Singapore GP: Max Verstappen fastest from Oscar Piastri as field bunches to set up thrilling qualifying battle
Key Takeaways
- Max Verstappen led a very close final practice session for the Singapore Grand Prix.
- The top five drivers were separated by less than one-tenth of a second.
- Verstappen narrowly beat championship leader Oscar Piastri by 0.017s.
- Red Bull's competitiveness was unexpected at the Singapore circuit.
- The tight margins have created high anticipation for the qualifying session.
Max Verstappen surprisingly topped the final practice session for the Singapore Grand Prix, beating championship leader Oscar Piastri by a mere 0.017 seconds, even on a track where Red Bull was not anticipated to excel. The session was incredibly tight, with the top five drivers all separated by less than one-tenth of a second, prompting excitement for the upcoming qualifying session. George Russell was close behind, while Kimi Antonelli and Lando Norris posted identical times just under a tenth off the pace. Verstappen is looking to win in Singapore for the first time and secure pole position, a feat he has yet to achieve there, while trailing Piastri by 69 points with seven races remaining. McLaren drivers Piastri and Norris, whose car setup should suit the street circuit, did not display dominant pace across the three practice sessions, setting their best laps on older soft tires. The closeness of the field suggests a highly competitive fight for pole position.
