F1 heads to the original ‘night race’ as the Marina Bay Street Circuit hosts the Singapore Grand Prix and round 18 of the 2024 season.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri won an enthralling Azerbaijan Grand Prix last time out, with the McLaren star producing one of the drives of the year to beat Charles Leclerc, with George Russell taking third after a late crash between Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez.
Lando Norris, despite starting 15th, finished a spot ahead of Max Verstappen in fourth to cut the Dutchman’s lead in the world championship to 59 points with seven races – and three sprint races – remaining.
It was, however, a difficult weekend for Lewis Hamilton, who finished ninth after starting from the pit-lane. Last year in Singapore, Sainz claimed a famous victory for Ferrari in what was the only 2023 race not won by a Red Bull car.
Follow live updates from the Singapore Grand Prix
Round 18 of the 2024 F1 season takes place in Singapore
FP3 started at 10:30am (BST); qualifying is at 2pm
Norris was quickest in second practice; Leclerc 2nd; Sainz 3rd
COMMENT: Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 career looks doomed again – and he can have no complaints
Max Verstappen receives bizarre penalty after swearing at F1 press conference
11:15 , Kieran Jackson
Russell goes to the top with 15 minutes left, with Piastri second and Verstappen third.
They’re all on the softs now – and the times will tumble!
11:05 , Kieran Jackson
Leclerc sets the new fastest time with a 1:31:525, 0.105 secs ahead of Verstappen and 0.123 secs clear of Norris.
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell are fourth and fifth respectively.
6-10: Colapinto, Sainz, Ricciardo, Piastri, Perez
It seems Red Bull and Mercedes are back in the hunt after a torrid day yesterday!
10:58 , Kieran Jackson
OK, so this is interesting – it seems Red Bull have sorted out their issues from yesterday!
Max Verstappen much happier over team radio and goes fastest, 0.186 secs ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell.
3-10: Sainz, Norris, Piastri, Perez, Leclerc, Hulkenberg, Hamilton, Albon
35:00 left…
10:44 , Kieran Jackson
As the sun falls in Singapore, we have action on track with around half the grid now out on track!
Medium tyres to start with it seems…
10:42 , Kieran Jackson
Farcical scenes as the session is red-flagged after five minutes, due to a lizard on track!
And we now have the marshal chasing the lizard off track, much to the amusement of drivers in the garage!
Yet with 50 mins left, we’re back underway!
10:32 , Kieran Jackson
We’re underway with the third and final practice session – though no cars out there for the time being!
10:27 , Kieran Jackson
When handed a second chance in Formula One last summer, Daniel Ricciardo had his aspirations set higher than a paltry seat at Red Bull’s sister team. As he told The Independent, the effervescent Australian made no secret of his desire to replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull, with 2025 a realistic target. Yet what matters in this sport – beyond a joyous expression and personality – is two-fold: the stopwatch and the standings.
Ricciardo, try as he might, has not been up to scratch on both. A crying shame, for his fans and fans of the sport. Heading into round 18 of the 2024 season in Singapore this weekend, the 35-year-old is 14th in the championship standings but, more significantly, languishes 10 points behind his teammate Yuki Tsunoda.
And so we arrive to now, with Ricciardo’s F1 future on the verge of disintegration once again.
Full piece below:
Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 career looks doomed again – and he can have no complaints
10:20 , Kieran Jackson
1. Max Verstappen – 313 points
2. Lando Norris – 254 points (-59)
3. Charles Leclerc – 235 points
4. Oscar Piastri – 222 points
5. Carlos Sainz – 184 points
6. Lewis Hamilton – 166 points
7. Sergio Perez – 143 points
8. George Russell – 128 points
9. Fernando Alonso – 58 points
10. Lance Stroll – 24 points
11. Nico Hulkenberg – 22 points
12. Yuki Tsunoda – 22 points
13. Alex Albon – 12 points
14. Daniel Ricciardo – 12 points
15. Pierre Gasly – 8 points
16. Oliver Bearman – 7 points
16. Kevin Magnussen – 6 points
18. Esteban Ocon – 5 points
19. Franco Colapinto – 4 points
20. Zhou Guanyu – 0 points
21. Logan Sargeant – 0 points
22. Valtteri Bottas – 0 points
10:16 , Kieran Jackson
Saturday 21 September
Free practice 3: 10:30am
Qualifying: 2pm
Sunday 22 September
10:15 , Kieran Jackson
Good morning and welcome to live coverage of the Singapore Grand Prix!
It’s Saturday and a crucial qualifying session later on, but first we have the third and final practice session at Marina Bay!
Who will set the final benchmark?!
Friday 20 September 2024 16:31 , Kieran Jackson
1. McLaren – 476 points
2. Red Bull – 456 points
3. Ferrari – 425 points
4. Mercedes – 309 points
5. Aston Martin – 82 points
6. RB – 34 points
7. Haas – 29 points
8. Williams – 16 points
9. Alpine – 13 points
Friday 20 September 2024 16:02 , Kieran Jackson
Max Verstappen has been told to “accomplish some work of public interest” in an odd ruling by the stewards after swearing during Thursday’s FIA press conference in Singapore.
The Red Bull driver, who leads this year’s world championship by 59 points to Lando Norris, has not won in seven races and struggled last week in Azerbaijan.
When asked about his car in Baku, Verstappen replied that he knew “the car was f*****” and was warned about his language by the moderator.
After being called to see the stewards on Friday, with a meeting lasting around 15 minutes, the decision reached by the stewards was an “obligation to accomplish some work of public interest.”
Full story below:
Max Verstappen receives bizarre penalty after swearing at F1 press conference
Friday 20 September 2024 15:32 , Kieran Jackson
Friday 20 September 2024 15:25 , Kieran Jackson
McLaren told to modify ‘mini-DRS’ rear-wing after Red Bull appeal
F1’s governing body has told McLaren to modify its “mini-DRS” rear-wing after an appeal from Red Bull.
Full story below:
McLaren told to modify ‘mini-DRS’ rear-wing after Red Bull appeal
Friday 20 September 2024 15:04 , Kieran Jackson
A pretty good day then for Lando Norris – 2nd in FP1, 1st in FP2!
His main competitor looks to be Charles Leclerc, who in this session was just 0.058 secs off the McLaren in P2!
Carlos Sainz, like FP1, is third-fastest – with Yuki Tsunoda an impressive fourth for RB. Daniel Ricciardo is sixth!
5-10: Piastri, Ricciardo, Russell, Perez, Albon, Hulkenberg
Lewis Hamilton P11; Max Verstappen P15. Quite a mixed up order then!
Friday 20 September 2024 15:00 , Kieran Jackson
The Mercedes is in the wall!
It doesn’t look like a massive shunt and Russell has managed to reverse out of the wall and will continue around the circuit.
Looks like some extensive damage on the front wing and nose!
“I’m in the wall. Snatched the front right.”
Friday 20 September 2024 14:54 , Kieran Jackson
With nearly all of the drivers on race-runs, Verstappen will stay in P15 – 1.294 secs off his championship rival Lando Norris in first!
Wow! Sergio Perez is in the top-10 for Red Bull, in P8.
Both Piastri and Norris have got close to the wall in the last 10 minutes or so, but no lasting damage on their McLaren cars.
Five minutes left in FP2.
Friday 20 September 2024 14:48 , Kieran Jackson
“There’s still something wrong with the brakes.”
The Spaniard had issues with his brakes in first practice, too.
15 minutes to go as we head to some race-runs now…
Friday 20 September 2024 14:41 , Kieran Jackson
When told of his position, Hamilton replies: “That’s unbelievable mate.”
George Russell not much better in P7.
20 mins to go.
Top-10: Noris, Leclerc, Sainz, Tsunoda, Piastri, Ricciardo, Russell, Perez, Albon, Hulkenberg
Verstappen down in P15!
Friday 20 September 2024 14:30 , Kieran Jackson
It seems to be between Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc so far for P1!
With most cars doing their first qualifying simulation laps, Norris is top with a 1:30:727 – just 0.087 secs clear of Leclerc in second!
Yuki Tsunoda is still in third in an impressive first half-an-hour for RB, with Oscar Piastri fourth and Daniel Ricciardo fifth!
Only 11th-fastest for Max Verstappen.
6-10: Russell, Albon, Hulkenberg, Magnuseen, Sainz
30 mins left in FP2…
Friday 20 September 2024 14:19 , Kieran Jackson
Alex Albon, who impressed last week in Baku, top of the timesheet with a 1:32:238, 0.127 secs ahead of George Russell in second – with Yuki Tsunoda in third!
4-10: Leclerc, Sainz, Ricciardo, Norris, Hulkenberg, Alonso, Magnussen
45:00 left in FP2..
Friday 20 September 2024 14:09 , Kieran Jackson
“Traction is very bad.”
It’s not been a good day for Mercedes so far – they were 12th and 16th in FP1 earlier!
Friday 20 September 2024 14:07 , Kieran Jackson
A black-and-white flag (final warning) for Perez leaving the pit-lane and crossing the exit.
Verstappen, meanwhile, is having radio issues.
Most are on the medium tyre early on – every car out on track at the start of FP2.
Friday 20 September 2024 14:02 , Kieran Jackson
Under the bright lights then – in what will be the most representative practice session of the weekend ahead of qualifying and the race – we’re underway with second practice at the Marina Bay Street Circuit!
Can anyone challenge Ferrari and Charles Leclerc out in front?
Friday 20 September 2024 13:50 , Kieran Jackson
“Anything we can do to help Lando, we’ll do,” he said. “We don’t want to compromise Oscar’s results. Race-by-race basis, two great drivers who are capable of winning races.”
On whether McLaren would swap drivers at the front: “Handing off a race win is a pretty difficult thing to do. We’ll take it one race at a time, it’s a pretty big ask of a grand prix driver. Lando wants to win the championship the right way, we still have a lot of racing to go. No one wants to inherit a win that way.
“Oscar is 30 or so points behind Lando, it will require some awesome weekends. You’re not looking at a driver too far back from Lando, that’s why we’ve got to take it one race at a time.”
Friday 20 September 2024 13:38 , Kieran Jackson
1. Max Verstappen – 313 points
2. Lando Norris – 254 points (-59)
3. Charles Leclerc – 235 points
4. Oscar Piastri – 222 points
5. Carlos Sainz – 184 points
6. Lewis Hamilton – 166 points
7. Sergio Perez – 143 points
8. George Russell – 128 points
9. Fernando Alonso – 58 points
10. Lance Stroll – 24 points
11. Nico Hulkenberg – 22 points
12. Yuki Tsunoda – 22 points
13. Alex Albon – 12 points
14. Daniel Ricciardo – 12 points
15. Pierre Gasly – 8 points
16. Oliver Bearman – 7 points
16. Kevin Magnussen – 6 points
18. Esteban Ocon – 5 points
19. Franco Colapinto – 4 points
20. Zhou Guanyu – 0 points
21. Logan Sargeant – 0 points
22. Valtteri Bottas – 0 points
Friday 20 September 2024 13:23 , Kieran Jackson
Daniel Ricciardo admits his future in Formula One is shrouded in uncertainty ahead of this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.
Speculation is rife that a decision on RB’s 2025 drivers is expected in the next few weeks – due to a clause in Liam Lawson’s contract – and Ricciardo did not dismiss the rumours out of hand.
“I know how it is and how it works, and I knew there was always going to be some dates and deadlines this year, whether it was the summer break or now post-Singapore, so post-Singapore is the next one,” he told Sky Sports F1.
“Honestly, it’s still, so many things are up in the air. Let’s see how the weekend goes. Obviously, I’m going to give it all I can, as I have. There’s always something to fight for. We’ll see what happens. Try to get the thing on the podium, that’s my plan.”
Friday 20 September 2024 13:12 , Kieran Jackson
F1’s governing body has told McLaren to modify its “mini-DRS” rear-wing after an appeal from Red Bull.
Full story below:
McLaren told to modify ‘mini-DRS’ rear-wing after Red Bull appeal
Friday 20 September 2024 12:50 , Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton has called out FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem for a comment referring to rappers when discussing the broadcast of swearing in Formula One races – saying they had a “racial element” to them.
Ben Sulayem, head of F1’s governing body, says he has asked Formula 1 to limit the amount of swearing – usually from drivers over team radio – on TV coverage of races. Swear words are currently bleeped out before being broadcast.
The 62-year-old Emirati executive said: “We have to differentiate between our sport – motorsport – and rap music. We’re not rappers, you know. They say the F-word how many times per minute? We are not on that. That’s them and we are [us].”
Full story below:
Lewis Hamilton calls out FIA boss for ‘racial element’ over comments on ‘rappers’
Friday 20 September 2024 12:45 , Kieran Jackson
Max Verstappen has been told to “accomplish some work of public interest” in an odd ruling by the stewards after swearing during Thursday’s FIA press conference in Singapore.
The Red Bull driver, who leads this year’s world championship by 59 points to Lando Norris, has not won in seven races and struggled last week in Azerbaijan.
When asked about his car in Baku, Verstappen replied that he knew “the car was f*****” and was warned about his language by the moderator.
After being called to see the stewards on Friday, with a meeting lasting around 15 minutes, the decision reached by the stewards was an “obligation to accomplish some work of public interest.”
Full story below:
Max Verstappen receives bizarre penalty after swearing at F1 press conference
Friday 20 September 2024 12:39 , Kieran Jackson
1. McLaren – 476 points
2. Red Bull – 456 points
3. Ferrari – 425 points
4. Mercedes – 309 points
5. Aston Martin – 82 points
6. RB – 34 points
7. Haas – 29 points
8. Williams – 16 points
9. Alpine – 13 points
Friday 20 September 2024 12:20 , Kieran Jackson
Friday 20 September
Saturday 21 September
Free practice 3: 10:30am
Qualifying: 2pm
Sunday 22 September
Friday 20 September 2024 12:12 , Kieran Jackson
Max Verstappen has been summoned to the race stewards for an alleged breach of the International Sporting Code, relating to “language used during the FIA Thursday driver press conference.”
The Red Bull driver swore during yesterday’s press conference.
Friday 20 September 2024 12:08 , Kieran Jackson
Christian Horner says Red Bull have traced their decline all the way back to the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix last June, despite the dozen-plus races Max Verstappen won after that event.
Horner insists it was race seven of 22 last year which saw Red Bull make their first error, but the team didn’t take it seriously “because Max kept winning.”
“We traced the development history back and it turned out that the first mistake we made was with an underbody upgrade in 2023 in Barcelona,” Horner told German outlet Auto Motor und Sport.
Full story below:
Horner reveals when Red Bull’s F1 decline started – and it’s not even this year
Friday 20 September 2024 11:47 , Kieran Jackson
Friday 20 September 2024 11:38 , Kieran Jackson
“We need to sort out the brakes. It cannot be that we changed the brake balance so much.”
Fine-tuning for the Ferrari man despite his third-quickest time.
Friday 20 September 2024 11:32 , Kieran Jackson
Charles Leclerc, the man who stood out over one lap in Baku last week, sets the tone this weekend with the fastest lap, with the Ferrari’s time of 1:31:763 just 0.076 secs quicker than Lando Norris in second!
Carlos Sainz is third, 0.189 secs off his team-mate, with Max Verstappen in fourth – three-tenths off.
5-10: Tsunoda, Piastri, Ricciardo, Albon, Alonsom Ocon
Lewis Hamilton down in P12, with George Russell P16!
Friday 20 September 2024 11:30 , Kieran Jackson
Perez: “I can’t stop the car with the front right.”
Friday 20 September 2024 11:24 , Kieran Jackson
“Too much understeer.”
Top-10: Leclerc, Norris, Sainz, Verstappen, Tsunoda, Piastri, Ricciardo, Albon, Alonso, Ocon
10 mins to go, with all three tyre compounds now in use…
Friday 20 September 2024 11:19 , Kieran Jackson
“Reviewing drivers performance is something normal. We will sit down together after Singapore, that’s where we are really – nothing decided so far.”
Mekies was speaking to Sky Sports F1 in FP1…
Friday 20 September 2024 11:16 , Kieran Jackson
The 43-year-old Aston Martin driver almost loses it but just saves his Aston from spinning into the wall, corrects the car and continues!
He’s down in P9 for now.
20 mins to go in FP1.
Friday 20 September 2024 11:10 , Kieran Jackson
Friday 20 September 2024 11:06 , Kieran Jackson
Halfway through first practice and we’re now getting onto qualifying simulation laps on softs…
Lando Norris is still P1, with a new time of 1:31:839, 0.327 secs ahead of Carlos Sainz in second with Yuki Tsunoda a surprise name in third!
4-10: Verstappen, Albon, Leclerc, Piastri, Colapinto, Hamilton, Perez
Happy to report that there’s been no red flags yet…
Friday 20 September 2024 10:47 , Kieran Jackson
All on mediums to start with and Lando Norris is fastest with a 1:33:199, 0.840 secs quicker than Charles Leclerc in second.
3-10: Sainz, Stroll, Tsunoda, Verstappen, Alonso, Hamilton, Colapinto, Albon
Sergio Perez locks up and goes off, rejoining and getting in the way of Oscar Piastri on a push lap! He may well receive something from the stewards!
Friday 20 September 2024 10:34 , Kieran Jackson
Cars out on track in Marina Bay! It’s humid but overcast at the moment in south-east Asia!
Zhou: “Potentially change helmet for the next run, it’s too dark. Visor.”
Most cars straight out on track, but not Oscar Piastri – whose car is nowhere near close to being ready!
Friday 20 September 2024 10:29 , Kieran Jackson
We’re about to get underway with this tight, twisty and grippy street circuit in the city-state!
The first chance for the drivers to get up to speed with what is a unique challenge in Singapore!
Friday 20 September 2024 10:15 , Kieran Jackson
Friday 20 September 2024 10:05 , Kieran Jackson
Daniel Ricciardo admits his future in Formula One is shrouded in uncertainty ahead of this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.
Speculation is rife that a decision on RB’s 2025 drivers is expected in the next few weeks – due to a clause in Liam Lawson’s contract – and Ricciardo did not dismiss the rumours out of hand.
“I know how it is and how it works, and I knew there was always going to be some dates and deadlines this year, whether it was the summer break or now post-Singapore, so post-Singapore is the next one,” he told Sky Sports F1.
“Honestly, it’s still, so many things are up in the air. Let’s see how the weekend goes. Obviously, I’m going to give it all I can, as I have. There’s always something to fight for. We’ll see what happens. Try to get the thing on the podium, that’s my plan.”
Friday 20 September 2024 09:54 , Kieran Jackson
The FIA have added a fourth DRS zone to the Marina Bay Street Circuit in an attempt to aid overtaking at this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.
The race in the city-state sees limited overtaking opportunities, with its tight, street circuit layout often resulting in ‘trains’ of cars throughout the race.
Full story below:
F1 announce late change to Singapore Grand Prix track
Friday 20 September 2024 09:42 , Kieran Jackson
1. McLaren – 476 points
2. Red Bull – 456 points
3. Ferrari – 425 points
4. Mercedes – 309 points
5. Aston Martin – 82 points
6. RB – 34 points
7. Haas – 29 points
8. Williams – 16 points
9. Alpine – 13 points
10. Sauber – 0 points
Friday 20 September 2024 09:29 , Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton has called out FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem for a comment referring to rappers when discussing the broadcast of swearing in Formula One races – saying they had a “racial element” to them.
Ben Sulayem, head of F1’s governing body, says he has asked Formula 1 to limit the amount of swearing – usually from drivers over team radio – on TV coverage of races. Swear words are currently bleeped out before being broadcast.
The 62-year-old Emirati executive said: “We have to differentiate between our sport – motorsport – and rap music. We’re not rappers, you know. They say the F-word how many times per minute? We are not on that. That’s them and we are [us].”
Full story below:
Lewis Hamilton calls out FIA boss for ‘racial element’ over comments on ‘rappers’
Friday 20 September 2024 09:25 , Kieran Jackson
1. Max Verstappen – 313 points
2. Lando Norris – 254 points (-59)
3. Charles Leclerc – 235 points
4. Oscar Piastri – 222 points
5. Carlos Sainz – 184 points
6. Lewis Hamilton – 166 points
7. Sergio Perez – 143 points
8. George Russell – 128 points
9. Fernando Alonso – 58 points
10. Lance Stroll – 24 points
11. Nico Hulkenberg – 22 points
12. Yuki Tsunoda – 22 points
13. Alex Albon – 12 points
14. Daniel Ricciardo – 12 points
15. Pierre Gasly – 8 points
16. Oliver Bearman – 7 points
16. Kevin Magnussen – 6 points
18. Esteban Ocon – 5 points
19. Franco Colapinto – 4 points
20. Zhou Guanyu – 0 points
21. Logan Sargeant – 0 points
22. Valtteri Bottas – 0 points
Friday 20 September 2024 09:22 , Kieran Jackson
Friday 20 September
Free practice 1: 10:30am
Free practice 2: 2pm
Saturday 21 September
Free practice 3: 10:30am
Qualifying: 2pm
Sunday 22 September
Friday 20 September 2024 09:17 , Kieran Jackson
F1 heads to the original ‘night race’ as the Marina Bay Street Circuit hosts the Singapore Grand Prix and round 18 of the 2024 season.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri won an enthralling Azerbaijan Grand Prix last time out, with the McLaren star producing one of the drives of the year to beat Charles Leclerc, with George Russell taking third after a late crash between Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez.
Lando Norris, despite starting 15th, finished a spot ahead of Max Verstappen in fourth to cut the Dutchman’s lead in the world championship to 59 points with seven races – and three sprint races – remaining.
It was, however, a difficult weekend for Lewis Hamilton, who finished ninth after starting from the pit-lane. Last year in Singapore, Sainz claimed a famous victory for Ferrari in what was the only 2023 race not won by a Red Bull car.
