Mercedes driver George Russell topped the timesheets during the sole practice session for the Singapore Grand Prix, narrowly beating Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Russell’s performance stands out given that he will be forced to start the main race from the back of the grid due to a penalty for using excessive engine components, a consequence of his engine failure at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Leclerc finished just 0.198 seconds off Russell’s pace after a late flying lap, disrupting what had been an all-British top three. McLaren’s Lando Norris secured third place, trailing Russell by 0.273 seconds, while Russell’s teammate Lewis Hamilton came in fourth, nearly half a second slower at 0.499 seconds. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri rounded out the top five.
The session was characterized by divergent tyre strategies, which made it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about car performance. The top five drivers completed their laps on soft-compound tyres, whereas Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was the quickest on medium rubber in sixth place. The four-time champion was 0.732 seconds off the lead but managed to outrun Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, who sat seventh.
Motorsport Correspondent Andrew Benson noted that the strategic split complicated the evaluation of relative speed. Verstappen looked quick at times after securing Red Bull’s first victory of the season at Sepang previously. His teammate Isack Hadjar followed him in eighth on mediums, with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson completing the top 10.
Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso briefly appeared in the top 10 for Aston Martin before fading to 14th as the session concluded. Both Russell and Antonelli are testing different car specifications this weekend; Russell reverted to an older setup while Antonelli utilized the new aerodynamic package introduced in Malaysia. This approach allows Mercedes to assess the upgrade’s effectiveness after a disappointing race in Malaysia.
As the Formula 1 circus arrives in Singapore, officials have issued air-quality warnings due to severe haze caused by wildfires in Indonesia. The pollution, driven by illegal slash-and-burn land clearing, has prompted advice for residents and visitors to limit outdoor exertion. Sprint qualifying is scheduled for 13:30 BST on Saturday, followed by the race on Sunday.
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