in the race.
- McLaren need to improve their performance significantly if they want to challenge for the podium.
- The midfield battle is likely to be intense throughout the race, with several drivers vying for points.
The Singapore Grand Prix is set to be a thrilling event, and the FP2 results suggest that it could be one of the most competitive races of the season. Fans can expect an exciting qualifying session and a race full of action on Sunday.
