The dazzling lights of Marina Bay illuminated another thrilling Formula 1 Friday as the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix weekend roared into life, with reigning world champion Max Verstappen immediately stamping his authority on the street circuit.
Red Bull's Flying Start Under the Lights
From the moment the cars hit the track for FP1, the Red Bull RB21 looked perfectly suited to the demanding Marina Bay Street Circuit. Verstappen topped both practice sessions, his fastest lap in FP2 under the floodlights sending a clear message to his rivals.
The Dutchman appeared untroubled by the humid conditions, consistently finding time through the technical final sector where Red Bull's mechanical grip proved superior.
Ferrari and Mercedes Playing Catch-Up
While Red Bull enjoyed a near-perfect day, the battle behind intensified. Charles Leclerc showed promising pace for Ferrari, ending FP2 just two-tenths adrift, though team-mate Carlos Sainz struggled with balance throughout the evening session.
Mercedes had a mixed Friday, with Lewis Hamilton reporting significant bouncing in the high-speed corners. "We're losing too much time in sector three," the seven-time champion noted over team radio. George Russell managed to extract more performance from the W16, finishing fourth in FP2.
Midfield Battle Heats Up
Further down the order, the midfield contest promised another Singapore thriller:
- McLaren showed strong one-lap pace but struggled with tyre degradation
- Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso demonstrated his street circuit expertise with consistent top-ten times
- Alpine surprised with both cars comfortably inside the top twelve
What to Watch For in Qualifying
With track evolution expected to play a major role and the threat of tropical showers never far away, Saturday's qualifying session could produce unexpected results. The battle for pole position appears to be Verstappen's to lose, but the Singapore circuit has historically delivered drama when least expected.
The stage is set for a qualifying showdown that could determine the outcome of Sunday's grand prix under the iconic Singapore lights.
