High tension in Singapore Norris pips Leclerc to P1 in FP2: Verstappen P15.
Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc look set for an intense duel during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend. After Leclerc topped FP1, Norris reacted by going fastest in FP2.
Today at 15:02
Matt Gretton
GPblog.com

Red Bull Racing anticipates that their upgrades will work well in the next Grand Prix weekend in Austin, but for now, they seem to be off the pace in Singapore again. Sergio Perez recorded the 8th fastest time in the session, and the Dutchman was in P15. Verstappen's full pace wasn't shown, but the RB19 is not yet fully optimised as Verstappen ran over the kerbs, and Perez used the run-off area. Full loads and engine modes remain unknown. Red Bull was not alone with their issues, as Norris also used the run-off zone, and both drivers clipped the wall.

Therefore, Norris and McLaren will want to maximise the weekend. Norris needs to take as many points as possible to cut his 59-point gap to Verstappen in the World Championship. To do that in Singapore, he will have to survive another battle from Ferrari. Yuki Tsunoda had another positive session with a P4 finish. Oscar Piastri rounded out the top five.

‘High tension’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/30244...s-session.html


Singapore GP: Free Practice 2 Results
21 Sep 2024
Mat Coch
Speedcafe

Full results from Free Practice 2 from the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay.

Pos Num Driver Team Laps Best Diff

1 4 Lando Norris McLaren 26 1:30.727

2 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 27 1:30.785 0.058

3 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 26 1:31.356 0.629

4 22 Yuki Tsunoda RB 27 1:31.468 0.741

5 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 26 1:31.474 0.747

6 3 Daniel Ricciardo RB 25 1:31.478 0.751

7 63 George Russell Mercedes 25 1:31.488 0.761

8 11 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing 24 1:31.598 0.871

9 23 Alex Albon Williams 25 1:31.650 0.923

10 27 Nico Hulkenberg Haas 25 1:31.667 0.940

‘Full results from Free Practice 2’;

https://speedcafe.com/singapore-gp-f...ice-2-results/


Norris and Leclerc in Singapore shoot-out as Verstappen flounders
Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc went head-to-head to top FP2 at the Singapore Grand Prix as their two teams continued to dominate under the Marina Bay lights.
20 Sep 2024
Samuel Coop
RacingNews365

Closing stages: Sainz would provide further clarity as to what caused his lock-up, complaining of an issue with the brakes on his Ferrari. The majority of the field would be back on medium or hard tyres as the session approached the final 10 minutes.

The session calmed considerably in the closing stages, with long-run plans the order of the day. However, there was still enough time for some action. Norris went sideways, dirtying his tyres prior to a trip to a side road. The 24-year-old managed to get his McLaren facing the right direction, but compatriot Russell would end the session without a front wing.

The Mercedes driver found the wall with only a couple of minutes to run, meaning the session ended under the yellow flag. He was ultimate able to remove himself from the barriers, returning his damaged W15 back to the pits.

‘Head-to-head to top FP2’;

https://racingnews365.com/norris-lec...ppen-flounders


Norris edges Leclerc in Singapore GP FP2 with Verstappen nowhere near contention
Lando Norris in the McLaren was fighting it out with Ferrari pair Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in Singapore
20 Sep 2024
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport

Lando Norris was fastest in FP2 at the 2024 Singapore GP ahead of Charles Leclerc by just 0.058, with Max Verstappen a shocking 15th quickest in a poor session for the world champion at the Marina Bay Circuit on September 20.

The world champion found himself stuck well outside of the Top 10, and a worrying half a second behind Sergio Perez as his poor form from the Baku City Circuit seems poised to rage on, with the 26-year-old struggling to get to grips with his underwhelming Red Bull.

‘Verstappen nowhere near contention’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/nor...ar-contention/


Singapore GP: McLaren asked by FIA to change controversial rear wing after rivals question legality
20 Sep 2024
Sky Sports

McLaren have been asked to change their rear wing following questions over its legality from their rivals at the Singapore Grand Prix. An on-board shot from the car of Oscar Piastri, during his victory at last weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix, appeared to show a part of McLaren's rear wing flexing upwards on the main straight, and subsequently attracted significant attention on social media.

Only a certain amount of flexing is allowed on bodywork parts of an F1 car and McLaren's rear wing received a query from at least one team, including Red Bull. Sky Sports News understands that the sport's governing body, the FIA, has asked McLaren to change their rear wing from this weekend's race in Singapore, with seven events remaining this season.

‘Rivals question legality’;

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12...stion-legality


Helmut Marko calls for second FIA investigation into McLaren at Singapore Grand Prix
McLaren were dealt a significant blow at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Sep 20, 2024
Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express

Helmut Marko has confirmed that Red Bull will turn their attention to McLaren’s front wing after ‘three complaints’ led to the FIA outlawing the current Constructors’ Championship leaders’ rear wing at the Singapore Grand Prix.

In the aftermath of Oscar Piastri’s impressive Azerbaijan Grand Prix victory last weekend, onboard footage circulated around social media showing the rear wing of the MCL38 flexing towards the endplate area. This created a ‘mini-DRS’ effect, allegedly giving McLaren a significant speed advantage.

As a result of the clear evidence, Red Bull lodged a protest and according to an Autosport report, Zak Brown’s outfit have now been instructed by the FIA that they are no longer allowed to run their current rear-wing design.

‘Dealt a significant blow’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ore-Grand-Prix


2024 Singapore GP FP2: Colapinto mistakenly stops his Williams in Alpine pit box
Sep 20, 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

Franco Colapinto is on just his third race weekend for Williams, so it’s perhaps understandable he accidentally drove into the Alpine pit box in second practice in Singapore…

‘Williams in Alpine pit box’;

https://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/F1...x/Singapore+GP


F1 - 2024 Singapore Grand Prix - Friday Press Conference Transcript
20.09.24
FIA (Press Release)

TEAM REPRESENTATIVES: James VOWLES (Williams), Frédéric VASSEUR (Ferrari), Mario ISOLA (Pirelli)

Mario ISOLA: Yeah, obviously it was the first test, a bit difficult. Our main job was to try to correlate simulations with mule car. We know that mule cars cannot be representative considering that 2026 cars are completely different, but I believe we did a good job and thanks to Aston Martin, that was the first team running the test, [we got] valuable information and probably also a good starting point as a baseline for future development.

James VOWLES: Yeah, (Franco Colapinto) he's done an absolutely outstanding job. Just really jumped straight into it, two feet first, and has been swimming ever since. But he's doing brilliantly well. And to score points in your second ever Grand Prix, to be a few seconds behind Alex, is extraordinary. And again this morning, brilliant job.

Frédéric VASSEUR: Well, from the beginning, we are not focused on the championship. We are taking it race after race, and I think it's the right approach. James said it before, that the championship is really difficult to read, because it doesn't matter if it's the first group or the second one, it's so tight that you can move from a good weekend, you are doing a 1-2 and the weekend after you are 7-8. Have a look on Mercedes what they did before the break and after the break. And I think this is true for everybody. And I think it makes no sense to imagine how could be the picture in two or three months. We have still something like 400 points on the table, I think, for the team championship. And it's a lot. It means, let's be focused on Baku, on Singapore, and then on the next one and try to do a good job. And we'll see at the end.

‘Friday Press Conference Transcript’;

https://www.fia.com/news/f1-2024-sin...nce-transcript