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The Singapore Grand Prix promises to be an exciting spectacle for fans, especially since it could provide crucial insights into what we can expect for the remainder of the season. With the championship race heating up, teams like Red Bull and McLaren face a clear imperative: they must produce their best performances. Every race now carries importance, particularly for McLaren, which needs to elevate its game if it really hopes to challenge Red Bull moving forward.
In a thrilling start to the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, Charles Leclerc clocked the fastest time in the first practice session, surpassing Lando Norris by less than a tenth of a second. Carlos Sainz followed closely behind, just a tenth off the pace, while Max Verstappen secured the fourth spot with a three-tenths deficit.
Fifth place went to Yuki Tsunoda, who was exactly half a second behind in his RB, followed by Oscar Piastri, last week’s winner, who lagged six-tenths and didn't quite have the ideal start to his weekend. The McLaren team reported that they had identified an issue with the rear left part of Piastri’s car before the session and were hopeful it would be resolved before practice ended. Despite this, the Australian was back on track within ten minutes. However, he did have a scare when he brushed the wall at Turn 10 with the right side of his car eight minutes from the end. Thankfully, he emerged unscathed and completed the session.
Daniel Ricciardo, who is rumored to be leaving the team possibly, was just six thousandths behind Piastri. The top ten rounded out with Alex Albon, Fernando Alonso, and Esteban Ocon.
Martin Brundle, a familiar face in the Formula 1 world, has been sharing his thoughts on various drivers' performances, with a particular focus on Daniel Ricciardo. Brundle suggests that after this race, Ricciardo might be at risk of leaving the team, especially considering his struggles this season. He even hints that Liam Lawson could be the one to step into that role.
Brundle raises some interesting points, stressing that if Ricciardo had managed to deliver even slightly better results, his position could have been more secure. In fact, a comeback could even put him in contention for a spot on the main team. However, the experienced driver has faced a lot of challenges this season, and he doesn’t quite resemble the dynamic racer we once saw exciting audiences on the F1 circuits.
"My understanding is that Daniel won’t be in the car in Austin at the next grand prix, but will remain in the Red Bull pool,” Sky Sports’ Brundle said.
They want to see how Liam Lawson goes, for a number of reasons.
If Daniel had a stronger season, it would have made a big difference. Not just in the secondary team at RB but in the primary team at Red Bull."- Brundle said, as quoted by Crash.
Others
Close behind, within a second, were Colapinto, Lewis Hamilton, and Pierre Gasly.
Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll trailed by a second, while George Russell was in a disappointing 16th place, a second and a half off the pace. Kevin Magnussen, having cooled off after his previous weekend in Baku, finished 17th, while the Sauber drivers and his teammate Nico Hulkenberg rounded out the classification. Interestingly, all the fastest times were set on soft tires.
It's difficult to predict whether things will play out this way moving forward, especially in the final race. Opinions vary widely; while some expect Red Bull to finally break their streak of poor performances, others believe McLaren will take the lead in this race. Answering such a question is tricky, given the unpredictable nature of F1.
Many big names will be battling for the top spot, but only one will ultimately achieve their goal. Max Verstappen, for instance, is eager to avoid the same frustrating scenarios he has faced in recent weeks. On the other hand, Lando Norris is determined to make a huge leap towards championship contention this time around.
Martin Brundle stressed that Formula 1 is starting to feel like a fashion business, where trends play a big role in decision-making. He believes there’s going to be a trend of bringing in young drivers, which might mean some talented Formula 2 drivers could miss out on their chance, even if they’re performing better.
Brundle also points out that now is the perfect time for teams to invest in future talent. He argues that waiting until 2026, when major changes to the chassis and power units are set to happen, wouldn’t be wise. By focusing on young drivers now, teams can better prepare for the changes ahead and set themselves up for success in the long run.
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