F1 Singapore Grand Prix: Friday practice as it happened

Thanks for following our coverage of Friday practice at the Singapore Grand Prix. 

Keep it on Crash.net for all the best news and reaction to today's on-track action. 

We will be back tomorrow to bring you coverage of final practice (1030 BST) and then qualifying (1400 BST). See you then! 

Lando Norris topped the timesheets in second practice for the Singapore Grand Prix, while George Russell brushed the barriers late on.

Norris topped the order with a 1m30.727s, less than a tenth ahead of Charles Leclerc.

Like in Azerbaijan last weekend, the battle at the front appears to be between McLaren and Ferrari.

There was some late drama for Russell, who clouted the wall at Turn 8.

The damage to Russell’s Mercedes wasn’t severe as he was able to reserve out of the wall before returning to the pit lane without a front wing.

Carlos Sainz was next up in third overall in the other Ferrari - but he was 0.5s off the top two’s impressive pace.

Read our full report here 

• 2024 F1 Singapore Grand Prix - Friday Practice Results

The chequered flag is out and that marks an end to FP2 and Friday's practice running.

It's Norris who has the fastest time, just 0.058s clear of the Ferrari pair headed by Leclerc.

A difficult session for Hamilton and Verstappen, who end up only 11th and 15th after regularly complaining about their cars throughout the session. 

Russell has hit the wall at Turn 8 and crashed his Mercedes. The yellow flags are covering that incident with less than two minutes left on the clock. 

Norris has reported he just "hit the wall pretty hard." 

Race engineer Will Joseph replies: "We're going to box this lap for a damage check."

Leclerc had a big moment when setting his fastest time as he touched the wall at the exit of Turn 14. Crucially, his car seems to have escaped unscathed.

Norris puts his McLaren on top - just 0.087s clear of Leclerc's Ferrari as the soft tyre runs get underway. 

Albon didn't stay fastest for long as Leclerc pumps in a new benchmark time with a 1m31.665s - that's quicker than the time he produced in FP1. 

Leclerc is 0.265s clear of Ferrari teammate Sainz, with Albon dropping down to third, half a second off the pace. 

Really encouraging stuff from the Ferraris. 

Albon has put his Williams top of the timesheet with a 1m32.228s. 

That lap drew applause from the Williams garage as Albon absolutely hustled his car around Singapore's streets. 

Both Verstappen and Hamilton have been complaining about their cars early in FP2. 

"I have no grip in the low speed front and rear," Verstappen said. 

While Hamilton reported: "I've got no rear end mate."

They are down in 15th and 18th respectively. 

FP1 pacestter Leclerc goes fastest early doors. 

It's a 1m32.788s from the Ferrari man, who goes 0.820s clear of McLaren's Norris. 

Max Verstappen reprimanded for foul language in Thursday's press conference.

The FIA decision is an "obligation to accomplish some work of public interest".

Verstappen referred to his Red Bull as “f****d” when explaining his struggles at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Christian Horner said earlier:

“Well, it sets a precedent. We don’t want to rush to design wings that deform like that.

“If it’s deemed okay then everybody will do the same.”

Horner was asked if rivals would replicate the design but he replied: “I’d be surprised if we saw it again.”

McLaren have confirmed:

"Whilst our Baku rear wing complies with the regulations and pass all FIA deflection tests, McLaren have proactively offered to make some minor adjustments to the wing following our conversations with the FIA. 

"We would also expect the FIA to have similar conversations with other teams in relation to the compliance of their rear wings."

The second practice session of Friday afternoon is at 2pm UK, in 20 minutes.

Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets ahead of Lando Norris in the opening practice session for the 2024 F1 Singapore Grand Prix.

Ferrari have introduced a new front wing for this weekend as they look to improve on their performance from a week ago in Azerbaijan.

However, like in Baku, Ferrari and McLaren appear to be the top teams again, at least after the first practice session of the weekend.

Leclerc and Norris exchanged times at the top of the timesheets, with their initial runs completed on the hard and medium tyres, respectively.

After making an error in the final sector on his first soft lap - a lap which he called “shi*” over the team radio - Leclerc made amends, storming to the top of the order with a 1m31.763s.

Leclerc’s top time was just under a tenth quicker than Norris, with Ferrari’s advantage coming in the final two-thirds of the lap.

The second Ferrari of Carlos Sainz completed the top three, just under two-tenths off Leclerc’s time.

You can read the full report here.

Here is a full rundown of the times/results from first practice in Singapore. 

Piastri has just drifted into the barriers at Turn 10. 

The Australian managed to avoid a full-on crash and seemingly has got away without too much damage after the right rear wheel made contact with the wall. 

A lucky escape! 

"Too much understeer," Hamilton reports over team radio.

The seven-time world champion is currently down in 12th, nearly a second off the pace.