McLaren could not hide his disappointment about the shape of Max Verstappen in the RB21 in VT2, which meant Oscar Piastri for the frightening prospect that the lead of Sunday could disappear any moment.

Singapore – The heat of the Marina Bay Street Circuit was not only in the air, but also in the garages of McLaren. During the second free practice (VT2) for the Grand Prix of Singapore on Friday evening, Max Verstappen and his Red Bull RB21 showed an unexpected form of revival, which made the British team sweat. The disappointment was palpable: team leader Andrea Stella bit his lip, while engineers analyzed feverish data. For Oscar Piastri, the Australian sensation that the championship line has firmly in hand, a creepy scenario signed up. The lead that he builds up for the race on Sunday – currently ten points on teammate Lando Norris and a large margin on Verstappen – suddenly seemed vulnerable, like a sand castle at rising tide.

The session started hopefully for McLaren. Early in training, Lando Norris set the fastest time with a sharp 1: 30.727, followed by the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz on 0.058 and 0.629 seconds respectively. Oscar Piastri, driving in the MCL39, circled comfortably in the top five, with a time that was only 0.747 seconds behind Norris. The orange cars dominated the medium speed bends, where their aerodynamic efficiency and tire management made the difference this season. But when Verstappen finished his first serious run on soft tires, the dynamics shifted. The Dutchman clocked a 1: 31,234 – not earth -shattering, but consistent enough to reduce the gap to less than half a second on Piastri’s best time.

It was a déjà vu for McLaren, which this season was repeatedly witnessed by Red Bull’s ability to beat out out of the blue. In Bahrain, earlier this year, after a disappointing VT2, Verstappen had transformed the RB21 into a rocket in qualifying. “The difference is great,” he had already sniffed over the grip problems, but his adjustments – a subtle tweak on the front wing and a revised body setup – had done wonders. Now, in Singapore’s Klamme Nacht, history repeated itself. Verstappen reported about the on -board radio: “The balance feels better, but the brakes don’t bite the way I want.” Yet his long run on mediums was impressive: he only lost 0.2 seconds per round on Norris, a sign that the RB21 finally got a barrel on the winding layout of the street circuit.

At McLaren, frustration could no longer remain hidden. Stella, normally the embodiment of calmness, gave a rare direct interview to Sky Sports F1 after the session. “We knew that Max is always a factor, but this is disappointing. The RB21 should have suffered in the slow Chicanes, just like in Hungary where he finished P14. Instead, we see him crawling closer.” The Italian referred to the Hungaroring session of Augustus, where Verstappen struggled with a ‘nervous’ car and even a towel from the cockpit threw in a moment of pure frustration-an incident that brought him to the stewards. But Singapore seemed different. The Red Bull driver, who already took five victories this season but struggles with inconsistent updates, seemed to find his Mojo. “I just adjust to what I have,” he said laconically afterwards, referring to his adaptability that teammates such as Yuki Tsunoda often miss.

For Piastri, the 24-year-old Phenom who grew into championship leader this year after victories in Spain and Austria, this was a wake-up call. The Australian had shown in VT1 with a clear run, his McLaren dancing through the Esses and the Spoon Curve. But in VT2 he became entangled in traffic, which disturbed his long run. “It feels good, but we can’t allow complacency,” he told his engineer, his voice loaded with urgency. Piastri’s lead – now 49 points on Verstappen after his penalty in Spain – is large, but Singapore is a circuit of surprises. Last year Norris won dominant here, with a margin of 20 seconds on Verstappen, but that was with the MCL38. The MCL39 is stronger, but Red Bull’s RB21 has a history of late flowering. A safety car, a miscalculation in the pits, or even a little contact – it can all disrupt Sunday order.

The wider context feeds the tension. McLaren leads the constructors with a comfortable margin, but internal dynamics are bogging. Norris, who dominated FP2 in Austria with a 1: 04.580, feels the hot breath of Piastri in his neck. Team orders are lurking, such as in Italy where Verstappen responded playfully: “Give Oscar the lead, I will follow.” But in Singapore, with its narrow walls and nocturnal chaos, there is no room for mistakes. Ferrari lurkes; Leclerc’s P2 in VT2 shows that the SF-25 is finally in control of asphalt. Mercedes, with George Russell on P7, is still struggling with understeer, while Aston Martin and Alpine are fighting for Midfield points.

What does this mean for Sunday? McLaren has to fine tune last night: more downforce for the slow sectors, without losing the top speed on the straight pieces. Piastri, who grabbed pole in Spain with a perfect start, will aim for an early lead. But Verstappen’s shape – that ‘frightening prospect’ for McLaren – hangs like a sword of Damocles. The Dutchman, with his 39 points behind Norris alone, smells blood. “We have potential,” he said, referring to the upgrades that Red Bull tested in Australia. If the RB21 retains its balance, Piastri’s lead can indeed evaporate in the tropical heat.

The fans in the stands, bathing in neon light, feel the electricity. Singapore is always theater: crashes, comebacks, drama. McLaren’s disappointment is raw, but the fire under their feet can be the spark for glory. For Piastri it is a test of nerves – the championship leader who suddenly has to fight to keep what he built. Sunday will reveal whether the lead will stand, or whether Verstappen’s shadow swallows everything up. Nothing is certain in Formula 1, except the tension.