Bizarre Charles Leclerc–Lando Norris crash headlines dramatic Singapore GP practice

Crash between Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris highlights disruptive practice session

The collision capped a session riddled with disruption. George Russell triggered the first red flag when he crashed his Mercedes into the barriers, while Liam Lawson later clipped the wall, bringing out another stoppage and ending practice early.

Despite the interruptions, some teams still managed to gather useful data. Oscar Piastri topped FP2 with a lap of 1:30.714 for McLaren, ahead of impressive rookie Isack Hadjar and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who is chasing a third straight Grand Prix victory. 

Norris recovered to finish fifth despite the collision, while Leclerc dropped to ninth after losing track time with damage.

Earlier in the day, Fernando Alonso had set the pace in FP1 in a cleaner session, but the spate of incidents in FP2 left several teams short on mileage and scrambling for long-run information before qualifying.

The Leclerc–Norris clash was the defining talking point, not only for its unusual circumstances but also for its potential consequences. If Ferrari are found guilty of an unsafe release, Leclerc could face a grid penalty, while the team may be fined, a further blow for the Maranello-based team after a string of procedural errors this season.

For McLaren, the setback did little to dampen spirits. With Piastri quickest and Norris competitive, and just 25 points separating the pair in the championship, the team head into qualifying with reasons for optimism.

Chaotic and unpredictable, Friday’s sessions in Singapore provided more drama than data. If that trend continues, the Marina Bay weekend could prove one of the most eventful of the Formula 1 season.