The Free Practice sessions at the Singapore GP kicked off today under the floodlights of Marina Bay, and what a start to the weekend. Fans got their first real glimpses of performance, pace, incidents, and surprises. Below is everything you need to know about Free Practice Singapore GP, what the times tell us, and what to watch going forward.
FP1 Highlights: Alonso Leads the Way
In Free Practice 1, Fernando Alonso took the top spot in his Aston Martin, setting a lap time of 1:31.116. He edged out Charles Leclerc by just 0.150 seconds, with Max Verstappen completing the top three.
Alonso’s pace was a reminder that even on a day when many teams run conservative programs, Aston Martin is serious about being competitive in Singapore. Leclerc’s consistent pace in FP1 also suggests Ferrari remain in the mix early on.
One dramatic moment came when Alex Albon’s Williams suffered a brake-hardware issue that led to smoke pouring from the rear, ruling him out of setting a proper lap in FP1.
The extreme heat and humidity that defined the day also triggered the weekend’s “heat hazard” declaration by the FIA, something that loomed over all sessions. [F1 website]
FP2 Drama and Pace: Piastri on Top
Free Practice Singapore GP turned into a wild session in FP2. Oscar Piastri emerged fastest with a time of 1:30.714, leading a disrupted Honda-powered battle.
The session was marred by two red flags:
- George Russell crashed at Turn 16, damaging his Mercedes nose and triggering the first stoppage.
- Liam Lawson then crashed and brought out another red flag later in the session.
Amidst the drama a bizarre pit lane collision also took place: Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari hit Lando Norris’ McLaren in the pit lane, damaging Norris’ front wing.
Behind Piastri, the top performers in FP2 were:
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) — 1:30.714
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) — +0.132
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) — +0.143s
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) — +0.163s
- Lando Norris (McLaren) — +0.483s (despite his pit lane damage)
Lewis Hamilton was tenth, having not pushed on soft tyres in FP2.
The performance from Piastri and McLaren drew attention, especially given the chaotic nature of the session. Some of the stronger rivals had their programs cut short by the stoppages.
What Free Practice Singapore GP Tells Us
- McLaren is looking sharp. Piastri’s FP2 pace suggests McLaren might have something competitive for both sprint/qualifying performance and race pace.
- Red Bull and Ferrari remain threats. Verstappen is close behind; Leclerc showed solidity in FP1 and was involved in the pit-lane incident but still posted times.
- Heat and reliability are key factors. Albon’s brake issue and the red flags show the challenges teams face under Singapore conditions.
- Incidents can throw off strong programs. The crashes by Russell and Lawson, plus the Leclerc/Norris pit incident, disrupted many teams’ plans.
What to Watch in FP3 and Qualifying
Saturday’s Free Practice 3 will be a critical session to assess true qualifying pace under more representative conditions. Teams will aim to trim down fuel, experiment with setups, and prepare for the all-important qualifying session at night.
Given what we saw in Free Practice Singapore GP Day 1, we expect tight margins. A clean lap under pressure will matter a lot, especially since traffic, track evolution, and heat management could tip the balance.