Lando Norris led the charge during the second free practice session for the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix under the floodlights of the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
With a lap time of 1:30.727, Lando Norris edged out Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by just 0.058 seconds marking another impressive run for both drivers in what has been an exciting season for both McLaren and Ferrari.
The practice session unfolded in the evening, providing drivers with conditions that closely mirrored those expected during qualifying and the race itself. This timing allowed teams to fine-tune their setups and assess performance under representative conditions.
The session began with drivers initially using medium and hard compound tires, which helped them establish baseline setups and gather data on tire behavior.
As the session progressed, teams transitioned to softer tires for qualifying simulations allowing drivers to push their cars to the limit, resulting in a flurry of fast lap times.
Lando Norris’ performance was particularly noteworthy as he consistently demonstrated his ability to navigate the tight corners of the circuit while maintaining impressive pace and ultimately secured the top spot.
The Brit was followed by Leclerc who had topped FP1 earlier in the day as Ferrari’s efforts were complemented by teammate Carlos Sainz who finished third with a time of 1:31.356, nearly six-tenths off Norris’s pace.
The session also saw impressive performance from Yuki Tsunoda who finished fourth following an equally impressive opening practice. His consistent pace throughout the session indicates RB is poised to challenge for the top spots over the weekend.
Meanwhile Oscar Piastri fresh off his victory in Azerbaijan continued to demonstrate his perfect form after securing the fifth fastest laptime, further solidifying McLaren’s status as the championship leader this season.
Daniel Ricciardo followed closely behind Piastri in sixth place, showcasing his adaptability and skill as he continues to find his rhythm within the team.
George Russell marked the fastest Mercedes in seventh place despite a late-session incident where he collided with the wall at Turn 8, damaging his front wing but managed to return to the pits without major issues.
Sergio Perez finished eighth for Red Bull but reported struggles with the car’s balance, indicating that further adjustments would be necessary before qualifying. The Mexican was followed by Alex Albon and Nico Hulkenberg who rounded out the top ten, both delivering solid performances amid a highly competitive field.
Lewis Hamilton continued struggling throughout FP2, finishing down in 11th place after suffering with understeer and traction issues. His frustrations were evident as he communicated with his team about the car’s handling requiring a need for adjustments ahead of qualifying.
Max Verstappen’s performance was less than stellar as he ended up in 15th place, over a second off Norris’s leading time. The reigning champion had entered FP2 under scrutiny following a recent FIA reprimand for inappropriate comments made during a press conference.
This added pressure could have contributed to his struggles on track as he navigated through traffic and attempted to find optimal racing lines.
As FP2 concluded, teams returned to their garages to analyze data gathered during the session. The data collected will be crucial for making strategic decisions regarding car setups for qualifying and race day.
