Aston Martin's Alonso Tops First Session at Singapore

F1 Singapore

Race weekend features the grand prix beginning at 1pm BST on race day.

Real-time updates provided on radio channels and mobile app.

Opening Round Overview

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso topped the times beating Monegasque driver and reigning champion during first practice at the Singapore Grand Prix.

The British team's title rivals Oscar Piastri and British talent wrapped up the session in P5 and P6.

Piastri was 0.217 seconds speedier than Norris.

Alonso was a slim margin in front of Leclerc and 0.276secs quicker than Verstappen.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton was just outside the top three.

Weekend Outlook

Few anticipate that Aston Martin will be in the mix for the top spot.

Nonetheless, the outfit are hopeful of a improved performance on a tight circuit that is better matched to their car, which performs better when plenty of downforce are called for.

Two-time champion Alonso is also renowned as a Singapore specialist, and typically performs well on the Singapore circuit.

Yet he was probably operating with less fuel or a higher engine mode than his rivals, or both, to set such a quick time.

Team Updates

Fellow driver Lance Stroll was almost two seconds off the pace in the lower order.

The Canadian had difficulties with his driving position during the initial runs and was also testing new components.

FP1 in Singapore is not indicative of conditions for qualifying and race as it is conducted in afternoon sun in the daytime, while qualifying and the main event are run under floodlights.

Championship Standings

The McLaren driver has an advantage over Norris by a quarter-century with seven races to go entering the Grand Prix in the Lion City.

The Woking-based team are poised to secure the constructors' championship on race day.

Single possibility they can miss out in Singapore is if Mercedes surpass them by over thirty or the Scuderia do so by 35.

Red Bull Update

The energy drink brand's team are hopeful of a positive weekend after recent successes in Monza and Baku preceding this Grand Prix.

It was a relief when precipitation falling ahead of FP1 abated by the point the vehicles emerged on a track that had not been wet.

Motorsport adviser Helmut Marko commented ahead of practice that they needed a uninterrupted running to make a comprehensive start on fine-tuning their set-up for the event.