Aston Martin's Alonso Tops First Session at Singapore Grand Prix
F1 Singapore
This weekend will see the race kicking off at British Summer Time on race day.
Live updates provided on radio channels and BBC Sport.
FP1 Results Highlights
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso set the pace beating Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Dutch ace in first practice at the Singapore Grand Prix.
McLaren's championship contenders Oscar Piastri and British talent finished the run in fifth and sixth.
Piastri was a notable margin quicker than the Briton.
Alonso was a slim margin leading of Leclerc and a clear gap clear than the Red Bull star.
Ferrari's British icon was just outside the top three.
Weekend Outlook
Few anticipate that the Silverstone-based team will be front-runners for P1.
That said, the outfit are optimistic of a strong showing on a low-speed track that is ideally suited to their chassis, which performs better when significant amounts of downforce are called for.
Veteran racer Fernando is also renowned as a Singapore specialist, and often shines on the Marina Bay street track.
Yet he was likely operating with a lighter load or a higher engine mode than his competitors, or each, to set such a quick time.
Team Updates
Fellow driver Lance Stroll was 1.918secs off the pace in the lower order.
He had difficulties with his cockpit early in the session and was also evaluating test items.
Opening practice in Singapore is not representative of later performance later in the weekend as it is held in afternoon sun in the daytime, while qualifying and the main event are held after dark.
Title Battle
Piastri is ahead of Norris by a quarter-century with the final stretch ahead as they approach the event in Singapore.
The Woking-based team are set to secure the manufacturers' crown on the weekend.
Sole scenario they can miss out in Singapore is if Mercedes surpass them by over thirty or the Scuderia do so by 35.
Rival Teams
The energy drink brand's team are hopeful of a good performance after Verstappen's victories in the previous rounds ahead of this weekend.
They were relieved when precipitation occurring ahead of FP1 abated by the time the vehicles emerged on a circuit that had not been wet.
Senior figure the Austrian said ahead of practice that they wanted a uninterrupted running to make a comprehensive start on fine-tuning their chassis settings for the event.
