As drivers tackled the Marina Bay Street Circuit for FP3, they faced the typical Singapore heat, with air temperatures hovering at 30°C (86°F) and track temperatures reaching 37.6°C (99.68°F). Conditions were expected to cool as the session continued into the evening. Aston Martin, McLaren, and Red Bull employed strategic tyre management, specifically running their harder compounds through a heat cycle. This technique aimed to make the tyres more adaptable to race temperatures, improving grip when it counted the most.
Lizards return to the track
In an unusual interruption, a lizard — potentially a relative of last year's infamous "Lenny the Lizard" — caused the session's first red flag. Marshals scrambled to clear the track before resuming the session. Following this, Fernando Alonso switched to medium tyres, while Bottas and Zhou stuck to softs, which saw them struggle for pace.
Challenging conditions and early incidents
The track remained slick after overnight rain, presenting a challenging surface for all teams. Pierre Gasly narrowly avoided a crash after a dramatic slide, but Alex Albon wasn't so lucky, clipping the barriers at Turn 15 and suffering damage, limping back to the pits.
FP3 lap times were noticeably slower, reflecting both the conditions and changed tyre strategies. While most drivers managed clean laps, Oscar Piastri had a notable moment of oversteer, narrowly saving his run after sliding on a tricky section of kerb.
Max Verstappen was initially satisfied with his car's improvement, temporarily topping the timesheets. However, his mood quickly soured as traffic hindered his laps. Charles Leclerc, despite his frustrations with the Ferrari, clocked a faster time with 1:30.559s, reflecting his strong history at the Singapore circuit. Meanwhile, George Russell reported intense humidity affecting his gloves but still managed to secure a competitive lap, briefly leading the pack after setting a 1:30.125s time.
Ferrari faced performance issues, with Leclerc and Carlos Sainz expressing concerns over their cars. Team radios were active with complaints, and Ferrari engineers made adjustments, including changes to Leclerc's front wing and tyre pressures, in hopes of improvements for the upcoming qualifying session.
Standout performances and session highlights
Lando Norris emerged as the standout of FP3, posting a 1m 29.646s lap, significantly faster than last year's pole time and the only driver to break into the 1m 29s. Both Red Bull and Mercedes showed considerable improvement overnight, with Russell and Lewis Hamilton finishing in the top five. In contrast, Ferrari's struggles continued, as Leclerc and Sainz managed only the fifth and sixth fastest laps, respectively.
Williams had a positive session with Alex Albon and rookie Franco Colapinto comfortably finishing in the top ten. Despite his earlier mishap, Albon managed a best lap of 1:30.949s, placing him in eighth, while Colapinto was not far behind in ninth with 1:30.989s.
Final adjustments
In the session's final moments, teams prepared for qualifying by making critical adjustments. Verstappen's kerb incident at Turn 7 indicated potential undercarriage issues for Red Bull, while Ferrari continued to refine their setups, hoping for last-minute gains. The closing laps saw several teams conducting tyre and fuel changes, shifting the focus to maximizing grip and balance in the upcoming qualifying.
FP3 Results:
- Lando Norris - 1:29.646
- George Russell - 1:30.125 (+0.479s)
- Oscar Piastri - 1:30.431 (+0.785s)
- Max Verstappen - 1:30.540 (+0.894s)
- Charles Leclerc - 1:30.559 (+0.913s)
- Carlos Sainz - 1:30.807 (+1.161s)
- Lewis Hamilton - 1:30.864 (+1.218s)
- Alex Albon - 1:30.949 (+1.303s)
- Franco Colapinto - 1:30.989 (+1.343s)
- Fernando Alonso - 1:31.082 (+1.436s)
With final preparations underway for the qualifying session at 21:00 local time, teams hope for improved conditions and a better pace. The competition remains fierce, and with Singapore's unpredictable elements in play, the stage is set for a thrilling qualifying showdown.
